CONTROLLER
Automotive Customizing Company | Athens, GA ~$20M Annual Revenue | Manufacturing & Custom Build Operations
Reports To: General Manager (Day-to-Day) / CFO (Financial) Direct Reports: Accounting Staff, AP/AR Clerk(s) FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary
The Controller is the senior financial leader for a $20M build-to-order automotive customizing and manufacturing company. This hands-on role owns the full accounting function — financial reporting, cost accounting, internal controls, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and ERP oversight (Katana Manufacturing ERP). The Controller partners directly with operations, production, and the Purchasing Agent to build accurate product cost structures that drive pricing, margins, and profitability. The ideal candidate brings deep cost accounting expertise, thrives in a mid-market manufacturing environment, and operates comfortably at both strategic and transactional levels.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Close
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements (GAAP)Deliver management reporting packages with variance analysis, trend reporting, and KPI dashboardsOwn month-end and year-end close processesCost Accounting & Product Costing
Own standard cost development, BOM costing, labor costing, and overhead allocation across all product linesAnalyze material, labor, and overhead variances with root-cause explanationsBuild and maintain cost models capturing materials, labor, subcontractors, overhead, and margin targetsPartner with production leadership to ensure job costing accuracyPurchasing & Cost Build-Up Collaboration
Partner with the Purchasing Agent to maintain accurate material cost inputs for all standard cost modelsTrack and report purchase price variances (PPV); support supplier benchmarking and cost reduction initiativesJointly review and approve material cost standards on a periodic basisInternal Controls & Compliance
Design and maintain internal controls across purchasing, payables, receivables, payroll, and inventoryCoordinate with external auditors, tax advisors, and financial institutionsOversee fixed assets, depreciation, and capital expenditure trackingBudgeting, Forecasting & Strategic Planning
Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts; track budget-to-actual monthlyProvide financial modeling for new product lines, facility investments, and expansion initiativesAdvise ownership on financial risks, opportunities, and resource allocationCash Management
Manage daily cash flow, working capital optimization, and banking relationshipsOversee AR collections and AP timing to maintain a healthy cash conversion cycleERP System Oversight — Katana Manufacturing ERP
Serve as finance owner of Katana, ensuring full utilization for inventory, production costing, and BOM managementOversee integration between Katana and the accounting platform (e.g., QuickBooks)Drive continuous improvement in ERP workflows and reportingTeam Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team (AP, AR, staff accountants)Set performance expectations, promote cross-training, and ensure process documentationQualifications
Education
Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance — requiredCPA — strongly preferredCMA or MBA — a plusExperience
7–10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience; 3–5 years as a Controller or senior financial leaderManufacturing industry experience required — automotive, custom fabrication, or build-to-order strongly preferredDemonstrated expertise in cost accounting, standard costing, and product cost build-up methodologies\nCompany DescriptionUlm Automotive customizes vans for various auto manufacturers
Company DescriptionUlm Automotive customizes vans for various auto manufacturers Read Less