Controller
Job Description
We're looking for a hands-on Controller to own the accounting backbone of our client, a rapidly growing, vertically integrated apparel business. This is not a typical retail Controller role. Our client owns and operates a manufacturing facility in South America, sells across three distinct channels, and is actively transitioning day-to-day financial operations from an outsourced accounting services firm into an in-house function. You'll report to the President, partner closely with their Finance Committee, manage the outsourced components of finance, and be a fully dedicated in-house finance leader building institutional knowledge that currently lives outside the company.
This role requires genuine apparel and manufacturing accounting experience and preferably fluent Spanish — their South American facility team communicates primarily in Spanish, and this role will work directly with them on a regular, ongoing basis.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Close, Reporting, Budgeting & Cash Flow
• Own the monthly close process — journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis — and deliver accurate financial statements on a consistent timeline.
• Work with the outsourced accounting services firm to understand the data download from the current ERP system used to prepare the monthly excel based financial reporting package, and evaluate alternatives
• Lead the annual budget and monthly forecast processes, consolidating projections across wholesale, e-commerce, and private label, and communicating results to the Fractional CFO, President, and Finance Committee.
• Prepare detailed cash flow forecasting to fund a business with seasonal inventory buys and sales and an owned manufacturing facility.
Manufacturing, Inventory & South American Operations
• Responsible for cost accounting and inventory valuation for a company that manufactures its own product — standard costing, landed cost, duty/import classification, and COGS by channel.
• Serve as the financial point of contact for the South American operations team, consolidating their entity financials into the client's US reporting.
• Partner directly — in Spanish — with the South American team on production planning, budgeting and expense tracking, cash flow requirements, and impact of foreign currency fluctuations on operations
• Bring rigor to import/export compliance, duty codes, and customs-related cost accounting across the US–South American supply chain.
Financial Systems & Process
• Evaluate the client's legacy financial systems, currently split across multiple platforms with manual handoffs, and determine best next steps in evolution
• Partner with FP&A on commission calculations across wholesale, e-commerce, and private label commission structures.
• Evaluate accounting functions performed by outsourced resources and determine what functions if any should be moved in-house (A/P cash disbursement, payroll and commission calculations, general ledger, accounts receivable collections) to enable the most cost efficient structure
• Build the financial controls, policies, and documentation the client needs as it transitions from outsourced to in-house financial management.
Team & Stakeholder Leadership
• Provide Controller-level oversight to the client's AP/AR, payroll and general ledger functions.
• Manage the transition from a fully outsourced accounting function to an in-house or hybrid model — working alongside the outsourced team to build a cost efficient structure, with full in-house ownership.
• Be a trusted advisor to the Fractional CFO, President, and Finance Committee on financial risk, opportunity, and strategic decision-making.
Qualifications Required
• Fluent Spanish — this role works directly and regularly with the South American-based manufacturing and operations team.
• 6+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including direct experience in apparel, fashion, or consumer products manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with cost accounting and inventory valuation for production operations — not just vendor-sourced inventory.
• Experience with multi-entity or international financial consolidation.
• Strong GAAP, financial reporting, and Excel/financial modeling skills.
• Proven experience independently owning a monthly close process, start to finish.
• Comfortable in a lean, fast-paced, early-stage environment — this is a hands-on, “roll up your sleeves” role, not one with a large existing team to delegate to.
Strongly Preferred
• CPA or equivalent certification.
• Experience with wholesale, e-commerce/DTC, and private label revenue channels simultaneously.
• Experience transitioning a company from outsourced to in-house financial operations or evaluating resource requirements needed to efficiently run the finance function.
• Familiarity with apparel-specific ERP/PLM or wholesale order management systems (e.g., JOOR, NuOrder, or similar).
• Experience managing a change in ERP system
• Prior experience managing or mentoring a small accounting team.
Compensation & Location
• Target annual compensation: $150,000 - $180,000 depending on experience.
• Location: San Diego, CA preferred; open to remote candidates with the right experience.
• Reports to: President
Meet Your Recruiter
Karen Cichocki
Karen is the Director of All Things Business Development at Emerging Blue. She loves meeting new people and is passionate about building strong relationships with her clients. Karen thrives on getting to know brands and the passion and story behind each of them.
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