Controller

EBSCO Industries Inc•Panama City Beach, FL

About The Position

Alys Beach is seeking a Controller to lead accounting and financial reporting across a diverse collection of businesses, including residential construction, real estate development, resort hospitality, vacation rentals, commercial retail and leasing, and related operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller will lead the accounting organization, strengthen financial reporting and internal controls, develop accounting professionals, and help shape the future of Finance at Alys Beach. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a technically strong accounting professional who understands how businesses operate, enjoys solving problems and developing people, and is committed to continuous improvement. Strong accounting leadership experience in construction and development or hospitality and resort operations is highly valued. The role also calls for curiosity about artificial intelligence, automation, modern data platforms, and emerging tools that can improve accounting and Finance. The Controller will oversee accounting and reporting across multiple entities, operating businesses, and profit centers; support budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and business decision-making; and partner with the CFO and operational leaders. The position will help modernize accounting processes and financial reporting while maintaining data security, human oversight, auditability, and internal controls.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
Significant progressive accounting experience, including demonstrated leadership responsibility as a Controller or in an equivalent position.
Exceptional technical accounting skills, including GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and complex accounting transactions.
Strong experience in hospitality, resort operations, construction, real estate development, or similarly complex businesses.
Experience leading accounting teams, budgeting, financial analysis, and multi-entity reporting.
Demonstrated ability to master unfamiliar accounting disciplines and solve complex financial problems independently.
Strong business judgment, analytical thinking, communication skills, and operational curiosity.
Genuine interest in using AI, automation, and modern technology to improve accounting processes and financial decision-making.
Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and commitment to continuous learning.
Candidates without direct construction and development experience must demonstrate the technical accounting foundation and intellectual curiosity necessary to develop expertise in those disciplines.
Candidates whose experience is primarily in construction and development must demonstrate the ability and commitment to develop expertise in hospitality and commercial operating businesses.

Nice To Haves

CPA strongly preferred.
Experience with residential construction, real estate development, hospitality, private clubs, vacation rentals, or commercial leasing.
Experience with Sage 300, Jonas, SAP, Snowflake, or comparable systems.
Experience improving ERP environments, data integration, financial reporting, or accounting workflows.
Practical experience applying AI, automation, business intelligence, or advanced analytical tools to Finance.
Experience within a diversified, privately held organization or subsidiary of a larger corporate parent.

Responsibilities

Lead the accounting organization across multiple entities, operating businesses, and profit centers.
Oversee general ledger accounting, reconciliations, monthly and annual close, financial reporting, and accounting policies.
Meet or exceed corporate reporting deadlines while maintaining strong financial controls and GAAP compliance.
Coordinate corporate reporting, consolidation support, intercompany accounting, audits, and external requirements.
Develop accounting personnel through coaching, cross-training, accountability, and succession planning.
Partner with the CFO and operating leadership to improve financial transparency, decision-making, and profitability.
Oversee residential construction accounting, including company-built homes and contracted custom homes.
Ensure accurate job costing, work-in-progress reporting, cost-to-complete estimates, revenue recognition, and project margin analysis.
Oversee development accounting, including land costs, capitalization, common cost allocations, interest capitalization, and impairment considerations.
Partner with construction and development leadership to strengthen forecasting, purchasing controls, project cost management, and profitability.
Identify financial risks and recommend corrective action.
Oversee accounting and reporting for resort hospitality, amenities, vacation rentals, retail, and commercial leasing.
Strengthen financial reporting across individual profit centers, including revenue, labor costs, operating expenses, and profitability.
Ensure accounting for hospitality revenue, owner transactions, applicable taxes, commercial leases, and tenant receivables.
Partner with operational leaders to understand business performance, evaluate opportunities, and improve financial outcomes.
Identify opportunities to apply AI and automation to reconciliations, transaction analysis, reporting, forecasting, workflow management, and financial controls.
Explore ways to connect and improve financial information across systems, including Sage 300, Jonas, SAP, and data platforms such as Snowflake.
Evaluate AI-enabled tools and agents to reduce repetitive work, improve accuracy, and expand the analytical capacity of the accounting team.
Collaborate with the CFO, IT, and corporate resources to evaluate and implement improvements.
Maintain data security, human oversight, auditability, and internal controls when introducing new technology.
Foster curiosity, continuous learning, and responsible experimentation within Finance.
Lead annual budgeting and support forecasting across operating businesses.
Strengthen financial analysis and management reporting capabilities.
Translate financial results into actionable insights for business leaders.
Evaluate financial performance, cost structures, capital investments, and improvement opportunities.
Partner with the CFO on strategic initiatives and enterprise-wide financial improvements.