Accounting Controller
2 days ago
Miami
Job Description Job Title: Controller — Import & Ocean Freight Forwarding Location: Miami, FL (or South Florida) Reports to: CFO / CEO / VP Finance Type: Full-time (Exempt) About Us / Company Profile We are a freight forwarding / logistics company specializing in ocean imports, drayage, intermodal, and related services. We are in a growth phase and require an experienced financial leader who understands the complexities of import operations, freight costing, and financial controls in the logistics space. Position Summary The Controller will lead the accounting and finance functions with a strong operational lens. This role is responsible for cost control, budgeting, forecasting, collections, vendor management, and ensuring that the financial and operational decisions are aligned. The ideal candidate is hands‐on, detail oriented, and has deep knowledge of ocean freight, drayage, and forwarding operations. The Controller will lead the accounting and finance functions with a strong operational lens. This role is responsible for cost control, budgeting, forecasting, collections, vendor management, and ensuring that the financial and operational decisions are aligned. The ideal candidate is hands‐on, detail oriented, and has deep knowledge of ocean freight, drayage, and forwarding operations. Key Responsibilities · Oversee full accounting cycle (AR, AP, GL, month-end close, financial statements, intercompany) · Develop, maintain, and monitor a 90‐day cash budget / forecast, and lead the annual budgeting process · Analyze ocean freight, drayage, and other logistics costs, identify cost savings opportunities, and implement cost‐reduction initiatives (carrier negotiations, route optimization, process improvements) · Review and approve quotes / pricing for clients (ocean, drayage, intermodal) in collaboration with operations / sales · Lead collections / credit / receivables: monitor overdue accounts, manage credit policy, resolve disputes, minimize write‐offs · Reconcile agent / carrier / partner statements (ocean carriers, NVOCCs, inland drayage, trucking) and resolve discrepancies · Negotiate vendor rebates, volume discounts, freight incentives, and contractual terms with carriers / logistics providers · Ensure internal controls, compliance (GAAP / internal policies), and audit readiness · Provide financial analysis, KPI reporting, variance analysis, dashboards for leadership · Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, sales, customs / compliance, and supply chain teams · Mentor and manage accounting / finance staff (if applicable) · Monitor cash flow, working capital, liquidity, and funding requirements Qualifications / Requirements Must-Have: · Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field · 7+ years accounting / finance experience · Deep knowledge of import operations, ocean freight, drayage, intermodal cost structures · Proven track record of cost reductions in ocean freight / drayage · Hands-on experience approving quotes and pricing decisions · Strong collections / AR experience · Ability to reconcile complex agent statements / carrier statements · Experience building and managing a 90‐day cash budget / forecast and annual budgets · Strong Excel, financial modeling, data analysis skills · Excellent communication skills, able to work across operations and financial teams · Proven leadership / team management skills Preferred · CPA / CMA designation preferred · Experience in freight forwarding / logistics / import operations · Experience with TMS / forwarding systems (MAGAYA.) · Experience in global logistics / multimodal forwarding · Experience with trade compliance / customs / duties accounting · International / multi‐currency experience · Experience in budgeting / forecasting in growing companies · Prior experience with vendor rebate / incentive negotiations · Familiarity with ERP systems (NetSuite, SAP, etc.) · Spanish / Portuguese or other languages helpful · Experience in audit, internal controls Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) · Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) · AR aging (e.g., % > 90 days) · Cost savings realized (ocean, drayage) · Variance to budget / forecast · Cash forecast accuracy · Margin per shipment / lane · Discrepancy / reconciliation resolution rate · Vendor rebate harvest / carrier incentive yield Compensation & Benefits · Competitive base salary + bonus tied to cost savings and cash outcomes · Standard benefits (health, 401k, etc.) · Possibly equity / profit sharing · Professional development, training budget · Flexible / hybrid work options (if applicable) Company DescriptionTechnology based Freight Forwarder, utilizing our proprietary software for a competitive advantage in the marketplace.Technology based Freight Forwarder, utilizing our proprietary software for a competitive advantage in the marketplace.