Associate Director, Corporate Controller

Mizkan America•Schaumburg, IL

41d•$175,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Corporate Controller leads Mizkan America’s corporate accounting operations for U.S. legal entities and is accountable for accurate, complete, timely, and compliant financial reporting. The role oversees the monthly close, financial reporting, general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, credit, collections, deductions, customer accounting, tax coordination, internal controls, and account reconciliations. Reporting to the Vice President, Finance and Accounting, the Associate Director partners with finance and business leaders, develops accounting talent, and drives process improvements, operational discipline, and strong controls. The role is based at Mizkan America’s corporate office in Schaumburg, Illinois, with a hybrid schedule: onsite Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on other scheduled days, subject to business needs and company guidelines. Employees work at least eight hours per day and 40 or more hours per week. Core hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday; start and end times may be flexible between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Additional onsite attendance, schedule flexibility, or business travel may occasionally be needed. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business and 8–12 years of progressive accounting experience, including 3–5 years of accounting leadership experience. The annual salary range is $175,000–$200,000, and the position is eligible for Mizkan’s Short-Term Incentive Plan. It is not eligible for overtime pay.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business.
8–12 years of progressive accounting experience with increasing responsibility.
3–5 years of accounting leadership experience managing teams and developing talent.
Experience leading corporate accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, customer accounting, credit, collections, deductions, financial reporting, and account reconciliations.
Experience supporting external audits, internal controls, compliance activities, and financial reporting requirements.
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
Strong understanding of financial reporting, financial analysis, account reconciliations, and internal controls.
Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Strong attention to detail, organization, and project management capabilities.
Excellent communication, presentation, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; the employer cannot provide or assume employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Ability to remain seated at a workstation for extended periods, up to 8 hours per day.
Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and operating office equipment; ability to view computer screens and read printed materials for prolonged periods.
Occasional standing, walking, reaching, and movement within the office environment.
Ability to lift and carry office supplies or equipment weighing up to 10–15 pounds.
Adequate hearing and speech capabilities to communicate in person and through telephone and video conferencing platforms.

Nice To Haves

CPA strongly preferred.
IFRS experience, including transition support, first-time adoption activities, documentation, audit support, and remediation efforts, strongly preferred.
MBA and/or a master’s degree in Accounting or Finance preferred.
Experience with Microsoft Dynamics D365, Power BI, or similar ERP and reporting platforms preferred.
Experience in food and beverage manufacturing and/or consumer products industries highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Direct corporate accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit, collections, deductions, customer accounting, and financial reporting.
Implement and maintain accounting policies, procedures, systems, and operating disciplines to support accurate, timely, compliant reporting.
Partner with the Vice President, Finance and Accounting, and other business leaders on accounting priorities, governance, and cross-functional initiatives.
Drive process improvements, standardization, automation, and accounting best practices.
Lead the monthly close and ensure results are complete, accurate, timely, and supported by appropriate documentation.
Oversee preparation and review of monthly financial statements and management reporting packages, including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, budgets, and variance analyses.
Ensure disciplined account reviews and reconciliations and strong general ledger controls.
Review close deliverables and reporting packages, and ensure issues are identified, escalated, and resolved.
Monitor accounting performance metrics and implement corrective actions to improve close effectiveness, reporting quality, and team performance.
Ensure compliance with monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements and deadlines.
Lead external audit activities, including planning, information requests, issue resolution, and remediation.
Support IFRS-related accounting activities, including transition requirements, documentation, audit support, and remediation as needed.
Oversee accounting support for valuation analyses, impairment reviews, carrying value assessments, and other technical accounting requirements.
Ensure compliance with statutory payroll, property tax, regulatory reporting, and company policy requirements.
Maintain internal controls, process documentation, audit trails, and corrective action plans to mitigate financial reporting risk.
Partner with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen working capital through oversight of receivables, payables, credit, and collections.
Monitor receivables performance and credit exposure to identify, escalate, and mitigate risks.
Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of accounting data, reconciliations, analyses, and reporting outputs.
Oversee special accounting projects and ad hoc analyses, ensuring conclusions and recommendations are supported by sound accounting principles and financial analysis.
Provide accounting guidance and interpretation of financial results, partnering with FP&A, finance leadership, and business stakeholders.
Ensure consistency among accounting records, management reporting, and external reporting requirements; support business decisions with timely financial analysis and accounting expertise.
Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team through performance management, mentoring, and career development.
Set clear expectations and foster accountability and ownership across the accounting organization.
Support succession planning and capability development; promote collaboration and alignment across finance and cross-functional teams.
Lead initiatives to improve accounting operations, controls, reporting quality, and service delivery; recognize achievement, provide feedback, and address performance concerns.