Controller at Snack Innovations in NJ-Piscataway-08854

Job description

• This is a foundation-building role, not a maintenance role. You will be the first true Controller at Snack Innovations, stepping into a small but capable team (an AP/AR function and a staff accountant) and immediately taking ownership of their day-to-day leadership and long-term development. At the same time, you will build the accounting infrastructure (chart of accounts, general ledger, internal controls, audit-ready processes, SOPs) largely from scratch, help implement a new ERP, and partner with the CFO to implement the tools and systems that will power a world-class accounting function.
• This is a rare opportunity to be the architect of something built right from the start. We are committed to growing a strong, high-performing accounting team around this role, and the Controller will be central to shaping that team's culture, capability, and trajectory.
• The right candidate has done this before in CPG or consumer products. They know what good looks like, lead with coaching and accountability, and are energized by building rather than inheriting.
• You are a builder and a people leader. You have seen the inside of companies where the foundation was solid and ones where it was not, and you know exactly what it takes to get there. You take ownership of outcomes, not just tasks. You invest in the people around you, and you understand that building a great accounting team is just as important as building great processes.
• You are rigorous about controls and documentation, practical enough to prioritize the right things at the right time, and energized by greenfield environments. This role is not for someone who needs a fully staffed team or an existing playbook. It is for someone who sees that as the upside.

Responsibilities

• Accounting Infrastructure & General Ledger
• Design and implement a chart of accounts that supports both accurate financial reporting and forward-looking business analysis
• Build the general ledger from the ground up, including structure, coding conventions, and maintenance protocols
• Own all journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and period-end workpapers
• Drive a clean, efficient monthly close process targeting ≤5 business days
• AP/AR Team Leadership & Operations
• Directly lead and develop the AP/AR team and staff accountant by setting clear expectations, coaching performance, and building a culture of accuracy and accountability
• Oversee all AP and AR operations end-to-end, including vendor payments, customer invoicing, collections, cash application, and deduction resolution
• Partner with the CFO to evaluate and implement AP and payment automation tools (e.g., Ramp, Bill.com) that reduce manual work and strengthen controls
• Build scalable workflows, approval hierarchies, and documentation standards that grow with the team
• Build processes and controls for trade deduction management and chargeback reconciliation
• ERP Implementation & Financial Infrastructure
• Serve as the accounting lead on the ERP implementation, partnering with the CFO and implementation team to ensure the system is configured to support the business
• Define the accounting structure within the ERP, including chart of accounts setup, cost center design, and reporting hierarchies
• Own the data migration process for accounting records, ensuring accuracy and integrity through go-live
• Build integrations between the ERP and adjacent systems (AP automation, trade management, banking, payroll) to minimize manual workflows
• Develop the reporting and financial controls infrastructure within the ERP to support close, audit readiness, and investor reporting
• Audit Readiness & Internal Controls
• Establish a controls framework appropriate for a growth-stage company preparing for its first external audit
• Design and document internal controls across the close, AP/AR, inventory, and financial reporting processes
• Lead the company through its inaugural external audit, serving as the primary liaison with auditors and owning all PBC deliverables
• Maintain GAAP compliance across all accounting operations and stay current on relevant standard updates
• SOPs & Process Documentation
• Build the company's accounting SOP library from scratch, covering close, reconciliations, AP/AR, inventory, and reporting
• Document processes in a way that supports scalability, auditability, and onboarding of future team members
• Drive continuous improvement across financial operations as the business scales
• Cost Accounting & Inventory
• Establish product costing methodology and maintain standard costs across the Drizzilicious SKU portfolio
• Own inventory valuation, COGS accounting, and variance analysis
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain on inventory tracking, cycle counts, and reconciliation
• Trade Promotion Management
• Support the build-out of a Trade Promotion Management (TPM) solution in partnership with the CFO and Sales team
• Establish accounting treatment and accrual methodology for trade spend, slotting, and promotional allowances
• Work with the AR team to ensure accurate deduction coding and clean reconciliation to TPM actuals
• Financial Reporting & Investor Partnership
• Prepare accurate monthly GAAP financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) on a timely close cadence
• Produce monthly reporting packages for ownership in partnership with the CFO
• Develop and maintain reporting templates and financial controls that support both operational management and investor oversight

Requirements

• Required
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience; minimum 2 years in a Controller or Assistant Controller seat
• Direct people leadership experience, with a proven ability to develop, coach, and retain accounting staff at multiple levels
• CPG, food & beverage, or consumer products background, with a strong preference for product-based businesses with retail distribution and trade spend complexity
• Proven experience building accounting infrastructure in an early-stage, lean, or carve-out environment, rather than simply inheriting a mature function
• Experience evaluating and implementing AP/payment automation tools (e.g., Ramp, Bill.com, or similar); comfort partnering with a CFO on systems decisions
• Track record of successfully preparing a company for and executing its first external audit
• Deep knowledge of GAAP and technical accounting; experience advising on CPG-specific topics such as trade/variable consideration, slotting, and inventory valuation
• Strong Excel skills with the ability to build and maintain financial models and reporting templates
• CPA preferred (active or inactive)
• Hands-on ERP implementation experience preferred; must be comfortable serving as the finance and accounting functional lead through go-live, not just an end user
• Experience at an investor-backed company with monthly reporting requirements
• Prior exposure to trade promotion management (TPM) systems and deduction reconciliation workflows
• Big Four or regional public accounting background with CPG, consumer goods, or manufacturing clients
• Experience in a founder- or investor-led environment where process creation was part of the job

Skills

Required

• GAAP
• Technical accounting
• Excel
• Financial modeling
• People leadership
• Coaching
• Process building
• Internal controls
• Audit preparation

Preferred

• CPA
• ERP implementation
• Trade promotion management (TPM) systems
• Deduction reconciliation
• Public accounting background

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Annual performance bonus tied to individual and company results
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Hybrid flexibility with NJ office presence
• Compensation: $160,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year