Controller

NorthMark Strategies • Houston, TX

10d

About The Position

Westlawn, a Houston-based private investment firm focused on long-term investment in the global oil and gas industry, is seeking a Controller to lead the accounting function across its multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction portfolio. The role owns the accurate and timely close, accounting data integrity and controls, financial reporting under US GAAP and IFRS, external audits, and payment and cash-disbursement controls. It also advances accounting modernization through systems optimization and AI-enabled workflows.

The Controller oversees general ledger accounting, consolidations, reconciliations, intercompany activity, and cost reimbursements; manages external audits; and leads financial reporting for US and international entities. The position provides technical oversight of primarily non-operated oil and gas accounting, including revenue, joint ventures, joint interest billings, DD&A, depletion, ARO, impairment, lease operating statements, and field-level cost reporting. It manages international accounting across currencies and jurisdictions, supports local statutory reporting, and optimizes Quorum ODA and related accounting processes.

The Controller leads, develops, and mentors the current five-person accounting team and partners with operations, treasury, and finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and analysis. The role requires an active CPA, substantial progressive accounting experience, upstream oil and gas accounting expertise, advanced Excel skills, and hands-on use of AI or automation tools. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Requirements

• Active CPA license.
• 8–10+ years of progressive accounting experience with increasing scope and leadership responsibility.
• Upstream oil and gas accounting experience.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Hands-on use of AI tools, automation, or agentic workflows in an accounting or finance context.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or at any time in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Strong preference for non-operated working-interest accounting experience and deep knowledge of non-op revenue, JIB review/audit, COPAS, AFE elections, DD&A, and ARO.
• Financial statement preparation under both US GAAP and IFRS.
• Hands-on experience with Quorum ODA; comparable oil and gas platforms such as Enertia, PakEnergy/WolfePak, W Energy, or P2 BOLO/Excalibur are also considered.
• Big 4 public accounting foundation, preferably audit or assurance work serving energy clients.
• International or multi-entity accounting experience, including multi-currency FX consolidation and foreign-jurisdiction statutory reporting.
• Experience in an investment-manager or fund environment.
• Experience leading an accounting system implementation or conversion.

Responsibilities

• Own and improve the close schedule, ensuring accurate and timely completion.
• Control the integrity, completeness, and accuracy of accounting data across all entities.
• Own the general ledger, consolidations, and account reconciliations across the multi-entity structure.
• Partner with the NMS corporate team on required cost reimbursements and intercompany entries.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, and close discipline.
• Liaise with Treasury on payment and cash-disbursement controls, including banking-instruction integrity, preparer/approver segregation, and approval workflows.
• Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors and manage the annual audit across jurisdictions.
• Deliver timely, accurate financial statements under US GAAP for US entities and IFRS for entities in Brazil, Peru, and Oman.
• Lead and provide technical oversight for revenue and joint-venture accounting.
• Support non-operated revenue accounting based on operator statements, including working-interest, royalty, and ORRI revenue and severance/production taxes.
• Oversee review of joint interest billings against JOA and COPAS terms and reconciliation of operator joint-account statements, cash calls, prepayments, and suspense; identify and resolve improper or non-chargeable costs.
• Oversee entity-level DD&A, depletion, ARO, and impairment based on Westlawn’s net interest in reserves and costs.
• Review lease operating statements and field-level cost reporting for reasonableness and cost control.
• Manage accounting for international entities, including FX transactions, remeasurement and translation, and intercompany activity.
• Support foreign teams with statutory and local reporting and coordinate with local advisors as needed.
• Optimize Quorum ODA, including integrations, upgrades, and data integrity.
• Manage and perform monthly data transfers from foreign accounting systems into Quorum ODA.
• Lead or support system implementations, conversions, and process-automation initiatives.
• Promote and evaluate practical AI and agentic workflows for close automation, reconciliations, reporting, and exception handling.
• Build and maintain advanced Excel models for reconciliation, cash flow, and financial reporting.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team, currently five FTE.
• Partner with operations, treasury, and finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and ad hoc analysis.

Benefits

• Company-paid lunch stipend; lunch is provided via GrubHub.
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage in the High Deductible Health Plan, dental and vision benefits for employees and their families.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Life insurance.
• Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability.
• 401(k) match of 100% of employee contributions up to 6%.
• Optional employee-paid PPO medical insurance and other benefits, including Health Savings Accounts with a company contribution, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, and Wellhub.
• 25 days of paid time off plus 12 company holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed