Controller

Controller

Location: Detroit, Michigan
Reports to: CEO
Employment type: Full-time, Exempt
Compensation: $110,000 to $130,000 base salary plus annual bonus

About Our Client

Our client is a growing global freight forwarding company with an expanding footprint. As the business scales, it is investing in the finance leadership and technology needed to support that growth.

Position Summary

This is a hands-on Controller role in a smaller, growing organization where your work is visible and your impact is immediate. The Controller will personally own the financial statements and the month-end and year-end close, while leading a team of direct reports who keep the company’s day-to-day financial operations running smoothly. Reporting to the CEO, this leader will also champion the digitization of finance processes and documentation, replacing manual workflows with modern, scalable systems that support the company’s expansion.

We are looking for an ambitious, growth-minded player-coach who is comfortable with technology and excited to help digitize processes and lead a team. This person is equally at home closing the books and preparing financials as they are developing people, improving how the work gets done, and translating financial data for non-financial stakeholders. They bring sound business judgment, a sharp eye for detail, and the adaptability to build structure in a fast-changing environment, along with the integrity and discretion this role demands.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the month-end and year-end close, personally preparing the financial statements
• Oversee the general ledger, including account reconciliations and accruals
• Build and maintain reporting and dashboards that give leadership clear, timely visibility into performance
• Oversee AP, AR, and overhead, including billing, collections, vendor payments, and expenses
• Monitor cash flow, DSO, and carrier and vendor payment cycles
• Provide operational controlling support by analyzing business-unit profitability to inform decision-making
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and partner with operational leaders to act on them
• Maintain strong financial controls over operational processes
• Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of direct reports, setting clear expectations and keeping day-to-day work flowing smoothly
• Improve existing processes and drive the digitization of workflows and documentation, moving the team from manual work to automated, scalable systems
• Guide the team through technology adoption and change

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of senior accounting experience, including leadership experience
• Freight forwarding or transportation industry experience is a plus, but strong candidates from other industries are encouraged to apply

What We Offer

• Base salary of $110,000 to $130,000 plus annual performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and additional benefits
• A visible leadership role with direct access to senior executives
• The opportunity to shape the finance function of a growing global business

All inquiries and applications will be handled in strict confidence. Our client is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Flex HR uses AI for document preparation and meeting transcription only — never to screen or evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are made by a human recruiter. Roles may be posted on platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn, which are independent companies that may use AI in their own technology.