Controller

Who We’re Looking For At Southern, we believe the right person is just as important as the right experience. We are looking for a Controller who not only brings strong accounting knowledge and business judgment, but who also reflects the character and leadership qualities we value across our organization. The right candidate will be:

• Faithful – Consistent and dependable in what they do and how they show up for their team and the organization.
• Hungry – Driven to learn, improve, solve problems, and make the business better. They are willing to dig in, ask questions, and take ownership rather than waiting for someone else to provide the answer.
• Trustworthy – Someone who operates with integrity, protects confidential information, follows through on commitments, and can be trusted with the financial stewardship of the organization.
• Teachable – Open to feedback, willing to listen, and able to adapt as the business continues to grow and evolve. They recognize that strong leaders never stop learning.
• Committed to Building People – A leader who sees developing others as a core responsibility. They set clear expectations, coach and challenge their team, share their knowledge, and help people grow in both capability and confidence. We are looking for someone who wants to build—not simply maintain. This person should be excited about strengthening the accounting function, developing their people, improving processes, and helping create the structure and financial discipline needed to support Southern. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Reporting to the CFO, the Controller is responsible for leading the company’s accounting operations, maintaining the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting, ensuring compliance, and driving continuous improvement across accounting processes. This role serves as a key financial partner to operational leadership, providing insight and accountability to support profitability, cash flow, and the overall financial health of the business. This is a full-time, in-office position, Monday through Friday. At Southern, we believe leadership is most effective when leaders are present and engaged with their teams. Our philosophy is that leaders should be in the building, working alongside their people, accessible when challenges arise, and actively involved in developing their teams. The Controller is expected to maintain a consistent on-site presence, build strong relationships across the organization, and be an active and visible leader within the Accounting team and the broader business. Position Responsibilities
• Lead the day-to-day accounting operations of the business, including billing, accounts receivable and collections, cash application, bank reconciliations, payroll accounting, accounts payable, general ledger activities, variance analysis, and financial reporting.
• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring financial statements and supporting schedules are accurate, complete, and delivered within established timelines.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and consistently in accordance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Analyze financial and operational results to identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities and provide actionable insights to the CFO and operational leaders.
• Partner with operational leadership to understand business performance, improve financial accountability, and identify opportunities to strengthen profitability and cost efficiency.
• Develop, implement, and maintain effective internal controls and accounting procedures to safeguard company assets and ensure reliable financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, company policies, regulatory requirements, and GAAP.
• Lead and coordinate external audits and support tax filings, business licensing, and other financial compliance requirements.
• Monitor working capital, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow, and other key balance sheet accounts.
• Evaluate accounting processes and systems and lead improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and visibility.
• Establish clear accounting policies, procedures, documentation, and expectations across the organization.
• Supervise, coach, and develop accounting team members, including accountants and associates supporting accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Establish appropriate performance expectations, accountability measures, and development plans for members of the accounting team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and strong internal customer service.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis activities in partnership with the CFO and other business leaders.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives, including due diligence, financial analysis, accounting integration, and implementation of appropriate controls and processes.
• Provide financial information and analysis needed to support leadership decision-making and the continued growth and scalability of the organization.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Leadership Expectations The Controller is expected to operate as both a strong accounting leader and a business partner. Success in this position requires someone who takes ownership of the numbers, develops their team, and continuously looks for ways to strengthen the accounting function as the company grows. The Controller will be expected to:
• Own the numbers. Take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial information and proactively address issues when they arise.
• Build accountability. Establish clear expectations, deadlines, processes, and ownership throughout the accounting function and consistently follow through.
• Develop the team. Coach team members, provide meaningful feedback, strengthen technical capabilities, and create opportunities for employees to grow.
• Understand the business. Develop a strong understanding of how the company operates and how operational decisions impact revenue, margins, cash flow, and profitability.
• Be a business partner. Build productive relationships with operational leaders and help them understand the financial impact of their decisions.
• Look beyond the numbers. Identify the operational drivers behind financial results rather than simply reporting what happened.
• Improve the process. Continuously evaluate workflows, controls, systems, and reporting for opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Use technology effectively. Identify appropriate opportunities to leverage systems, automation, and technology to strengthen processes and provide better financial visibility.
• Protect financial integrity. Maintain strong controls, appropriate segregation of duties, accurate documentation, and consistent adherence to accounting policies.
• Communicate early. Proactively escalate financial risks, control concerns, missed deadlines, significant variances, or other issues rather than allowing problems to continue.
• Think ahead. Build accounting processes and capabilities that can support the organization as it grows in size and complexity.
• Lead with credibility. Demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, consistency, confidentiality, and a high level of integrity in all financial matters. Position

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA designation preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including financial reporting, general ledger accounting, month-end close, and internal controls.
• 3+ years of experience leading or directly managing accounting professionals preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated ability to apply accounting principles to complex business transactions.
• Experience within construction, building materials, home services, manufacturing, distribution, or another project-based or high-volume operating environment preferred.
• Experience with job costing, revenue recognition, margin analysis, and operational accounting strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience improving accounting processes, controls, systems, and reporting.
• Experience supporting external audits, tax requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with ERP and accounting systems and the ability to learn and optimize new technology.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to analyze large amounts of financial and operational data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to move beyond reporting results to identifying root causes and recommending solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-financial leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to interact with stakeholders at all levels.