Financial Controller | PE-Backed Food Manufacturer
Greater Philadelphia | On-Site | PE-Backed | CFO Growth Path
The Opportunity
A lower middle market PE firm just acquired a 40-year-old custom seasoning and flavor manufacturer in the greater Philadelphia area (Bucks County). The founding family is retiring out. New ownership is investing to professionalize and grow the business, and the first hire is a Financial Controller to build the finance function from the ground up.
This is a high-visibility, high-autonomy role reporting directly to the CEO. There is no CFO above you. You own the books, the reporting, and the financial infrastructure for a 40-person, single-site manufacturer. For a controller who delivers, the path from Controller to CFO is real and expected as the company grows under PE ownership.
If you have been a strong controller or BU finance leader stuck behind someone who is not going anywhere, this is your shot.
What You'll Own (Day 1 and Beyond)
- Stand up the finance function: close process, reporting cadence, KPIs, cost accounting structure
- Drive the financial planning for the company by analyzing its performance and risks
- Monthly close, weekly flash reports for ownership, quarterly MD&A and board reporting packages
- Quarterly covenant compliance reporting (simple term loan, straightforward capital structure)
- Annual operating plan and budgets in partnership with department heads
- AR, AP, and payroll oversight (one bookkeeper/AP reports to you; outsourced audit and tax firms are in place)
- Oversee all audit and internal control operations
- Ensure adherence to financial laws and guidelines
- Monthly supply/demand planning process in conjunction with Sales
- Banking, treasury, and insurance relationship management
- Federal, state, and local tax coordination with outside counsel
- Conduct ad-hoc analysis as needed to address areas of opportunity
- Financial systems ownership: Sage ERP (older supported version). A system upgrade may be on the roadmap, and you would lead that assessment
What You'll Support (~20% of Your Time)
- IT: Outsourced to Sage and a local provider. You are the internal point of contact, not the administrator. Contract management, vendor decisions, escalation point.
- HR: Process-level support for a 40-person company with very low turnover. Benefits administration, compliance, partnering with outside resources as needed for policy updates. This is not an HR leadership role.
What You Walk Into
- Interim controller on-site, getting the books in order before you arrive
- Former owner available for 3-6 months of transition support
- Outsourced audit and tax work already in place
- One bookkeeper/AP who has been with the company for years
- A PE ownership team with food manufacturing experience that has done this before: they acquired and grew a food manufacturer from a family-owned business to a professionally managed organization before a successful exit
What Makes This Different
CFO path. Stated, not implied. Ownership wants a controller who can grow into the CFO seat as the company scales.
Equity. Stock option participation. Details discussed during the interview process.
Autonomy. No layers between you and ownership. You build the function your way.
Stability. 40-person company, long-tenured workforce, consistent customer base across meat & poultry, soups & sauces, snack foods, dairy, and coffee/beverage segments.
What You Bring
- B.S. degree in Accounting, Finance, or similar discipline with at least 10 years of relevant experience
- Accounting certification preferred (CPA or CMA), not required
- Cost accounting depth in a manufacturing environment, preferably food & beverage. You have been in a plant. You understand production variances, yields, and inventory at the floor level, not just the GL level.
- Experience closing books and owning the full monthly/quarterly reporting cycle
- In-depth knowledge of corporate finance and accounting principles, laws, and best practices
- Sage ERP experience is a plus (older supported version currently in use)
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, scenario modeling)
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver accurate results
- Ability to communicate with all levels of the organization
- Proven experience working in a small company environment
- You do not need PE experience, but you need to be comfortable with PE-level reporting discipline and pace
- This is an on-site role based in Greater Philadelphia area. Local candidates within commuting distance are strongly preferred. No relocation.
Compensation
- Base salary: $130,000 - $160,000
- Annual bonus: 20% of base
- Stock option participation
- Benefits: medical, dental, vision, PTO
- Schedule: Monday - Friday, on-site