Assistant Controller

Optima Office • San Diego, CA

35d • $130,000 - $140,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Our client is looking for an Assistant Controller who is experienced and hands-on to own the financial operations of a fast-moving, multi-contract distribution company. This is a genuine leadership role requiring financial judgment, team management, and technical proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The Assistant Controller will be responsible for the full accounting function including month-end close, accounts receivable, accounts payable, treasury management, tax compliance, and the day-to-day integrity of our client's financial records. The Assistant Controller will directly supervise a team of 4–6 accounting professionals across on-site and offshore functions and will serve as the primary internal authority on Business Central. Our client works with us for month-end close support, payroll, benefits administration, and commissions. The Assistant Controller will work in close coordination with our Optima team while owning accountability for all accounting outcomes.

Requirements

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) — demonstrated, hands-on experience. This is an absolute requirement per our fractional controller. Candidates without direct BC experience will not be considered regardless of other qualifications.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 2 years in an Assistant Controller, Senior Accounting Manager, or equivalent role
• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing an accounting team — not just doing the work, but leading others who do it
• Proven month-end close ownership — able to manage a close calendar, coordinate with external partners, and ensure the period closes accurately and on time
• Sales tax compliance experience (CDTFA or equivalent state tax authority) — filing and remittance, not just recording
• Experience managing multiple bank accounts and credit card reconciliations in an ERP environment
• Strong prioritization skills — ability to identify and execute on high-impact tasks while appropriately delegating or deferring lower-priority items
• Reliable transportation and ability to work fully on-site in El Cajon, CA — this is not a remote or hybrid position
• Proactive communicator — alerts management to risks and missed deadlines before they become problems, not after
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job for which you are applying

Nice To Haves

• Experience in wholesale distribution, MRO supply, government contracting, or a similarly multi-contract, high-transaction-volume environment
• Familiarity with RAMP expense management platform and its BC integration
• Experience with CashPro banking platform or equivalent ACH/NACHA file management
• Experience managing offshore or remote accounting team members
• Experience working alongside a fractional controller or outsourced accounting firm
• Exposure to government contract revenue recognition or multi-contract accounting
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA not required — our client has an external CPA for tax planning and income tax preparation)
• Experience building or improving accounting SOPs in a growing company
• Familiarity with CDTFA, PTET, and California-specific tax compliance obligations

Responsibilities

• Own and coordinate the full month-end close process in partnership with Optima's fractional controller
• Ensure all journal entries are posted accurately and on time: prepaid expenses, depreciation, commission accruals, payroll JEs, accrued payroll, ASC lease entries
• Prepare and maintain the balance sheet reconciliation file
• Coordinate Grainger rebate accrual and statement reconciliation
• Ensure the financial period is closed in Business Central on schedule
• Review and approve the management financial reporting package (targeting the 12th of each month)
• Supervise all AR functions including customer invoice generation, credit card processing, check scanning, deposit processing via CashPro, and customer payment application in BC
• Oversee SJSU weekly summary billing and ProCo portal integration and error resolution
• Manage AR unapplied payments and ensure timely customer ledger reconciliation
• Supervise collections activities through Summer Corsaro; ensure aging AR is actively managed
• Supervise all AP functions including vendor invoice entry in BC, RAMP expense management, non-RAMP vendor expense posting, and vendor credit memo processing
• Oversee vendor payment scheduling via CashPro ACH and NACHA file methods
• Manage vendor credit applications and vendor credit requests
• Ensure PBE vendor invoice and general vendor invoice issues (UOM, pricing, sales tax, RMAs) are resolved accurately and promptly
• Manage daily cash position across BofA Checking, Chase Checking, WCMA accounts, and BofA Line of Credit
• Oversee all bank and credit card reconciliations (target: completed by the 5th of each month)
• Monitor liquidity and working capital; escalate cash flow concerns proactively to ownership
• Manage CashPro banking platform for ACH and wire transactions
• Own CDTFA sales tax reporting and timely remittance — no missed deadlines
• Manage quarterly estimated income tax payments on behalf of the corporation and company officers in coordination with our client's external CPA
• Ensure PTET tax payments are submitted on or before internal deadlines
• Maintain all tax compliance calendars and provide 48-hour advance notice to ownership if any deadline is at risk
• Serve as the primary internal escalation point when Business Central transactions are not flowing correctly — posting errors, integration failures, payment reconciliation issues, and ProCo portal discrepancies
• Triage accounting questions from the operations and sales teams quickly and effectively — distinguish material issues requiring immediate attention from immaterial issues that can be resolved routinely
• Coordinate with BC support resources as needed; document recurring issues and implement process improvements to reduce future errors
• Directly supervise and develop internal staff, and a new offshore AR specialist
• Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and hold team members accountable for deadlines and accuracy
• Delegate effectively — distinguish tasks requiring Assistant Controller-level judgment from tasks that can and should be handled by the team
• Build and maintain SOPs for all accounting functions; identify gaps and create new SOPs where none exist
• Support onboarding and cross-training of team members
• Serve as our client's internal Business Central authority — troubleshoot system issues, train team members, and identify workflow improvements
• Lead the implementation of inventory management in BC (not yet active)
• Maintain and improve the RAMP expense management integration with BC
• Identify opportunities to automate or systematize recurring accounting tasks

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision through our clients group plan
• Competitive PTO package; accrual-based
• Discretionary performance bonus, based on company performance and individual contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree