New

Controller

Vaco
$135,000.00 - $160,000.00 / yr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, North Carolina, Raleigh
Feb 10, 2026
Controller Location: Fully Onsite About the Role A rapidly growing automotive organization is seeking a Controller to oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls across multiple locations. Qualified candidates will have relevant experience in automotive, dealership, or fleet accounting. The role is hands-on, fast-paced, and requires someone who can manage transactional accounting while also providing strategic financial leadership to operational teams. Key Responsibilities Dealership Accounting & Financial Operations Lead the month-end close process across all locations. Review store-level P&Ls to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Oversee accounting for inventory, floorplan interest, incentives, rebates, holdbacks, and OEM programs. Manage accounting for parts, service, and F&I, including warranty receivables and chargebacks. Monitor and reconcile cash, inventory, and floorplan lines. Financial Reporting & Compliance Prepare and review monthly GAAP-compliant financial statements. Ensure timely and accurate OEM and regulatory reporting. Manage external audits, lender reviews, and OEM audits. Maintain and enhance internal controls across all locations. Leadership & Team Management Lead, train, and develop accounting staff across multiple sites. Establish clear performance expectations and enforce accountability. Partner with GMs, and executive leadership as a trusted financial advisor. Process Improvement & Scalability Streamline accounting processes and improve reporting efficiency. Support acquisitions, integrations, and system conversions. Leverage dealership management systems to improve data accuracy and insight. Standardize accounting practices across all locations. Strategic Support Provide financial analysis to support pricing, inventory strategy, and working capital management. Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. Support lender reporting, covenant compliance, and financing activities. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred. 7+ years of progressive accounting experience with required experience in automotive, fleet, or dealership accounting. Prior experience as a Controller,Accounting Manager, or Assistant Controller in a dealership environment. Strong understanding of: Dealership accounting practices & OEM expectations Inventory and floorplan accounting Automotive retail KPIs and financial statements Experience managing multi-entity, multi-location operations. Advanced Excel skills; dealership management system experience (e.g., Reynolds & Reynolds, CDK) strongly preferred. Key Attributes for Success Highly detail-oriented with strong analytical abilities. Hands-on leader who can balance strategy with execution. Thrives under deadlines in a dynamic, retail-driven environment. Strong communicator capable of partnering with non-financial leadership. Comfortable supporting growth, change, and operational complexity. Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.