Corporate Controller

Overview

Essense of Australia is an international bridal wholesaler with key offices based in Lenexa, Kansas, Perth, Australia, and Zug, Switzerland. Our organization also operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand. We have been a global leader in bridal fashion for over 20 years and our designs are currently sold in nearly 1,000 stores worldwide. With innovative designs and a strong customer service approach, Essense of Australia is a dynamic company that rewards excellence, drive, and collaboration. 

The Role

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Corporate Controller to join our team.  The Corporate Controller is a strong leader and communicator who thrives in a fast-paced environment, manages competing deadlines well, and works closely with a team of talented professionals. You’ll bring deep accounting and finance expertise, along with structure, best practices, and a continuous improvement mindset to Essense.

The Corporate Controller will report to the Vice President of Accounting and will directly manage the Financial Reporting Manager, the Treasury Manager, and will also indirectly oversee a team of four to six accounting team members.

This is a hybrid role based at our Lenexa, KS headquarters, with in-office days Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Mondays and Fridays. 

Responsibilities

What We Expect:

• Directly oversee all aspects of the Accounting functions of the organization including month-end close, analysis of financial results, year-end audit, treasury activities, routine bank reporting, insurance matters, and internal processes owned by the accounting department.
• Responsible for the day-to-day management and direction of the Accounting team, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting to the company.
• Manage the processes to ensure proper internal controls are in place to support timely and accurate financial reporting while safeguarding corporate assets and ensuring corporate policies are followed.
• Responsible for keeping the company current and compliant with technical accounting matters, including identification and implementation of new relevant accounting pronouncements.
• Partner with the FP&A to both understand the mapping of budget vs. actual accounting coding and document variance analysis.
• Hire, train, coach, and motivate the team to perform effectively and ensure team has necessary skills and resources to effectively complete all accounting functions.
• Consistently monitor team productivity, performance, and workloads to ensure timely and accurate completion of all tasks and projects. Rebalance work as needed and anticipate future workload needs to ensure the team is properly staffed to support continued company growth.
• Provide senior-level oversight to the external audit process for the financial audit and 401(k) plan audit, as well as bank audits and covenant reporting.
• Responsible for tax reporting/compliance globally.
• Maintain external relationships and alliances with key contacts such as banks and other credit institutions, insurance brokers, vendors, and auditors.
• Oversee the approval and processing of revenue, expenditures, and all associated financial reporting, including general ledger account maintenance and management/executive reports.
• Lead the financial close and reporting process, including achieving an efficient close, monitoring and reporting budget variances in collaboration with FP&A, and working with departments to obtain explanations and establish corrective action.
• Develop and maintain reporting on financial metrics and KPIs to certain levels of management and executive leadership.
• Oversee and direct ad hoc projects as assigned by the Vice President of Accounting in areas such as accounting systems, software implementation, in depth analysis, and other areas as needed.

Qualifications

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required; CPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience with a minimum of 5 years of accounting management experience.
• ERP experience required; NetSuite accounting software preferred.
• International business accounting and public accounting experience is preferred.
• Well-rounded experience across the full spectrum of accounting functions.
• Strong background in US GAAP technical accounting.
• Experience managing banking relationships, including foreign currency and bank covenants.
• Hands-on approach and willingness to roll up your sleeves in a project-team environment.
• Experience leading and developing a team of accounting professionals, including coaching managers.
• Ability to take ownership, meet deadlines, and keep the team on track.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the professionalism to represent the company to vendors, banks, and other outside partners.
• Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering on time and on budget; able to flag risks early.
• Analytical, curious, and a strong problem-solver.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours as business needs require.

What We Offer

We look forward to welcoming the successful candidate to our fast-growing global team! In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people, promotes teamwork and embraces sustainability. We recognise and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty. Our goal is to offer an inspirational and modern workplace that allows for talent individuals to thrive. As such, we provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, with significant opportunity for exceptional team members to grow with us as we continue to expand. 

If you have the skills and drive to help us further our growth, please go to https://www.essensedesigns.com/careers/ and follow the prompts to submit a cover letter, resume, and online application.