Manager, Assistant Controller

ssistant Controller - Accounting Operations

Position Summary

Reporting to the North America Regional Controller, the Assistant Controller - Accounting Operations is responsible for leading transactional accounting operations, with primary responsibility for Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, billing, collections, and cash application across the region.

This role combines hands-on operational leadership with people management, process improvement, internal controls, and cross-functional partnership. The Assistant Controller will establish clear accountability, improve service levels and working capital performance, and develop scalable processes across AP and AR. The ideal candidate brings strong AP/AR expertise, accounting knowledge, demonstrated people leadership, and a track record of improving transactional accounting operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. AP/AR & Accounting Operations

• Lead Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, billing, collections, cash application, and related transactional accounting processes.

• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete processing of supplier invoices, customer invoices, receipts, credit memos, payments, and reconciliations.

• Monitor invoice approvals, payment runs, vendor setup, collections activity, dispute resolution, and customer account health.

• Analyze aging trends, unapplied cash, overdue balances, payment terms, and other drivers of working capital performance.

• Develop and monitor KPIs for AP and AR performance, including accuracy, cycle times, aging, collections, and service levels.

• Partner with Procurement, Operations, Sales, and Customer Service to resolve supplier and customer issues efficiently.

2. Controls & Process Improvement

• Maintain strong internal controls across AP, AR, billing, collections, cash application, and related processes.

• Review key reconciliations, accruals, reserves, aging reports, and other accounting schedules within assigned areas.

• Identify control gaps, operational risks, and process bottlenecks and drive practical solutions.

• Standardize and document procedures to improve consistency, strengthen controls, and reduce manual work.

• Drive automation and process improvements across transactional accounting activities.

• Support ERP enhancements, workflow redesign, testing, and implementation of finance tools.

3. Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop AP/AR and other assigned accounting team members.

• Establish clear roles, priorities, service expectations, and accountability across transactional accounting functions.

• Provide ongoing coaching, development, and performance feedback to build a high-performing team.

• Foster a culture of accuracy, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and strong customer and vendor partnership.

• Support hiring, onboarding, organizational development, and succession planning within assigned areas.

4. Strategic & Operational Support

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities, with primary responsibility for AP/AR-related accounts and accruals.

• Partner with the Controller, FP&A, IT, Operations, Procurement, Commercial, and other business leaders on cross-functional initiatives.

• Provide reporting and analysis on AP/AR performance, working capital, service levels, and operational trends.

• Support internal and external audit requirements and ensure readiness of supporting documentation.

• Lead or support finance transformation initiatives and other projects impacting accounting operations.

• Partner effectively with shared services and other finance organizations to drive accountability, consistent processes, and issue resolution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful responsibility for AP and AR operations.

• 2+ years of people leadership or direct management experience preferred.

• Experience in an Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, Senior Accounting Manager, AP/AR leadership, or similar role.

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, month-end close, reconciliations, internal controls, and transactional accounting.

• Demonstrated experience leading process improvements, automation, or system implementations.

• Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel; experience with automated workflow tools is a plus.

• Manufacturing or other complex, multi-site operating environment experience preferred.

• CPA or CPA-track preferred but not required.

• Strong analytical problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and project-management skills.

• Ability to prioritize effectively and operate with accountability in a fast-paced environment.