Senior Controller

(Job ID: 1972)

Fullerton, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Manufacturing

$180,000 – $200,000 base

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Overview

Stepping into a senior finance leadership position within a well-established Southern California-based manufacturer and distributor of natural and organic food products, this role centers on steering the company’s IPO readiness and elevating its technical accounting and internal control frameworks. Reporting directly to the CFO, the successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams through complex SEC reporting and SOX compliance initiatives, shaping the financial reporting landscape as the company prepares to transition into the public markets. Expertise in US GAAP, audit coordination, and scalable control design will be essential to navigate this transformative phase.

Title: Senior Controller
Industry: Packaged Foods Manufacturing
Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive technical accounting analyses, including revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, and lease accounting, while preparing detailed memos to support policy implementation.
Coordinate with external auditors and advisors to validate accounting positions and ensure compliance with public company standards during IPO preparation.
Develop and maintain IPO readiness documentation, including financial disclosures, footnotes, and schedules aligned with SEC expectations.
Design and implement a robust SOX control framework, identifying key financial processes such as revenue, payroll, equity, and close activities, and oversee testing and remediation efforts.
Manage the internal IPO Transformation Task Force, driving collaboration across Accounting, FP&A, Legal, HR, and IT to meet critical milestones and mitigate risks.
Standardize and enhance accounting close processes by identifying workflow inefficiencies and control gaps in partnership with accounting leadership.
Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors and public accounting firms, translating regulatory guidance into actionable internal controls and reporting requirements.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
- CPA certification with 10–15+ years of progressive experience in accounting and IPO readiness, preferably within late-stage private or IPO-bound companies.
- Deep knowledge of US GAAP technical accounting standards, including ASC 606, ASC 718, and ASC 842.
- Proven track record working alongside Big 4 auditors and managing public accounting relationships.
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing SOX controls and internal control frameworks.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage complex projects under tight deadlines.
- Advanced proficiency in Oracle ERP and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
Nice-to-Have:
- Bilingual proficiency in Korean.
- Experience supporting audit committee and board-level financial reporting preparation.
- Familiarity with financial systems implementation and integration supporting SEC reporting and close controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do companies mis-hire Controllers?
Because they hire for technical completeness instead of business fit. A Controller is not just a senior accountant with a larger title. Depending on the company, the role may center on close leadership, team management, audit coordination, cash visibility, lender support, or helping the CFO create better financial discipline. Hiring mistakes happen when a company has not clearly defined which version of the role it actually needs.
What separates a strong Controller from a merely experienced one?
Judgment. A strong Controller does more than run the close and maintain order. They improve visibility, create control, elevate the team, anticipate issues before they become reporting problems, and communicate risk clearly to leadership. Experience matters, but it is not the same thing as operating with authority.
Why is manufacturing accounting and finance talent difficult to hire well?
Because manufacturing environments expose weak operators quickly. The work touches inventory, costing, margins, controls, operations, and often plant-level realities. Employers are not just hiring accounting knowledge. They are hiring someone who can function inside an operational business where the numbers have to connect to what is happening on the floor.
Why is direct SOX or SEC reporting experience still so valuable?
Because it usually reflects exposure to real deadlines, real scrutiny, and repeatable compliance discipline. It is difficult to simulate that background without having lived it, and the learning curve can be expensive in roles where reporting accuracy and controls matter immediately.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.

Senior Controller — Fullerton, California | Pacific Executive Search