VP/Controller - Equipment Finance

The VP/Controller provides financial leadership for Bell Bank Equipment Finance, overseeing all accounting operations, financial reporting, and integration with the parent bank’s systems. This role is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and driving operational excellence. The VP/Controller acts as the division’s primary accounting contact with the parent bank, external auditors, and tax authorities, while leading a team responsible for day-to-day financial operations.

Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Serve as the division’s accounting lead, ensuring all financial practices align with GAAP, regulatory standards, and the bank’s policies.
• Oversee month-end and year-end close processes, internal financial statements, and reporting packages for division leadership and the parent bank.
• Partner with division leaders to provide financial insights, support forecasting, and assess the impact of new business activities or product changes.
• Provide continuous coaching and mentorship, targeting growth and learning opportunities to develop skills of direct reports.
• Align team goals with the company’s mission and objectives, ensuring clarity in priorities and direction.

Accounting Operations

• Lead and manage all general ledger activity, ensuring accurate integration with the parent bank’s systems.
• Own the division’s operating system from a finance perspective, leading testing, implementation, and upgrades in collaboration with IT and operations.
• Maintain clear documentation and workflow controls across booking, servicing, and contract accounting activities.
• Develop, analyze and interpret statistical and accounting information in order to appraise operating results in terms of profitability, performance against budget, and other matters bearing on the fiscal soundness and operating effectiveness of the organization.
• Prepare and review budget variances. Along with senior management, they develop appropriate recovery action plans for items under budget.

Contract Servicing & Payment Oversight

• Supervise all service-related accounting functions, including billing, restructures, charge-offs, terminations, and syndication disbursements.
• Oversee ACH and wire disbursements as part of contract funding, ensuring audit trails and approvals are complete.
• Manage payoff and settlement processes in coordination with operations and credit teams.

Tax & Compliance

• Oversee preparation, filing, and accuracy of sales/use tax and personal property tax returns.
• Serve as the primary contact for internal and external audits and ensure audit readiness at all times.
• Monitor compliance with internal policies, accounting standards, and applicable regulations.

Bell Bank Culture, Policy and Accountability Standards:

• Know by name and face as many customers and employees as possible, calling them by name as often as possible.
• Know and practice LOCBUTN, our Golden Rules, and Bell Bank Customer Service Standards.
• Know, understand, and live the company values and bottom line.
• Conduct activities consistent with established Bell Bank policies, procedures and systems, the Bell Bank Employee Conduct policies, the Bank Secrecy Act and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
• All employees are responsible for information security, including compliance with policies and standards which protect sensitive information.
• Prompt and reliable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, and Other Expectations

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; or equivalent amount of experience.
• 6-8 years of experience in accounting.
• 3 years of experience in the equipment finance sector.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience is preferred.
• Lease accounting experience preferred.