Vice President Corporate Controller

Smart Care Equipment Solutions•Saint Paul, MN

About The Position

The Vice President, Corporate Controller is a senior finance executive and strategic business partner to the Chief Financial Officer, responsible for accounting, financial reporting, compliance, internal controls, technical accounting, and financial governance across the enterprise. As a member of the Finance Leadership Team, the role provides executive leadership and oversight of corporate accounting operations, safeguarding financial integrity and regulatory compliance while building scalable processes to support Smart Care’s growth and value creation objectives. The role advises the CFO and executive leadership team and supports strategic decision-making through accurate, timely, actionable financial information. It partners with operating executives, private equity sponsors, auditors, lenders, and external advisors on growth initiatives, acquisitions, integrations, system transformations, and long-term planning. The position calls for a strategic, hands-on leader who can combine technical accounting expertise and executive business acumen while building a high-performing accounting organization. Smart Care is a national repair and service provider for commercial foodservice, refrigeration, and cold storage equipment. Its mechanical services include hot-side cooking equipment, stand-alone refrigeration, specialty coffee and beverage, complex rack refrigeration, and HVAC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
15+ years of progressive accounting, finance, and leadership experience.
At least 7 years in senior accounting leadership roles with increasing responsibility.
Experience as a Controller, Corporate Controller, Assistant Controller, Vice President of Accounting, or in an equivalent executive-level finance position.
Demonstrated experience leading accounting organizations in complex, multi-entity environments.
Deep expertise in GAAP, financial reporting, consolidations, and technical accounting.
Strong knowledge of internal controls, compliance programs, and financial governance.
Experience managing multi-company consolidations and complex organizational structures.
Expertise in inventory accounting, cost accounting, and operational finance.
Strong understanding of working capital management and cash flow optimization.
Advanced ERP and financial systems knowledge.
Strategic enterprise mindset and demonstrated executive leadership capabilities.
Strong executive presence and exceptional communication and presentation skills.
Ability to influence decisions at all organizational levels and lead through growth, change, and transformation.
Strong business acumen and operational understanding, with the ability to balance strategic leadership and operational execution.
Experience building, mentoring, and scaling high-performing finance organizations.
Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
Ability to function effectively in a private equity environment with demanding timelines and performance expectations.
Active CPA required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline.
Experience supporting private equity-backed organizations.
Proven success in high-growth, acquisition-oriented businesses.
Significant experience working directly with executive leadership, boards of directors, lenders, and investors.
Public accounting experience with a national or regional accounting firm.
Experience with private equity-sponsored organizations.
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and post-acquisition integrations.
Expertise in Percentage-of-Completion (POC) accounting.
Experience in service, field service, construction, HVAC, mechanical services, industrial services, or multi-location operations environments.
Experience presenting financial results to executive leadership, boards, lenders, and investors.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting and finance organization across multiple business segments.
Establish organizational structure, succession planning strategies, and leadership development programs for the accounting function.
Promote accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, employee engagement, diversity, talent development, and retention.
Serve on the Finance Leadership Team and contribute to enterprise-wide strategic initiatives; set annual departmental goals aligned with organizational objectives.
Oversee accounting operations and ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
Establish accounting strategies that support growth, operational efficiency, and scalability.
Maintain accountability for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
Lead preparation and presentation of financial results to executive leadership, lenders, board members, and private equity stakeholders.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of financial metrics, trends, and business performance indicators.
Partner with the CFO, CEO, segment presidents, and executive team on enterprise strategy and business performance.
Advise operational leaders with business insights and recommendations; support evaluation of opportunities, investments, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.
Align accounting with finance, operations, sales, HR, IT, and other functions; participate in strategic planning, business reviews, and organizational transformation.
Support acquisition financial due diligence and lead accounting integration, purchase accounting, opening balance sheet preparation, and acquired-entity integration.
Develop scalable accounting frameworks for future acquisitions and partner with private equity stakeholders and executive leadership on value creation.
Own the internal control environment; lead accounting compliance, monitoring, remediation, and financial reporting risk assessment.
Establish governance practices and ensure compliance with lender reporting requirements, debt covenants, and financial obligations.
Oversee development and implementation of accounting policies.
Lead external audits as the primary executive contact; maintain relationships with auditors, tax advisors, banking partners, and consultants.
Oversee tax accounting support and coordination with external tax providers, address audit findings and corrective actions, and support financing, refinancing, and lender due diligence.
Sponsor technical accounting matters, including revenue recognition, Percentage-of-Completion accounting, business combinations, lease accounting, and complex transactions.
Ensure consistent accounting policies and procedures across business units, review and approve conclusions for significant transactions, and monitor emerging accounting guidance.
Lead finance modernization, ERP optimization, automation, infrastructure strategy, process standardization, and accounting best practices.
Enhance management reporting and analytics, implement technology to improve efficiency, visibility, and accuracy, and partner with IT leadership on financial systems strategy and governance.
Collaborate with FP&A on forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning; support performance management and financial analysis.
Align accounting, planning, and operational reporting and provide insights on cash flow, working capital, profitability, and operational performance.