Group Controller

Fitzgerald Auto Malls is a proud Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company with a longstanding reputation for integrity customer satisfaction and operational excellence. With automotive dealerships across Florida Maryland and Pennsylvania a rental car company a finance company furniture store parts outlets and a portfolio of real estate holdings Fitzgerald continues to grow while maintaining a strong employee-centered culture. As an ESOP organization every team member contributes to and shares in the companys long-term success.

Position: Corporate Group Controller

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Corporate Group Controller to oversee financial operations across our multi-entity automotive group. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate accounting robust financial controls and timely reporting across all dealerships and associated companies. The Corporate Group Controller will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will lead a team that includes the Manager of Accounting as well as accounting staff at each dealership and business unit.

Key Responsibilities

- Oversee and manage the financial operations of multiple dealerships and business units including automotive rental finance and real estate entities.

- Supervise and provide leadership to the Manager of Accounting and accounting teams across all locations.

- Ensure timely and accurate month-end and year-end closings consolidations and financial reporting.

- Develop implement and maintain robust internal controls and accounting policies.

- Manage financial audits and coordinate with external auditors.

-Oversee the payroll function including providing leadership and guidance to the Payroll team ensuring accurate compliant and timely processing across all entities.

- Prepare and analyze financial statements for executive leadership.

- Optimize accounting processes and systems to support scaling and operational efficiency.

- Manage banking relationships and oversee treasury functions.

- Serve as the primary liaison for the ESOPs third-party administrator (TPA) ensuring compliance reporting accuracy and timely submissions.

- Collaborate with operations leadership to support business decisions with financial insights.

- Ensure compliance with federal state and local regulations including dealership-specific accounting requirements.

- Support strategic initiatives acquisitions and integrations as needed.

Qualifications

- Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance or related field; CPA strongly preferred.

- Minimum of 710 years of progressive accounting leadership experience preferably in automotive retail or a multi-entity environment.

- Strong knowledge of GAAP and dealership accounting practices.

- Experience managing teams across multiple locations.

- Demonstrated experience with consolidations and multi-entity financial reporting.

- Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide strategic financial guidance.

- Excellent communication collaboration and leadership abilities.

- Experience working with ESOP structures is a plus.

- Familiarity with dealership management systems (DMS) such as CDK Reynolds & Reynolds or similar.