Controller

Ember is seeking an experienced Controller with a proven track record of creating and improving process controls and other protocols within the accounting and finance department. The company is transitioning from an entrepreneurial/startup environment to a professionally managed company, so particular attention will be paid to a candidate’s specific experience in leading teams and departments through such a transition, including:

• Building and managing an efficient and coordinated staff. Multiple hires are expected in the next 6 months to complete the team and the Controller will be heavily involved in this process;
• Identifying deficiencies in existing processes and implementing changes that create material improvements in efficiency, accuracy, speed, and cash security;
• Establishing proper inventory controls for a contract manufacturing company, including the ability to identify and correct improper protocols;
• Cleaning up past accounting and control deficiencies typically found at rapidly growing entrepreneurial companies that are transitioning to professionally managed corporations;
• Based on first-hand experience, recommending ERP, forecasting, tax compliance, and other software platforms to ensure the company can grow and operate in the most efficient manner possible, and;
• Building a positive departmental work culture and maintaining that culture through the transformation process.

This position reports to the CFO and is expected to work from Ember’s Westlake Village, CA office on a hybrid schedule (onsite Tues-Thurs).

Responsibilities

• Directly oversee all aspects of the accounting functions of the organization including month-end close, year-end audit, treasury activities, debt compliance, cashflow calculations, ERP maintenance, and internal processes owned by the accounting department.
• Manage the team to provide timely and accurate financial reporting to the company’s executives.
• Ensure that proper internal controls are in place to support timely and accurate financial reporting while safeguarding corporate assets and ensuring company policies are followed.
• Responsible for keeping the company current and compliant with technical accounting matters, including identification and implementation of new relevant accounting pronouncements, and analyzing complex contracts for proper revenue recognition.
• Work with the company’s Director of FP&A to align the company’s chart of accounts with reporting dashboards and templates that improve monthly/quarterly departmental analysis, budget variance analyses, and other KPIs.
• 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 insure timely and accurate completion of all tasks and projects.
• Lead the financial audit, as well as bank audits and covenant reporting, serving as the primary contact for representatives from such institutions.
• Oversight of tax for preparation and reporting, including VAT, sales and use, among others.
• Oversee the monthly closing process, with a thorough review of all trail balances, accruals, revenue recognition, and other key general ledger accounts.
• Manage ERP System (SAP) maintenance, including backend customizations of financial data.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required.
• CPA required.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience with a minimum of 5 years as a Controller in a manufacturing or contract manufacturing environment.
• The ability to condense and translate complex international accounting activity into clear dashboards and reports for multiple departments.
• Experience with multi-entity and international consolidation.
• Experience with asset-based loans and other financing products.
• Experience with reporting to institutional investors.
• Experience with cost accounting for consumer products.
• Strong leadership experience with the ability to develop management level employees and build credibility as a trusted resource and advisor for accounting and finance functions, as well as cross-functionality.
• Proven people leader with a high level of emotional intelligence and organizational awareness.
• Hands-on approach and willing to roll-up your sleeves in a project-team environment.
• Ability to take ownership and meet deadlines, individually and department-wide, as well as holding others (direct and indirect reports) accountable to deadlines.
• Skilled in reviewing, recommending, and integrating new ideas.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including exceptional written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with SAP preferred.

The salary range for this role is $200,000.00 - $225,000.00 per year. Actual compensation packages within that range are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and specific location. In addition to base pay, certain roles may be eligible for incentives including performance-based bonuses and equity grants.

Why work at Ember?

Ember is a design-led temperature control brand and technology platform, whose mission is to revolutionize the way people eat, drink and live. Founded by inventor and serial entrepreneur Clay Alexander, Ember creates, designs and develops temperature control products that offer people complete customization.

Named one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions, the award-winning temperature control Ember Travel Mug² and Ember Mug² are the most advanced coffee mugs on the market, allowing individuals to set and maintain their preferred drinking temperature for hot beverages.

Ember’s temperature control smart mugs are available in over 10,000 retail doors in 27 countries worldwide, including top retailers such as Best Buy, Apple, Williams Sonoma, Bloomingdale’s and Target.

Up next, Ember is applying our innovative temperature control technology to new categories including healthcare and infant care.

Benefits

• Company covers ~90% of health medical, dental, & vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Hybrid work schedule
• Flexible vacation time (also called unlimited)
• Paid volunteer days
• Your very own Ember mugs!