Controller

Overview

A membership-driven luxury apparel brand based in Southern California is building out its finance leadership with a Controller focused on inventory management and financial operations. This hands-on role, reporting directly to senior leadership, offers the chance to shape cash flow forecasting, KPI reporting, and financial data-room readiness as the company prepares for growth and a future equity raise. Candidates with experience in accounting management, particularly within consumer products or apparel, will find a unique challenge in overseeing complex financial processes in a fast-evolving environment.

Title: Controller
Industry: Luxury Menswear Apparel
Location: West Los Angeles

Responsibilities

• Maintain and update a detailed 13-week cash flow forecast, integrating collections, payroll, taxes, supplier commitments, and debt obligations to clarify available versus committed funds and guide decision-making.
• Manage the full accounting cycle including reconciliations, monthly close, and the upkeep of organized financial records aligned with GAAP standards and supporting schedules.
• Oversee inventory tracking, including goods in transit and supplier commitments, while analyzing profitability across product categories and sales channels factoring in discounts, freight, and returns.
• Develop and monitor budgets, forecasts, and long-term business plans, evaluating financial impacts of hiring, production, pricing, and membership growth initiatives.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive KPI dashboard with clearly defined metrics covering revenue, margins, cash flow, inventory, and operating expenses, ensuring alignment with accounting data.
• Support preparation for growth-equity fundraising by building financial models, organizing investor data rooms, and responding to due diligence inquiries with accuracy and efficiency.
• Establish and enforce financial controls and workflows, including payment reconciliations, purchasing approvals, payroll funding, and integration of accounting systems such as QuickBooks or ERP platforms.

Qualifications

• Must-Have:
  • Proven experience managing inventory and financial operations within a consumer products or apparel-focused company.
  • Strong background in accounting management, including month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain detailed cash flow forecasts and budget planning in a fast-moving environment.
  • Hands-on familiarity with QuickBooks Enterprise or similar ERP systems, with the ability to streamline workflows and controls.
  • Comfort working fully onsite in a Southern California location, collaborating closely with senior leadership.
  • Ambition to grow into a Controller role, with a readiness to take on increasing responsibility in a scaling business.
• Nice-to-Have:
  • Experience supporting fundraising efforts, including financial modeling and investor data-room management.
  • Background in membership-based or direct-to-consumer business models.
  • Familiarity with apparel industry financial nuances, though manufacturing experience is not required.