Controller - San Fernando Valley, CA

Element Partners•Los Angeles, CA

11d

About The Position

The Automotive Controller reports the dealership’s financial condition to the dealer or general manager regularly and accurately. The role provides sales and expense analyses to identify potential problems and opportunities to improve profitability against monthly and annual forecasts. It oversees financial reporting, cash management, accounting procedures, regulatory compliance, insurance, audits, inventory, and the dealership computer system, while working with the dealer and department managers to support sound financial operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or one to two years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Related experience and/or training of two to four years, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Related experience and/or training of four to ten years, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read, comprehend, analyze, and interpret instructions, correspondence, business and professional publications, technical procedures, governmental regulations, financial reports, and legal documents, at levels suited to assigned duties.
Ability to write correspondence, routine reports, business correspondence, procedure manuals, and other written materials, and to present information effectively to individuals and groups, including management and public audiences.
Ability to perform arithmetic, calculate rates, ratios, percentages, discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and measurements, interpret bar graphs, and apply algebra, geometry, probability, and statistical inference concepts to practical situations.
Ability to apply common-sense reasoning to written, oral, or diagrammed instructions; solve practical problems; establish facts; draw valid conclusions; and handle concrete and abstract variables.

Responsibilities

Prepare a complete monthly financial statement according to dealership guidelines and manufacturer formats and deadlines.
Ensure manufacturer accounts, including warranty claims, rebates, interest protection, and co-op advertising, are current and accurate.
Interpret financial statements and the daily operating control (DOC), and inform the dealer of developing trends.
Participate in preparing short- and long-term dealership financial forecasts.
Provide department managers with detailed financial and management reports.
Maintain a cash management system that forecasts funds and recommends profitable uses for excess cash.
Direct assessment of depreciation rates for capital assets.
Review the general ledger and scheduled accounts, identify unusual entries, and investigate them.
Review reconciliations of general ledger accounts against outside sources, including bank reconciliations, reserve accounts, factory payable, and floor plan payable.
Stay informed about tax code revisions and advise the dealer about operational adjustments needed to accommodate them.
Ensure compliance with applicable government finance regulations, including required forms and records, payroll taxes and deposits, income taxes, and retirement plan records.
Manage the dealership computer system to maximize utilization.
Administer a loss review program and maintain loss reserves for contingent liabilities and trade receivables.
Meet with the dealer to evaluate insurance renewals.
Purchase property and liability insurance.
Prepare and process insurance claims.
Coordinate the annual audit or review and physical inventory.
Ensure office personnel use proper accounting procedures and maintain accurate records and analyses; supervise preparation of information for the CPA to minimize audit or review costs.
Continually improve dealership data integrity and information reporting.
Attend managers meetings.
Maintain a professional appearance.
Perform other tasks as assigned.