CORPORATE CONTROLLER

Coulson Oil Company

Job Description

Title: Corporate Controller

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

A privately held, well-established, mid-size company in Central Arkansas is actively recruiting for a strong Controller to lead to organize, record and report on the financial aspects of the business in support of the strategic financial growth of the company.  The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate strong evidence of working as a Controller in a company where growth and improvement are measured.  The Controller will have both a day-to-day and ongoing impact on company operations, helping the company to organize, analyze and report on our financial position. Controller candidates should have proven and demonstrated capability from prior roles to support the long-term goals of the company.  This accomplished financial leader should not only understand current accounting practices and trends but demonstrate proven experience supporting a strategic CFO to make smart and informed strategic decisions for the company.

About Us: Started by the Coulson family, who remain as owners for over 50 years, Coulson Oil has been recognized as the leading branded-gasoline marketing supplier in Arkansas. Based out of Little Rock, Arkansas, we are an award-winning, multi-branded distributor of gasoline and diesel fuel. Our family-owned and operated business is proud to offer Shell and Valero services and products to more than 300 convenience stores and fuel outlets in Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Oklahoma. We operate through our signature Road Runner convenience stores, as well as our SuperStop Coop, Seahawk Transportation, Diamond State Equipment, and in-house real estate divisions.

Today, with John Harris (CEO) at the helm, Coulson has continued to grow and evolve through acquisition and expansion via convenience store and fuel outlet customers across the southeastern U.S. Supplying more than 250 million gallons of gasoline and diesel annually to associated customers, the company also directly operates over a dozen convenience store locations through a coveted joint venture with a large multi-national leader. Given our long-standing and strong relationships, Coulson Oil has aggressive growth plans into the future.

Company Values: At Coulson Oil, customers have always come first. Since 1969, we have been steadfast in our commitment to SERVICE, INTEGRITY, SAFETY, and INNOVATION. This creates a focus internally on achieving excellence which has fueled our growth.

In addition, for more than half a century, Coulson Oil has invested in the communities in which we live and serve. Throughout our history, we have encouraged our employees to volunteer for charities across the state, including offering an annual paid day off for service.

Are you analytically strong and use data to solve problems? Are you on a quest to gather and record information that can be used to drive and grow a business in a timely and accurate manner? Are you a subject matter expert in accounting that thrives on setting, following and expecting others to follow the rules and processes? Do you prefer to be direct, factual, and very organized in your interactions and work?

Position Description Summary:

The Controller reports to the Chief Financial Officer and leads the accounting operations in support of strategic, financial reporting and decisions for the company. This includes producing periodic financial reports, maintaining and adequate system of accounting records, and developing and implementing a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, enhancing the accuracy of the company’s reported financial results, and ensuring that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles. This position provides leadership and coordination of company financial planning, debt financing, and budget management functions that is a substantial basis for the long-term growth of the company. The Controller role at Coulson Oil is a great opportunity for an extraordinary performer who demonstrates excellent accounting skills within a leadership capacity. This position will lead, manage and hold the accounting staff accountable for the company’s top priorities, vision and values.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Management and Training

• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures that meet internal control requirements
• Manage outsourced functions, where necessary
• Manage the accumulation and consolidation of all financial data necessary for an accurate accounting of consolidated business results
• Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of, and organizational structure adequate for achieving the department’s goals and objectives
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, retain and make decisions on long-term viability of department staff, utilizing stated expectations. When needed, make decisions on changes necessary to support the company objectives and values.
• Provide accounting policy orientation for new staff along with liaising with all departments on updated accounting policies and procedures and associated timelines and deliverables.

Transactions

• Establish and follow a monthly closing process and preparation of monthly schedules to calculate closing journal entries with a checklist to ensure all accounting entries are complete, accurate and in the appropriate reporting period
• Prepare and execute month-end closing journal entries and review of entries which may include accruals, amortizations, and depreciation
• Ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely manner and that all reasonable discounts are taken on accounts payable
• Ensure that accounts receivable is invoiced accurately and collected promptly
• Work with Human Resources, and across locations, to ensure payroll is processed in a timely and accurate manner. Likewise, oversee all recordation in accounting as required and submit payroll taxes to local, state and federal authorities according to deadlines
• Establish and maintain an expense reporting protocol and submission process subject to internal controls and company integrity
• Manage all company issued credit cards and reconciliations
• Oversee and review completion of periodic bank reconciliations and variance analyses in all entities
• Schedule and follow-up that required debt payments are made on a timely basis
• Maintain the chart of accounts
• Develop, implement, and preserve an orderly accounting filing system in support of company retention and regulatory compliance
• Maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions including automated accounting and reporting systems

Reporting

• Issue timely and complete financial statements on a monthly and annual basis
• Coordinate the preparation of the corporate annual report working with external auditors
• Oversee the production and reporting of sales and use tax, including fuel tax submissions to all states where the company operates
• Manage and oversee the accounting computer systems to assure ongoing accuracy, updates, and use for company directed information needs
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of the company operations for income, expenses and cash flows
• Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics internally and to external parties as necessary
• Working with the CFO, manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts and make available across the organization as directed
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to management
• Provide for a system of management cost reports

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Skills and Attributes

• Strong working knowledge of accounting, audit, and financial processes
• Ability to interact effectively with banks, vendors, stakeholders, and internal teams
• Ability to work independently, and when necessary, autonomously, with minimal supervision
• Strong and effective decision making and problem-solving skills
• Leadership skills with the ability to delegate, motivate and inspire team members
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses
• High level of integrity and adherence to a code of business ethics
• Excellent skills in MS Office Suite
• Dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation
• Ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong working knowledge of processes, systems, and controls including accounting, retail, and wholesale
• Ability to complete other job-related duties as assigned by management

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field, MBA or advanced accounting degree is highly desirable
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license highly desirable with at least 5 years’ experience as a Controller and progressively responsible financial experience. Without CPA, at least 10 years’ experience as a Controller is preferred
• Proven leadership and management experience is essential
• Mergers and Acquisitions experience, a plus
• Retail experience, a plus
• Demonstrated time management and prioritization skills with a focus on timeliness and accuracy
• PC proficiency is essential with strong working knowledge of MS office suite and financial software
• PDI experience is preferred
• Solid communication skills (written and verbal).
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to pass MVR standards.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

I understand that the list of requirements, essential functions, duties, and responsibilities is not exhaustive but is merely the most accurate list for a job with Company.  Management reserves the right to revise the job description and to require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change, i.e., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, or technical development.  I also acknowledge and understand that this job description is not a contract of employment with the Company for any specific duration or for any other purpose. 

Company is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other class or category protected by federal, state, or local law.