Assistant Controller

ABOUT US

At PARTNER, success starts with the right mindset: connection, compassion, and curiosity. Whether consulting with clients or collaborating with colleagues, these principles guide how we work. We deliver engineering, environmental, and energy consulting, plus design services across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. As a leader in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), we’re 1,600+ professionals strong in 40+ offices. Our mission is simple: create the best home for talented professionals. If you value delivering exceptional experiences through problem-solving, coordination, and a mindset of care for clients and colleagues, you’ll feel right at home. That approach has earned us recognition on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies, and Zweig’s Best Firms to Work For. Here, your ideas matter, your impact is real, and your work helps shape the future. Check out this role and join our team of talented professionals.

Learn more about Partner at www.partneresi.com

SUMMARY

The Assistant Controller is a senior, hands-on accounting leader responsible for the execution, quality, and continuous improvement of financial reporting and accounting operations across a complex, multi-entity and multinational organization. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong people leadership, and the confidence to make and support judgment-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment.

This position partners closely with the Controller, takes day-to-day ownership of core accounting functions, and plays a critical role in strengthening processes, developing talent, and preparing the organization for continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close Ownership

• Take primary ownership of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, consolidation entries, and supporting schedules
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP
• Lead variance analyses and partner with FP&A and Operations to explain results
• Identify recurring close issues and drive durable solutions that improve accuracy and speed

International & Multi-Entity Accounting

• Own accounting oversight for foreign subsidiaries with differing functional currencies
• Review FX remeasurement, translation, and consolidation adjustments
• Manage intercompany accounting, eliminations, and settlement processes across legal entities
• Ensure consistent accounting application across domestic and international entities

Senior Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop an accounting organization of at least five professionals across multiple levels
• Set clear expectations for quality, deadlines, and ownership, particularly during close
• Review staff and manager work product; provide coaching on both technical matters and professional judgment
• Act as a trusted escalation point for complex accounting issues and decisions
• Build depth and succession within the accounting team

Complex, High-Volume Operating Environment

• Oversee accounting in a high-volume, low-dollar contract environment
• Ensure revenue and expense recognition reflect contractual terms and economic substance
• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Operations, FP&A, and IT to resolve accounting implications of business activity
• Identify where processes need structure versus flexibility and implement pragmatic improvements

Tax & Entity Structure Support

• Oversee accounting considerations related to a complex S-corporation structure with 80+ shareholders
• Support accounting impacts of multi-state tax nexus across approximately 40 states
• Partner with external tax advisors to ensure accounting, compliance, and reporting are aligned
• Review accounting positions that require coordination between tax and financial reporting

Audit, Controls & Risk Management

• Lead accounting preparation for external audits, including review of audit schedules and PBC materials
• Serve as a key point of contact for auditors on accounting matters
• Ensure internal controls are operating effectively and evolve with business complexity
• Proactively identify risk areas and implement controls that balance rigor and efficiency

Required Qualifications

• Active CPA license (required)
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Experience in public accounting and/or complex industry environments
• Proven experience managing and developing teams of 5 or more accounting professionals
• Strong command of U.S. GAAP, consolidations, and technical accounting
• Ability to operate comfortably in both detailed execution and higher-level review and decision-making

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with international subsidiaries and foreign currency accounting
• Exposure to pass-through entities, shareholder reporting, and multi-state tax environments
• Background in high-transaction-volume or contract-driven businesses
• Strong process mindset with the ability to improve systems without over-engineering
• Executive-caliber communication skills and comfort partnering with senior leadership

Why This Role

This is an opportunity for a seasoned accounting professional who wants meaningful ownership, technical depth, and people leadership without leaving the work behind. The Assistant Controller will play a central role in maintaining accounting rigor while helping evolve the function alongside the business.

COMPENSATION

Salary range: $150,000 - $200,000. This is what we reasonably expect to pay for the role

The pay scale for this role considers a wide range of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note, the disclosed pay scale estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic location where the position may be filled.

You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive bonus program which is dependent on various factors, including, but not limited to individual and organizational performance.

BENEFITS

Competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation and sick time, and a 401(k) plan with a company match.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Partner Engineering and Science, Inc’s (The Company) policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information including genetic information, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran status, marital status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.

California Consumer Privacy Act

We collect personal information from you in connection with your application for employment with Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. For details on what personal information we collect and the purposes for which we collect it, please visit:

https://www.partneresi.com/about/careers/california-consumer-privacy-act