The purpose of the Controller is to provide exceptional service to all associates and oversee the preparation of the financial statements for their assigned dealerships. The Controller ensures that the balance sheet and income statement are in accordance with GAAP and develops and implements processes to improve the compliance and safeguarding of company information as related to accounting functions. The Controller will work directly with the Dealer Principal, General Manager, and Department Directors to ensure accurate and timely reporting of all financial transactions and postings. The controller will manage a team to ensure all related payables and receivables are recorded accurately and paid or collected timely.
Responsibilities
The Controller supports the entire accounting function and financial reporting for our dealership. This position will work closely with management and other departments to help ensure harmonious and productive operations, which will help maximize the success of the dealership. Successful Candidates must be able to maintain excellent business relations with customers, both internally and externally. Candidates will also be expected to help develop and motivate accounting associates to ensure that performance metrics are being met or exceeded.
Essential Responsibilities of the Controller:
The Controller will manage and oversee the preparation of the financial statements for multiple dealerships.
Reviews overall accounting accuracy and completeness of retail and wholesale deals to assure that company policies and internal control measures are being followed
Hires, trains, develops, and supervises Office Managers, and accounting staff, including accounts payable and accounts receivable clerks
Monitors deal flow between the F&I office and the billing clerks and investigates deals as needed
Provides weekly reporting on gross variances and deals not posted to accounting within the F&I office
Verifies that the pack accounts are correctly stated
Attends manager meetings throughout the year at the dealerships and maintains communications with the Corporate Leadership Team to ensure compliance with all accounting policies and procedures
Identifies internal control issues by reviewing existing policies, verifying changes in authorized personnel
Assist in year-end audit preparation
Knows and understands the Company’s Privacy and Information Security Policy and adheres to its requirements
Holds weekly staff meetings with direct reports
Oversee the financial statement preparation for assigned dealerships
Manage appropriate accounting processes and associated checks and balances to ensure that daily, weekly, monthly, and annual accounting information is accurate and correctly reflects the financial position of all dealership entities
Prepare monthly financial statements within the first week of the month. Analyze and review monthly results with appropriate dealership management and assist in the development of actionable items to correct and enhance dealership profitability
Forecasting financial goals for each quarter and annually to maintain the dealership's profitability
Maintain a strong working knowledge of dealership DMS (Tekion) reporting software.
Analyze and develop reports to assist dealership operations in reaching budget and profitability goals
Plan and assist with the year-end review of accounting records by an outside accounting firm
Reviewing all financial statements and ledgers, and working with the accounting staff to clear up any discrepancies
Manage banking operations, which include cash management, disbursement, receipt management, and related reconciliation and reporting
Manage product, staff, and ensure accurate processing of all work
Manage daily bank deposits and commercial billing
Manage expense reporting software and compliance
Requirements
High School diploma or equivalent
Three years of experience in a dealership position required
Working knowledge of dealership financial statements
Ability to explain technical financial information in an understandable manner