Hybrid Financial Controller at LifeStraw

Financial Controller

Company Overview

We are a fast-growing consumer products company committed to delivering innovation, quality, and sustainability across our portfolio. With a growing global footprint and a purpose-driven mission, we’re looking for a talented and detail-oriented Controller to join our finance team and help scale our operations and controls as we grow.

Position Summary

The Controller will lead the company’s accounting function, overseeing financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance with GAAP. This role is ideal for a hands-on financial leader with strong technical accounting skills, Big 4 experience, and a passion for building efficient, scalable processes in a dynamic CPG or retail environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Close & Reporting

• Lead month-end, quarter‑end, and annual accounting close processes—ensuring accuracy, documentation, and adherence to GAAP.
• Oversee critical financial close activities, including but not limited to cash application, reconciliation of customer accounts, bank accounts, etc., for entities in the US, Kenya, and Switzerland.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), including monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, audit support, and leadership and board presentations.
• Maintain timely internal and external reporting, including non‑GAAP metrics where applicable.

2. Internal Controls & Compliance

• Design, execute, and continuously improve robust controls
• Oversee all control frameworks—AP/AR/T&E management, account reconciliations, policy documentation
• Coordinate external audits, liaise with auditors, and resolve control gaps.

3. Cost, Inventory & Margin Management

• Own cost accounting processes: standard costing, COGS reporting, margin analysis, product costing, pricing analysis.
• Oversee inventory accounting: valuation, reconciliations, and physical cycle counts.
• Conduct variance and margin reviews to support pricing decisions.

4. Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Support budgeting and monthly forecasting—building models, templates, analyzing trends, and tracking budget vs. actuals
• Provide timely variance analysis and actionable insights to Operations, Supply Chain, Product, Marketing and Sales teams.

5. Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, Marketing, Legal, and HR to embed financial rigor in business workflows.
• Partner on ERP implementations, system enhancements, and automation initiatives
• Enhance efficiency through tools, dashboards, and AI‑enabled analysis – including the development and monthly execution of a POS dashboard for all key customers.

6. Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee federal, state, international tax compliance with external advisors—filings, indirect taxes, nexus evaluation.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, SEC, and local regulatory frameworks.

7. Treasury & Cash Management

• Manage cash forecasting, bank reconciliations, covenant compliance, cash controls, and banking relationships.

8. Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead and develop accounting and finance team: hiring, training, mentoring, and performance management.
• Promote a culture of integrity, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

9. Process Optimization & Scalability

• Map and formalize accounting workflows; create process documentation and process flows.
• Drive ERP and automation projects to streamline close cycles (target: 3–5 days monthly close).
• Implement dashboards and KPI reporting for ongoing performance monitoring.

Ideal Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance; CPA required; MBA or CMA preferred
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including Big 4/Public accounting and CPG/manufacturing exposure
• Solid experience with ERP (NetSuite)
• Proven hands-on leadership in full-cycle close, internal audits, and SOX compliance, with sharp cost accounting skills
• Technical GAAP knowledge, ASC 606 revenue recognition, inventory, and cost standards.
• Analytical, process‑oriented, detail-focused, with strong communication and cross-functional partnership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-growth, mission-driven, globally distributed environment.