Controller

About Us:

We are an Austin-based interior architecture and design firm specializing in multifamily, student housing, hospitality and senior living projects. Our firm creates exceptional interior environments that celebrate life for our communities throughout the United States, and we seek only the most talented individuals who want an opportunity to grow professionally and enhance our practice and the lives of our residents.

About You:

You are a bright, talented professional with a desire to be in a creative and collaborative design firm. You are the best in your field. Individuals in this position will work within a fast-paced environment, so the ability to handle pressure, stay organized, and multi-task is important. You also have a strong sense of self-accountability, high attention to detail, and sound judgment. You have significant demonstrated experience in developing and managing projects.

Position Summary:

The Controller connects StudioSIX5's corporate vision to short and long term strategic financial plans through analysis and financial reporting, including business plans, budgets, forecasts, dashboards, and KPI tracking. The Controller is an expert at data modeling and has an uncanny ability to distill and communicate complex financial concepts to a variety of stakeholders who may or may not be native to the finance function. Additionally, the Controller oversees the daily accounting operations of the company, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll. This role ensures that StudioSIX5 has the systems and procedures in place to support effective business practices. The Controller works closely with all Team Leaders and their staff, not only to educate them regarding succession planning, finance and accounting procedures but also to explore how the finance function can support day-to-day operations and improve profitability. In addition, this role will partner with senior leadership, HR Manager, Purchasing Manager and Marketing Director to enhance and better integrate finance controls. The Controller is also responsible to collaborate with SS5's established banking, accounting, and legal relationships when appropriate.

The Controller is comfortable balancing hands-on financial management with making senior-level decisions serving as the link between the finance department and senior leadership.

Measures of Success:

• Through accurate reporting and strategic conversations with leaders, projects consistently come in under or on budget.
• Accounts payable/receivable is paid/received per contract and is escalated to management if not received within 60 days.
• Direct personnel expenses and markup factors are updated monthly for accurate recording.
• Individual team members are thriving and report 90% job satisfaction.
• Trains, coordinates and manages Accounting Assistants so they are performing at or above expected performance levels.
• Maintains strict confidentiality around record keeping and financial information.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop efficiencies and process improvements within the accounting team and Design studio
• Partner with departmental leaders to determine and support financial analysis needs
• Develop and coordinate financial reports, budgets, and forecasts for individual departments
• Analyze data to develop forecasting, operational and cash flow strategies.
• Review investment strategies and analyze ways to leverage for company growth.
• Maintain succession plan.
• Stay up to date with compliance standards and make necessary adjustments to processes.
• Establish and maintain internal controls.
• Develop strategies to marry business plans and financial strategies to achieve company financial goals
• Develop financial strategies for StudioSIX5, Montage Logistics, Frame, Visualization Studio, and our ready made design program, with optional business plans co-developed with leadership. Recommend staffing and protocol.
• Develop strategies to best leverage our relationship with our bank, tax consultants, legal and other critical consultants.
• Mentor and train office staff on interpretation of accounting data and how to use it daily.
• Integrate our ready made design program and online transactions into the SS5 platforms.

Management:

• Maintains and enforces a documented system of accounting policies and procedures.
• Oversee the operations of the accounting department.
• Manages, trains, and coaches all team members effectively.
• Analysis of team performance for salary increases and bonus determination.
• Manages and tracks the performance of invested assets in compliance with policies and investment guidelines.

Transactions:

• Ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and that the approval process is maintained
• Ensure that all reasonable discounts are taken on accounts payable.
• Ensure accounts receivable are collected promptly.
• Manages and accurately guarantees disbursement of payroll, including garnishments, benefits and taxes consistent with federal and state wage and hour laws.
• Ensure bank reconciliations are completed.
• Ensure that required debt payments are made on a timely basis.
• Maintain the chart of accounts.
• Maintain an orderly accounting filing system
• Works with the Purchasing Manager to reconcile accounts.

Reporting:

• Provides consistent financial reporting that provides the necessary level of information.
• Alerts management of any negative trends or opportunities for improvement
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of company operations
• Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics
• Manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts; administers and reviews all financial plans and compares to actual results with a view to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate.
• Manage capital request as part of the budgeting process.
• Manages organizational cash flow forecasting, continuously collaborates with senior leadership to assess the financial efficacy of design projects and establish finance and administrative systems to support the business.
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to management
• Provide for a system of management cost reports
• Provide financial analyses as needed, for capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations

Compliance:

• Monitor debt levels and compliance with debt covenants
• Comply with all local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings per jurisdictions StudioSIX5 is working in
• Oversees all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate standards and regulatory requirements
• Maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions.
• Processes and mails 1099/1096 forms.

Risk Management/Insurance:

• Ensure appropriate level of insurances are in place to mitigate the risk of loss and coordinate with operations
• Construct and monitor reliable control systems.
• Oversee employee benefit plans, with particular emphasis on maximizing a cost-effective benefits package.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
• Advanced knowledge of QuickBooks Enterprise is required.
• Experience with payroll and timekeeping software is required.
• Keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which allows for strategic data interpretation versus simple reporting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data, including presentations to management, or other outside partners.
• Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat are required.

Experience / Education:

• Seven to ten (7-10) years of accounting and finance experience, ideally beginning in accounting and audit, followed by experience gathering, evaluating, reporting financial information to management and making recommendations to improve the firm's financial position.
• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree; CPA and/or MBA preferred.

Complexities and Conditions of Employment:

• This position handles and maintains proprietary highly confidential employee, financial and company information. The utmost care must be taken to assure confidential information and documents are always secure.
• This position requires 0% travel nationwide.
• This position requires occasional nights, weekends, holidays, and after hours' availability.
• This position requires a current and valid driver's license.

Compensation, Benefits and Perks:

We are committed to creating a benefits program that is not only competitive, but flexible and responsive to the changing needs of our employees. We are proud, as part of our total compensation philosophy, to offer the following benefits to regular, full-time employees:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, AD&D and Life, Short-Term Disability, Accident, Cancer and Legal Insurance
• 38-hour workweek with Half-Day Fridays
• Hybrid work model; flexible to work from home and in the office several days a week
• Paid Time Off and 8 major paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401K Retirement Plan with match
• Bonuses
• Professional development, education and training
• Paid covered parking
• Monthly team Building, happy hours, and other social gatherings

Hours:

• Minimum of 38 hours per week
• Some evening and weekend may be required as needed

StudioSIX5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. For more information about us, visit www.studioSIX5.com or Like Us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.