Description
Reports To: CEO
Supports: Retail Operations, Bakery Production, and People Operations
Job Summary
The Controller is responsible for leading the financial operations of the organization across retail café units and wholesale bakery production. This role oversees accounting, financial reporting, payroll in both union and non-union environments, and the integrity of multi-location inventory and POS systems.
Beyond operational oversight, the Controller serves as a strategic financial partner to senior leadership. The role actively manages banking relationships, cash flow forecasting, and lending compliance, ensuring the company maintains strong financial positioning and liquidity to support growth. The Controller partners with Operations to analyze pricing strategy and menu engineering, evaluating product mix, contribution margins, labor impact, and cost trends to protect and improve profitability across retail and wholesale channels.
This position also supports long-term growth initiatives by providing financial modeling for new café openings, capital investments, production expansion, and market development opportunities. Through disciplined internal controls, margin analysis, and forward-looking financial planning, the Controller helps drive sustainable growth while preserving the financial health and operational excellence of the organization.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Strategy
- Partner with CEO and leadership team on financial strategy and decision-making
- Develop and monitor annual budgets and rolling forecasts
- Provide financial modeling for new café openings, equipment investments, and growth initiatives
- Analyze financial performance by business unit (Retail vs. Wholesale)
- Present monthly financial reports with variance analysis and actionable insights
Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Oversee general ledger, month-end and year-end close processes
- Ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
- Maintain chart of accounts aligned with retail and production operations
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and intercompany accounts
- Manage fixed assets and depreciation schedules (ovens, mixers, refrigeration, etc.)
- Coordinate annual tax filings and external CPA relationship
Cost Accounting & Margin Management
- Develop and maintain product-level costing for wholesale and retail items
- Monitor food cost, packaging cost, and labor cost trends
- Analyze production yields, waste, and inventory variances
- Support pricing strategy and margin improvement initiatives
- Partner with production leadership on inventory controls and COGS accuracy
Cash Flow & Working Capital
- Manage cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning
- Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable processes
- Monitor wholesale receivables and aging reports
- Optimize vendor payment terms and customer credit policies
Payroll & Compliance
- Oversee payroll processing and payroll tax compliance
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
- Manage sales tax filings across retail locations
- Maintain insurance, workers’ compensation, and business registrations
Internal Controls & Systems
- Establish and maintain strong internal financial controls
- Oversee POS integration, inventory systems, and accounting software
- Improve reporting automation and operational dashboards
- Support ERP/POS/accounting system upgrades as needed
Team Leadership
- Train managers on financial literacy and reporting tools
- Build scalable processes to support growth
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Timely and accurate monthly close
- Gross margin improvement by business unit
- Inventory variance reduction
- Cash flow stability
- Budget adherence
- Financial reporting accuracy
Compensation and Work Environment
We offer competitive wages and benefits commensurate with a candidate’s experience and education. This role operates in a combination office and on-site bakery/café environment and may require periodic early morning availability or end-of-month schedule flexibility. The Controller works collaboratively with operations, production, and retail leadership to support informed, data-driven decision-making across the organization.
- Annual Salary and Weekly Pay
- Paid Time Off: Personal, Vacation, and Sick
- Health, Dental, Vision with shared contribution between employer and team member
- 401k Program with employer match*
- Free products while working and employee discounts during non-working shifts
Apply Here
PI283082658