Corporate Controller - New Orleans

Purpose of the job:

Hoist & Crane Service Group is seeking an experienced Corporate Controller to serve as the senior accounting leader of a $150M revenue, private equity-backed industrial services business operating across 30 branch locations. Reporting directly to the CFO and partnering closely with the FP&A Manager, the Corporate Controller owns the integrity of the general ledger, the monthly close process, financial reporting, internal controls, multi-state sales tax compliance, and all audit activity. This role leads a team of eight across general accounting, AP, AR, and payroll, and will play a central role in an active technology transformation agenda spanning sales tax automation, AP and AR workflow automation, and treasury management. This is a hands-on leadership role for an operator who takes pride in clean books, disciplined controls, and building scalable systems.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Financial Close & Reporting

• Own the monthly close process end-to-end with a target of Business Day 12; oversee journal entries, account reconciliations, intercompany eliminations, and the close checklist across the team.
• Produce accurate, GAAP-compliant financial statements each period - income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement - and deliver to the CFO on schedule.
• Partner with the FP&A Manager to ensure actual results are accurately loaded and explainable in management reporting packages delivered to the PE sponsor.
• Maintain the integrity and organization of the general ledger; enforce consistent chart of accounts and cost center discipline across all 30 branch locations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements and filing deadlines.

Multi-State Sales Tax Compliance

• Own sales tax compliance across all 30 branch locations, spanning multiple states and jurisdictions; ensure accurate, timely filing of all returns.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of a sales tax automation platform (e.g., Avalara, Vertex) to replace manual processes and scale with the branch footprint.
• Manage nexus determinations, exemption certificate administration, and taxability analysis for services and equipment; stay current on legislative changes across active jurisdictions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for sales tax audits; coordinate with external advisors as needed.
• Partner with operations and sales teams to ensure proper tax treatment is applied at the point of billing across all locations.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Design, document, and maintain a robust internal control environment that safeguards company assets and ensures policy compliance across a 30-branch operating structure.
• Establish and enforce month-end close checklists, standard operating procedures, and accounting policy documentation.
• Continuously evaluate accounting processes; identify and drive improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability as the business grows.
• Drive a culture of financial accountability and control-consciousness throughout the organization.

Technology Transformation

• Champion and project-manage the automation initiatives currently underway: sales tax, AP workflow automation, AR automation, and treasury management system implementation.
• Define requirements, manage vendor relationships, coordinate with IT, and drive adoption across the finance team and impacted business units.
• Identify additional opportunities to leverage technology to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and scale the accounting function without proportional headcount growth.
• Evaluate and enhance the ERP environment to better support a multi-location, multi-entity structure.

Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Oversight

• Oversee the AP function (2 clerks): ensure timely and accurate vendor invoice processing, payment runs, and vendor reconciliations; enforce proper approval workflows and segregation of duties; lead the transition to AP automation.
• Oversee the AR function (2 clerks): monitor customer billing, collections activity, DSO trends, and aging across all branches; lead the transition to AR automation and ensure revenue is recorded accurately and timely.
• Provide weekly AR/AP visibility to the FP&A Manager to support cash flow forecasting and working capital planning

Payroll Oversight.

• Provide oversight and direction to the Payroll Manager; ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations across 30 locations.
• Review and approve payroll journal entries and reconciliations; ensure payroll-related liabilities are properly accrued and reported on the balance sheet.
• Partner with HR on compensation changes, new hire onboarding, and benefits accounting to ensure accurate and timely recording.

Cash & Treasury Management

• Manage daily cash positioning and produce weekly cash flow forecasts to ensure adequate liquidity for operations and capital needs.
• Lead the implementation of a treasury management system to automate cash visibility, bank reconciliations, and intercompany funding across the branch network.
• Coordinate with the FP&A Manager on working capital targets and cash flow planning.

Audit, Tax & External Compliance

• Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors during annual audits and interim reviews; coordinate all deliverables and ensure timely, clean completion.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors; oversee income tax compliance across all jurisdictions and coordinate on tax strategy as directed by the CFO.
• Ensure timely filing of all income tax returns, sales/use tax returns, and other statutory obligations.

M&A & Transaction Support

• Support financial due diligence for add-on acquisitions, including preparation of supporting schedules and coordination of financial data requests.
• Lead accounting integration of acquired entities, including chart of accounts alignment, ERP and sales tax system onboarding, and opening balance sheet review.
• Assist the CFO with exit preparation activities, including normalization adjustments and data room financial file organization.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, develop, and retain a team of 8 accounting professionals across senior accounting, staff accounting, AP, AR, and payroll; set clear expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and create professional growth opportunities.
• Serve as a player-coach where needed - willing to get hands-on with complex reconciliations, technical accounting issues, or system implementation work while maintaining strategic oversight of the team.
• Foster a culture of urgency, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the accounting function.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor''s degree in accounting, finance, or relevant field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
• Prior experience managing a multi-function accounting team spanning general accounting, AP, AR, and/or payroll.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-state sales tax compliance; working knowledge of nexus rules, exemption certificates, and multi-jurisdiction filing obligations.
• Thorough command of GAAP, financial reporting standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in a private equity-backed, sponsor-owned, or similarly performance-driven business environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a disciplined monthly close process and produce timely, accurate financial statements.
• Strong knowledge of internal controls design and implementation in a multi-location environment.
• Proven leadership and team-building skills with a track record of developing accounting professionals at multiple levels.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with mid-market ERP platforms (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics).
• Excellent communication skills; able to present financial information clearly to the CFO, operational leadership, and external parties.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA (active or inactive)
• Public accounting experience (Big 4 or regional firm)
• Hands-on experience implementing or managing a sales tax automation platform (e.g., Avalara, Vertex)
• Experience leading or participating in finance technology implementations (AP automation, AR automation, treasury management systems)
• Industry experience in field services, industrial services, or equipment; familiarity with job costing and service revenue recognition
• Experience supporting M&A financial due diligence or post-acquisition accounting integration
• Experience working alongside a dedicated FP&A function with clearly defined swim lanes
• MBA or Master''s in Accounting or Finance

The qualified candidate will be able to pass drug, alcohol, background, and motor vehicle check.