Controller – Japanese bilingual

Group Controller – Japanese Bilingual

Location: Torrance, California (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: CFO / Executive Vice President & Treasurer

Salary Range: $200-250K Base , depending on experience

Language: Japanese and English bilingual

Position Summary

A well-established global electronics company is seeking an experienced Group Controller to lead accounting operations, financial reporting, forecasting, and internal controls for its U.S. operations and related entities.

Reporting directly to the CFO/EVP & Treasurer, this highly visible leadership position will oversee the monthly close, balance sheet, cash flow, inventory, sales incentives, expense accruals, and management reporting. The Group Controller will also supervise accounting staff and partner closely with senior management, affiliated companies, auditors, and the company’s global headquarters.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished accounting leader who enjoys combining hands-on financial oversight with strategic analysis and team leadership. Experience supporting a publicly traded company, IPO readiness, or PCAOB audit requirements is highly valued.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly accounting close and financial reporting process for the U.S. organization and related entities.
• Prepare and analyze balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow forecasts.
• Deliver accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to senior management and global headquarters.
• Coordinate budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and management reporting.
• Manage inventory accounting, including inventory in transit, net realizable value reserves, and returned-goods reserves.
• Oversee sales incentive accounting and accruals, including sales funds, budgets, claims, and related account analysis.
• Review variable expenses, including freight-out, warranty, commissions, warehouse expenses, and bad-debt reserves.
• Manage general and administrative expense reporting and compare results against budgets and forecasts.
• Prepare financial statements, supporting schedules, and analyses for management and external audits.
• Strengthen internal controls and support compliance with U.S. GAAP, corporate accounting policies, and applicable audit requirements.
• Support public-company readiness and PCAOB audit activities, as applicable.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and other accounting work prepared by the team.
• Monitor daily cash activity and cash application processes.
• Oversee intercompany accounting, billing, loans, and reconciliations with domestic and international affiliated entities.
• Supervise, coach, and develop accounting team members while establishing effective cross-training and backup processes.
• Support vendor master administration and new-vendor setup within SAP.
• Coordinate the administration and annual audits of the company’s 401(k) and pension plans.
• Manage corporate insurance and risk-management processes in partnership with outside insurance consultants and the VP Treasurer.
• Collaborate with internal departments, subsidiaries, outside partners, auditors, and global headquarters.
• Coordinate reporting differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS and support necessary adjustments and reconciliations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 7–10 years of progressive accounting, financial reporting, or controllership experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial statements, monthly close processes, budgeting, forecasting, and balance sheet management.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple accounting functions and managing competing priorities.
• Prior experience supervising and developing accounting professionals.
• Strong financial analysis, reporting, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and collaborate across departments and international organizations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with SAP Finance and Controlling; SAP Business Warehouse knowledge is highly desirable.
• Experience working with databases and developing financial queries or reports is preferred.
• Japanese and English bilingual communication skills
• CPA or equivalent professional certification is preferred but not required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working for a publicly traded or multinational company.
• Experience supporting PCAOB audits, IPO readiness, or SOX/internal-control compliance.
• Background in the electronics, consumer products, manufacturing, or distribution industry.
• Experience with inventory accounting, sales incentive programs, and intercompany transactions.
• Experience communicating with a Japan-based or other international headquarters.
• Experience preparing IFRS-based consolidation reporting packages for an international parent company is highly preferred.

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• Direct exposure to the CFO and executive leadership team.
• Broad ownership of accounting, reporting, forecasting, cash flow, and operational finance.
• Opportunity to support the organization’s continued growth and public-company readiness.
• High level of collaboration with global headquarters and affiliated companies.
• Meaningful leadership responsibility with the ability to improve processes, controls, and team capabilities.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.