Controller

Job Title: Controller

Location: Portland, OR

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Salary Range: $144,000 - $173,250 base salary / $167,040 - $205,700 total cash compensation

Propeller is a people-focused management consulting firm that helps individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in change. Organizations hire us to solve problems, inspire transformation, and drive change. We work with clients to align teams and priorities, clear hurdles, and deliver customized solutions. And in doing so, Propeller helps spark, regain, and accelerate the most impactful and energizing force we know: momentum.

Our clients are generally large and mid-size organizations in the retail, tech, energy and utilities, and public sector industries. These organizations are where we drive the most impact, but we serve all different types of clients. We have teams in Portland, San Francisco, and Denver - and are growing into Dallas and Minneapolis.

Propeller may be for you if you have an unyielding passion for unraveling complex challenges, delivering creative, impact-driven solutions, and creating lasting progress. You are curious, you thrive in the unknown, and you have the grit to continue moving projects forward while guiding leaders and teams through ambiguous challenges.

As a Controller at Propeller, you'll lead the firm's accounting operations and financial reporting activities, playing a vital role in driving accuracy, compliance, and strategic financial insights. You'll manage a team, guiding them through critical financial processes while fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Reporting to the VP of Finance and Operations and working closely with leadership across the firm, you'll be a trusted advisor, providing actionable financial insights that support informed decision-making.

Lead Financial Operations & Ensure Compliance

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  Oversee daily accounting activities, including billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger functions.

  
  
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  Manage the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring timely, accurate financial reporting.

  
  
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  Prepare financial statements in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and evolving regulatory requirements.

  
  
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  Develop and implement robust accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to strengthen compliance and efficiency.

  
  
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  Research and apply new accounting standards, ensuring smooth adoption and adherence.

  
  
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  Coordinate with external CPA partners on audits, financial reviews, and tax preparation.

  
  
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  Maintain and enhance ERP systems and financial reporting tools, supporting leadership's information needs.

  
  

Drive Strategic Financial Planning & Insights

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  Lead the budgeting and forecasting processes, providing variance analysis and data-driven financial insights.

  
  
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  Oversee cash flow management, banking relationships, and debt compliance to support financial stability.

  
  
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  Assist with Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) valuation and administration.

  
  
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  Collaborate cross-functionally to identify and implement process improvements that drive operational excellence.

  
  
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  Support leadership in strategic initiatives, aligning financial goals with broader organizational objectives.

  
  

Develop & Empower a Team

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  Lead, mentor, and develop a skilled accounting team, fostering growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.

  
  
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  Build a team culture focused on knowledge-sharing, high performance, and professional development.

  
  

A wide variety of backgrounds and experiences may be aligned to the work we do. If you believe you have the qualifications, even if your role titles did not necessarily use the same words, we encourage you to apply. A real person reads all our applications, and your background and experience will be assessed holistically.

Must have:

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  8+ years of experience in finance and/or accounting

  
  
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  Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting and budgeting

  
  
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  Experience working within a complex NetSuite ERP system to manage financial operations

  
  
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  Experience working alongside a Workday Adaptive Planning environment for budgeting, forecasting and scenario building

  
  
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  Experience building processes that will scale with anticipated business growth

  
  
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  Experience driving transformation and efficiencies in controls and accounting systems

  
  
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  Demonstrated proactiveness and perseverance in complex environments

  
  
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  Proven ability to develop strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, external vendors and contractors

  
  
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  Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills; highly professional and diplomatic approach

  
  
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  History of self-motivation and initiative; the ability to work unsupervised, independently, and efficiently

  
  
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  Natural curiosity, creativity and humility

  
  
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  Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a relevant field

  
  
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  Ability to demonstrate a legal right to work in the U.S.

  
  

Nice to have:

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  Experience in a professional services firm

  
  
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  Familiarity with ESOP administration

  
  
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  CPA license

  
  

Compensation: We believe in fairly and equitably compensating our employees for their time, skills, and experience. The base salary for this position ranges from $144,000 to $173,250. Total cash compensation, including short- and long-term incentive pay, falls between $167,040 and $205,700. Individual salaries are determined by factors such as experience, specific skill sets, and internal pay equity. While hiring at the top of the range is not typical to allow for future salary growth, our base pay ranges are reviewed and updated annually based on performance. Our compensation plan also includes a generous benefits package, which you can learn more about here.

Location: We believe being physically present with each other and our clients strengthens our relationships, promotes creativity and innovation, and ultimately produces a stronger, more durable result for our clients and ourselves. Propeller corporate employees typically work in a hybrid model, spending at least 2 - 3 days a week in the their local Propeller office. Applicants should currently live in the Portland area or plan to relocate upon hire.