Controller - middle market PE Backed services company

Ascension Search Partners has been engaged by rapidly scaling ~$150M services company backed by private equity who are seeking a high‑impact Corporate Controller to lead the finance function through its next phase of growth. With double digit completed acquisitions and a significant pipeline ahead, the organization is in the early stages of a multi‑year buildout focused on automation, professionalization, and integration of financial systems and processes.

This role requires a hands‑on, strategically minded finance leader who thrives in complexity, can create order from ambiguity, and knows exactly what “good” looks like in a private‑equity environment. The Controller will be responsible for building financial foundations, upgrading systems, elevating reporting, and developing a scalable infrastructure that supports continued acquisitive growth. The incoming leader will work closely with executive leadership and PE sponsors, serve as a cultural stabilizer, and bring modern financial discipline to a team navigating change. This includes leading the transition from legacy processes and tools to a modernized tech stack—including a planned ERP implementation—while motivating and upskilling team members through a period of organizational evolution.

The ideal candidate is a builder, a communicator, and a change leader with deep private‑equity experience and the confidence to guide a team through organizational transformation. They are hands‑on, detail‑oriented, operationally sharp, and capable of stepping into a leadership vacuum with clarity and authority. They bring maturity, steadiness, and structure—while also embracing the high‑growth, high‑velocity nature of a PE‑backed business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the corporate accounting and controllership function for a multi‑entity, acquisition‑heavy services company.
• Build financial infrastructure including controls, processes, monthly close cadence, reporting, and integration frameworks.
• Implement and optimize the finance tech stack, including leading a full ERP transition.
• Translate complex operational data from the system into accurate, timely, and actionable financial insights.
• Manage and mentor a team, serving as a steady, communicative leader able to unify a group navigating structural change.
• Effectively partner with private‑equity owners to deliver transparent reporting, improvement initiatives, and risk‑aware financial leadership.
• Drive acquisition integration, including onboarding new entities, assessing financial maturity, and standardizing reporting.
• Serve as a strong communicator across the leadership team—clear, direct, and comfortable influencing at the executive level.
• Establish a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the finance organization.

Key Requirements

• Proven Controller experience in a private‑equity–backed environment (must know what “great” looks like).
• Strong track record of implementing or upgrading financial systems—including hands‑on ERP implementation experience.
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence; able to engage clearly with leadership, PE sponsors, and cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, inspire, and restructure teams.
• Experience building scalable accounting operations in a high‑growth, acquisitive business.
• Ability to manage complex operational data.
• Critical thinker with excellent judgment and a strong grasp of risk management.
• Comfortable leading through ambiguity, high expectations, and demanding timelines.