Corporate Controller

Citizens Business Bank•Ontario, CA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Corporate Controller leads day-to-day accounting operations within Finance and reports to the Chief Accounting Officer. The role is responsible for financial close, general ledger integrity, consolidation, accounting controls within assigned processes, and vendor payment activities. It manages accounting managers, staff, and consultants; prepares technical accounting analyses and recommendations; and partners with SEC and Regulatory Reporting to provide accurate, consistent, and timely accounting information. The position operates within approved policies and delegated authority, escalating significant accounting judgments, policy changes, and control matters through established processes. The Corporate Controller oversees accounting across core banking accounts and processes, supports internal and external reporting, coordinates audits and regulatory examinations, and helps maintain compliance with U.S. GAAP, applicable laws, company policies, and banking regulations. The role also partners with IT on accounting systems and process improvements and implements approved automation, analytics, and AI tools with appropriate controls. It supports accounting workstreams for acquisitions, business combinations, new products, and finance modernization initiatives, as well as tax activities with tax specialists. The position requires on-site attendance at the Bank’s Headquarters or a designated location, subject to reasonable accommodation. The work environment is usually moderate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
Minimum of ten years of progressive accounting experience, including significant responsibility for financial close, general ledger oversight, technical accounting, and internal controls, and management responsibility for accounting operations and staff.
Banking or financial services experience.
Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) license.
Advanced Excel skills and experience with general ledger, reconciliation, and financial reporting platforms.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex accounting issues and deliver technical training.
Ability to communicate accounting results, technical analyses, and operational issues clearly to Finance leadership, auditors, and cross-functional partners.
Ability to analyze financial reports, technical journals, and legal documents and respond to inquiries from customers, regulatory agencies, or the business community.
Ability to apply mathematical concepts, including probability, statistical inference, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions, and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and interpret technical instructions involving mathematical or diagram forms and abstract and concrete variables.
Analytical mindset and proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Ability to design and maintain reporting that advances key initiatives, prioritize competing deadlines, and manage concurrent projects and time-sensitive technical matters.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across functions and organizational levels and develop an accountable accounting team.
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, applicable financial regulations, and banking regulatory reporting rules and requirements.
Experience researching and applying accounting standards, documenting complex accounting conclusions, and supporting preparation or review of SEC Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly technical accounting disclosures.
Strong understanding of internal controls and SOX requirements, including the ability to assess risk, design effective controls, maintain supporting documentation, and resolve control deficiencies.
Strong understanding of banking operations and their accounting implications.
High attention to detail.
Sound judgment in applying accounting policies, managing operational priorities, and escalating significant matters.

Nice To Haves

Public company experience.
Public accounting experience.
An advanced degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Formal education, continuing education, and relevant financial industry training supporting an in-depth accounting background.
Experience with AI tools such as Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or similar platforms, including practical use within approved accounting workflows.
Knowledge of analytical tools such as Power BI or equivalent platforms.
Tax accounting expertise, including income tax provisions, deferred taxes, and investment tax credits.
Experience with mergers and acquisitions and business combinations.

Responsibilities

Comply with applicable laws, Company policies and procedures, and U.S. GAAP.
Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close to deliver timely, accurate, and well-controlled financial results.
Oversee the general ledger, chart of accounts, and supporting records; review and approve journal entries, accruals, and estimates within delegated authority; and escalate significant accounting matters.
Support the accounts reconciliation and certification process.
Manage accounting for loans, deposits, investments, derivatives, fixed and prepaid assets, leases, and other core accounts; oversee subledger interfaces, subsidiary accounting, and consolidation.
Maintain controls within assigned accounting processes, including SOX documentation, risk assessment, remediation, and escalation of significant deficiencies.
Support internal financial reporting and develop analytics to explain results, identify issues, and track accounting and process-improvement initiatives.
Partner with SEC and Regulatory Reporting to provide reconciled schedules, technical analyses, and disclosure support for Forms 10-K and 10-Q and banking regulatory reports.
Research complex accounting matters, prepare technical memoranda, and implement approved accounting treatment.
Monitor new accounting standards and coordinate related implementation and training.
Maintain accounting procedures and recommend policy updates, including business continuity, process ownership, and backup coverage.
Coordinate accounting support for audits and regulatory examinations, including documentation, responses, and remediation within the role’s scope.
Partner with IT on accounting systems, integrations, data integrity, and process improvements.
Implement approved automation, analytics, and AI tools with appropriate access controls, change management, data protection, human review, and documented validation.
Support assigned accounting workstreams for acquisitions, business combinations, new products, and finance modernization initiatives.
Oversee vendor payments and related controls.
Support income tax provisions, disclosures, and other tax activities with tax specialists.
Develop accounting managers and staff through clear goals and training; manage competing priorities; and collaborate across functions to resolve accounting issues.
Provide, present, and promote the Citizens Experience to external and internal customers.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Manage accounting managers, staff, and consultants; establish responsibilities, review standards, development plans, and backup coverage across assigned accounting functions in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.