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VP of Finance / Controller

Sitreps
Location
Nashville, TN metro
Posted
1 month ago
Department
HVAC
Salary
$150,000–$200,000
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • CPA, or equivalent depth of hands-on accounting experience
  • Roughly 8+ years of total experience, including at least 5 years post-audit
  • Public accounting foundation (audit or tax) followed by controller-level work in small or lower-middle-market companies
  • Demonstrated understanding of how to build an accounting function from the ground up: systems, SOPs, and controls that did not exist before you arrived
  • Comfort operating in QuickBooks today with a clear-eyed view of what it takes to graduate off it
  • Genuine willingness to work in an industrial, blue-collar warehouse environment alongside the operations team
Nice to have
  • Inventory-heavy experience: distribution, wholesale, manufacturing, or industrial
  • ERP implementation experience, as owner, project manager, or core team member
  • Private equity-backed company experience: sponsor reporting, board decks, covenant compliance
  • Strategic range beyond the controller seat: the ability to grow into CFO as the platform scales
What the job really is

The VP of Finance / Controller will be the first in-house finance leader for a specialty distribution business, responsible for building the finance function from scratch. Daily tasks will include closing the books, establishing accounting SOPs, managing inventory accounting, and partnering with the President on strategic decisions. The role offers a path to CFO for the right candidate as the company scales.

Benefits
  • Compensation: $150,000–$200,000 base, depending on experience, plus bonus, equity and benefits
Things to weigh
  • The role is a build position with no existing internal accounting function or SOPs, which may require significant effort and initiative to establish processes.
  • The company operates in an industrial environment, which may not appeal to everyone.
  • No specific details on the company's culture or team dynamics are provided, which could be important for fit.
Job score4/5
Benefits1/5
Freshness4/5
Career value5/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency5/5

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