Controller

Controller

Stillwater Sciences strives for managed, organic growth aligned with our cultural values and strategic plan. Our matrix organizational structure fosters collaboration and accountability, and our culture prioritizes respect, transparency, and long-term success. Joining Stillwater means contributing to a mission-driven team while ensuring financial integrity and supporting strategic initiatives that enable continued growth and operational excellence.

Stillwater Sciences seeks an experienced Controller to join our accounting group in either our Berkeley or Sacramento office. In this role, you will have a wide variety of responsibilities consistent with a small-to-mid-size consulting firm. At Stillwater, the accounting group is segmented into two primary functions : (1) financial accounting and (2) project accounting. In this role, you will report directly to the Director of Business Operations and will be responsible for directly managing the financial accounting team. Although the Controller's primary responsibility is financial accounting, there are interfaces with Project Accounting functions, and the Controller is expected to fully support those interfaces and provide guidance and / or support as necessary.

Our projects range in size from $10K to more than $5M and are for terms of a few weeks to multiple years. Project compensation methods are primarily Time and Materials (including units) and some Fixed Fee (with percentage of completion milestones) and are funded by various client types (e.g., local, state, and federal government, utility, non-profit, other consulting firms, occasionally private), each having specific invoicing and reporting requirements that impact revenue recognition and balance sheet reporting.

As a growing company, we have numerous initiatives for providing a solid foundation to support managed growth, both in administrative operations and production operations. Financial accounting initiatives include continuing development of the organizational structure, as well as research, development, implementation, and maintenance of accounting tools to provide complete, timely, and accurate financial information consistent with best business practices (Architecture / Engineering / Consulting [AEC] Industry) as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and other forms of comprehensive basis of accounting. As a part of our leadership team, you will participate in helping develop and coach others and provide direction for their continuing professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Financial Accounting team, including management of the general ledger, accounts payable, credit card activity, accounts receivable, payroll, employee expense reporting, AP and Employee Expense payments, and month-end and year-end close processes.
• Ensure that transactions are completely, timely and accurately entered.
• Manage the monthly accounting cycle checklist and set the overall accounting calendar.
• Perform month-end close procedures, including ensuring all balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly and income statement reviewed before providing any financial reports or information.
• Ensure timely and accurate internal financial reports according to company defined reporting requirements.
• Monitor bank and investment account activity to ensure all entries are made on a timely basis and provide notifications to the Director of Business Operations of any activity of note. Also interface with banking representatives as necessary.
• Provide approvals as defined in the Stillwater Governance Framework (e.g., specified purchases, write-downs for client invoices).
• Provide guidance as necessary to Financial Accounting, Project Accounting, and other Stillwater team members for recording or executing financial activity (e.g., project coding, general ledger coding, method for executing a transaction).
• Review and approve transaction entries as specified in company policies and procedures.
• Error correction (execute entries or provide guidance to others as appropriate).
• Ensure controls are performed as required.
• Maintain accounting for a joint venture.

Financial Reporting

Planning Support and Reporting

Compliance

Revenue Recognition

Payroll Processing Support

Training, Oversight, and Support

Data Integrity and Quality Assurance

Procedures & Process Improvement

Special Projects

Special projects may arise from time to time (e.g., IT application software initiatives, special reporting). The Controller is expected to take ownership for assigned processes and to assist with other projects where there is an interface with financial accounting.

Experience, Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements