Controller - Boston, MA

Element Partners•Boston, MA

70d•Onsite

About The Position

The Automotive Controller is responsible for reporting the financial condition of the total dealership to the dealer/general manager regularly and accurately. This role provides sales and expense analyses, summarizing potential problem areas and opportunities for improved profitability relative to monthly and annual forecasts. The Controller prepares a complete financial statement monthly according to dealership guidelines and manufacturer formats, ensuring all manufacturer accounts are current and accurate. They interpret financial statements and daily operating controls, informing the dealer of developing trends, and participate in preparing short- and long-term financial forecasts. The position provides department managers with detailed financial and management reports, maintains an effective cash management system, and directs the assessment of depreciation rates. Responsibilities include reviewing the general ledger, investigating unusual entries, and ensuring proper reconciliation of accounts. The Controller stays abreast of tax code revisions, ensures compliance with government finance regulations, and manages the dealership computer system. They administer a loss review program, evaluate insurance renewals, purchase property and liability insurance, and process all insurance claims. The role also coordinates annual audits and physical inventories, supervises office personnel to ensure proper accounting procedures, and strives to improve data integrity. Attendance at manager meetings and maintaining a professional appearance are also required, along with other assigned tasks.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Four to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
Ability to write simple correspondence.
Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients and other employees of the organization.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Responsibilities

Prepares a complete financial statement monthly according to dealership guidelines and within each manufacturer's format and time frame.
Ensures that all manufacturer accounts, including warranty claims, rebates, interest protection and co-op advertising are current and accurate.
Interprets the financial statement and the daily operating control (DOC) regularly and informs dealer of developing trends.
Participates in the preparation of short- and long-term financial forecasts for the dealership.
Provides department managers with detailed financial and management reports.
Maintains an effective cash management system that forecasts cash funds and makes recommendations for the profitable use of excess cash.
Directs assessment of depreciation rates to apply to capital assets.
Reviews the general ledger and scheduled accounts. Notes any unusual entries and investigates.
Reviews the reconciliation of general ledger accounts with outside sources to ensure proper bank reconciliation, reserve accounts, factory payable and floor plan payable.
Stays abreast of tax code revisions and advises dealer regarding any operational adjustments needed to accommodate revisions.
Ensures compliance with all applicable government finance regulations, including filing and/or maintaining of required forms, payroll taxes and deposits, income taxes, retirement plan records etc.
Manages the dealership computer system to maximize utilization.
Administers a loss review program and maintains loss reserves for contingent liabilities and trade receivables.
Meets with dealer to evaluate all insurance renewals.
Purchases property and liability insurance.
Prepares and processes all insurance claims.
Coordinates annual audit (or review) and physical inventory.
Ensures that all office personnel are using proper accounting procedures and maintaining accurate records and analyses and supervises the preparation of all information for the CPA in order to minimize audit or review costs.
Continually strives to improve data integrity and information reporting throughout the dealership.
Attends managers meetings.
Maintains professional appearance.
Other tasks as assigned.