Smith + Howard Advisory is seeking experienced, hands-on Controllers interested in consulting opportunities with clients in Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding markets. This role is ideal for professionals looking to apply their expertise through interim, fractional, or project-based engagements, while maintaining flexibility and control over their schedule. Our consultant’s partner with emerging growth to middle-market companies, delivering high-impact advisory support across Finance, Accounting, and HR. At Smith + Howard Advisory, you’ll collaborate with a highly experienced, supportive team while working on diverse, meaningful client engagements.

About us: Smith + Howard Advisory is a tax, accounting, and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta with a national reach and a reputation for doing more than expected. Our enterprising advisors relish analyzing problems and crafting strategies that see where you are now and help take you where you want to go. We bring clarity, passion and insight to work for you and deliver it with unmatched service.

Why Join Us?

As a Controller consultant, you'll enjoy:

Work-Life Balance: Whether you prefer part-time or full-time project work, Smith + Howard is committed to ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

Diverse Clientele: Engage in exciting projects with a variety of clients, gaining exposure to different industries and business models.

Supportive Team: Work alongside a team of seasoned professionals who are dedicated to your success and growth.

Professional Growth: Enhance your skills and knowledge while making a significant impact on our clients' businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

As a Controller consultant, you will partner with clients to deliver high-impact financial leadership, including:

Lead and optimize monthly and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper documentation

Oversee cash management and reporting, including daily, weekly, and monthly cash flow and forecasting

Monitor and report on covenant compliance, borrowing base calculations, debt reporting, and liquidity risks

Review and ensure accurate classification of income, expenses, and balance sheet accounts; oversee monthly account reconciliations

Prepare and deliver monthly financial and operating reporting packages, including variance analysis and insights

Establish, document, and enhance financial processes, systems, and controls to support informed decision-making

Drive process improvement initiatives and support project planning and execution

Oversee preparation and filing of monthly, quarterly, and annual tax filings

Support mergers and acquisitions through financial due diligence, process documentation, project management, and post-acquisition integration

Identify control gaps, process inefficiencies, and risks, and implement practical solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate brings a strong consulting mindset and deep hands-on experience, including:

10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including service as a Controller or similar role

Proven experience acting as a consultant and trusted advisor to multiple clients in dynamic environments

Strong technical accounting knowledge and the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate financial data clearly

Demonstrated ability to identify control issues and design scalable processes that mitigate risk and drive efficiency

Excellent planning, organization, and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple engagements

Results-oriented, entrepreneurial mindset with strong interpersonal and client-relationship skills

Experience with middle-market accounting systems (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite, or similar)

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Compensation:

$60 - $90 per hour

This role may be filled at the Director or Senior Director level. The range reflects the varying levels of experience, responsibility, and complexity associated with each level; compensation will align accordingly. Compensation is also adjusted based on geographic location and regional market rates.

Full-time W-2 employees are eligible for a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, employer paid basic life and short-term disability plus additional ancillary plans such as voluntary life insurance, long-term disability, critical illness, cancer, and accident insurance. Part-time employees are eligible for critical illness, cancer and accident insurance. Full-time salaried W-2 employees are eligible for holiday pay, paid time off, and annual bonuses. Full-time hourly and part-time hourly W-2 employees are eligible for paid time off and annual bonuses.

If you are an independent consultant looking to collaborate with a high-caliber team, or a corporate Controller ready to transition into flexible, project-based consulting, Smith + Howard offers the opportunity to do challenging, meaningful work with a variety of clients while maintaining balance and autonomy.

Visit Smith + Howard | Tax, Accounting, Advisory + Assurance to learn more about our firm, our people, and the work we do.