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Positions we recruit: Controllership, Corporate and Cost Accounting
Start a Search Financial Headhunters Salary Guide
Financial Headhunters: Hiring strategy for accounting leadership and staff
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
How long did your last search take?
How much did the empty seat cost while you waited?
Every week a finance seat stays empty costs you in overtime, late closes and work that waits. We go straight to people already doing the job.
01
Team Structures and Levels
Your structure depends on company size and complexity. Small firms start with a controller overseeing staff. Large firms use a hierarchy. You need a VP or Director for strategy. Controllers handle technical accounting. Managers run the close. Accountants execute specific tasks.
Assess your needs before adding headcount. Do you need a hands-on closer? Or a technical expert for multi-entity consolidations? Define the role by output. Avoid creating vague titles. Align levels with the core workload.
When scoping this role, stop focusing on job titles and start documenting the specific daily volume of manual journal entries your team processes. Ask candidates to walk you through exactly how they identify intercompany variances during the first three days of the close. If they cannot identify the difference between a system-generated reconciliation and a manual spreadsheet adjustment, they are not ready for this seat. Ask them to name the exact reports they pull from the general ledger to verify inventory valuations or tax accruals. You need evidence they built a process, not just that they followed one. Ask for a specific example of an audit finding they caught before the auditors arrived. If they claim they never had an audit adjustment, keep looking. A strong candidate describes the mistake, their research into the relevant technical accounting standard, and the resulting journal entry adjustment. Press them on their specific ERP workflows for multi-entity consolidation. If they say they use spreadsheets for consolidation, ask how they maintain data integrity across versions. Ask what specific modules they configure to automate recurring expenses. You must verify if they understand the data flow between sub-ledgers and the general ledger. Require them to explain their logic for selecting a specific accounting treatment for complex leases or revenue recognition. Do not accept generalities. If they avoid the details, they lack the technical depth.
- 01Controller roles own the audit and GAAP statements.
- 02Manager roles supervise reconciliations and team flux analysis.
- 03Senior accountant roles manage specific balance sheet areas.
- 04Cost accounting roles track inventory and standard costs.
02
Interview Bank
Ask about the month-end close. Demand concrete evidence of their process. Listen for specific ERP modules mentioned. Ask how they resolve intercompany discrepancies.
Ask about the audit process. Listen for how they manage PBC lists. Watch for ownership of the final work product. Ask about GAAP interpretation challenges. Look for specific research methods.
- 01Explain your specific close process in detail.
- 02Describe a major audit adjustment you handled.
- 03How do you document technical accounting positions?
- 04What ERP systems have you used for consolidation?
03
Common Hiring Mistakes
Do not overvalue industry experience over technical skill. Accounting principles transfer across sectors. Do not focus only on resume length. Prioritize recent work with GAAP and ERP systems.
Do not hire for potential when you need immediate output. Test for actual hands-on software usage. Do not accept vague descriptions of audit work. Require details on what they actually prepared versus what they reviewed.
- 01Ignoring technical debt in the current ledger.
- 02Prioritizing personality over demonstrated output.
- 03Failing to confirm proficiency in core ERP modules.
- 04Overlooking the need for ASC 842 or cost accounting experience.
04
Credential Verification
A CPA is a state-issued license. It proves the candidate passed the four-part exam and met state work experience requirements. Check the license status on state board websites.
Certifications like the CMA or CIA indicate specific knowledge. They are not licenses. They confirm the holder met education and testing standards. Always verify the issuer database for current standing. These prove knowledge of concepts, not specific operational ability.
- 01CPA proves core competency in auditing and reporting.
- 02CMA proves knowledge of management accounting and cost analysis.
- 03License status requires direct checking of state board portals.
- 04Certifications provide evidence of professional training.
05
Scoping Accounting Needs
Define the scope by looking at your current bottlenecks. If the audit is late, you need a controller level hire. If reconciliations fail, look for an accounting manager. If you struggle with standard costing, get a cost accountant.
Choose a level based on who manages the audit. If a manager handles it, keep the role at manager level. If the controller handles it, keep the role at controller level. Avoid titles that imply management if the role does not manage people.
- 01Map roles to current audit and reporting output needs.
- 02Use controller titles for ownership of GAAP statements.
- 03Use accountant titles for task-based execution.
- 04Evaluate needs based on current ERP system capabilities.
27 positions in this family
- Corporate ControllerThis controller maps disparate charts of accounts and manages currency translations while building automated infrastructure for accurate results
- ControllerThis role completes complex account reconciliations and bank reporting to finish the close process without needing outside help
- Assistant ControllerThis person manages the technical integrity of the financial close and bridges the gap between planning and transactions
- Director of AccountingThis director shifts the accounting function from manual reconciliation toward a structured review process for accurate ledger data
- Accounting ManagerThis accounting manager completes trial balances and investigates unexplained account variances to maintain financial accuracy throughout the monthly close process.
- Consolidations ManagerThis role converts local ledger inputs into group financial statements by dictating mapping standards and resolving intercompany differences
- Senior AccountantThe accountant owns the month end close for balance sheet accounts and checks source documents against the ledger
- Staff Accountant (experienced)This person evaluates the logic behind journal entries to confirm the ledger reflects actual cash movements and invoices
- Plant ControllerThis controller works on the factory floor to reconcile standard costs against actual output and manufacturing data points
- Cost Accounting ManagerThis lead builds bills of materials and routings personally while walking the shop floor to verify inventory data
- Cost AccountantThis person verifies that physical inventory counts match balance sheet totals to track margins and identify manufacturing waste
- Division ControllerLead divisional accounting operations, manage financial closes, and oversee reporting accuracy for business units.
- Regional / Multi-Site ControllerA Regional or Multi-Site Controller oversees financial operations across multiple locations, managing accounting standards, consolidations, and site-level internal controls.
- VP of AccountingA VP of Accounting provides strategic oversight of the accounting function, managing complex technical accounting, audits and reporting structures.
- Senior Accounting ManagerDirects core accounting operations, financial reporting, and audit cycles for multi-entity structures.
- Accounting SupervisorAn Accounting Supervisor oversees month-end close procedures, maintains ledger accuracy, and directs a team to support financial reporting compliance.
- General Ledger ManagerThis role manages the day-to-day general ledger operations, financial close process, and month-end reporting accuracy.
- Intercompany AccountantThis role manages intercompany reconciliations, eliminations and complex balance sheet accounting across multiple legal entities and currencies. You need an operator who executes the details of cross-border accounting and maintains integrity within the general ledger.
- Fixed Asset AccountantManages complex asset lifecycles, depreciation schedules, and compliance reporting for tangible and intangible property.
- Lease Accountant (ASC 842)Direct complex lease portfolios, execute ASC 842 transition steps, and produce financial reports.
- Operations ControllerLead accounting and cost control for manufacturing operations to drive inventory accuracy and production margin visibility.
- Manufacturing Finance ManagerThis manager owns standard costing, inventory valuation and site financial performance analysis.
- Senior Cost AccountantLead cost analysis, inventory valuation, and standard cost maintenance for manufacturing operations.
- Inventory AccountantAn Inventory Accountant responsible for valuation, reconciliations, and manufacturing cost variance analysis.
- Standard Cost AnalystResponsible for managing standard costs, variance analysis, and inventory valuation for manufacturing operations.
- Remote Staff AccountantA remote role focused on core general ledger maintenance, month-end reconciliations, and audit preparation.
- General Ledger AccountantOwns journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, accrual schedules and supporting workpapers for the close.
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Questions people ask
What justifies hiring a senior controller over a manager?
Hire a senior controller when you need technical accounting memos, multi-entity consolidation, and direct ownership of the audit process.
How do I spot a candidate who cannot manage a close?
Candidates who cannot describe their specific role in the month-end timeline or struggle to name the ERP modules they used for closing are usually poor fits.
Should I require a CPA for all accounting roles?
No, require a CPA for controllers and technical accounting roles. Staff and cost accountants often succeed with degrees and specific software experience.
What is the best way to test software skill?
Ask for specific examples of ERP modules used and how they handled data migration or system implementation for accounting functions.