Mergers & Acquisitions Controller

Position Summary

Vessco Water is seeking a Mergers and Acquisitions Controller to oversee due diligence and integration of newly acquired businesses from an accounting perspective. With more than 45 subsidiaries and approximately eight acquisitions annually, this role serves as a key liaison between Corporate Accounting, M&A, acquired company leadership, Regional Controllers, and external advisors throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

The M&A Controller is responsible for accounting due diligence support, opening balance sheets, purchase accounting, financial reporting integration, accounting policy alignment, internal controls, and the transition of acquired companies into Vessco Water’s ongoing accounting and reporting processes. The role requires strong technical accounting knowledge, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple acquisitions and integrations at different stages of completion.

Key Responsibilities

Acquisition Accounting and Due Diligence

• Partner with M&A, Finance, and external advisors during financial due diligence and the acquisition process.
• Review historical financial statements, trial balances, working capital, debt, leases, accruals, reserves, and other significant balance sheet accounts prior to acquisition close.
• Identify accounting issues, unusual transactions, reporting inconsistencies, and potential integration risks before close and plan remediations for after close.
• Assist with net working capital calculations, closing balance sheet, and any other financial contractual items.
• Coordinate accounting information requests with sellers, acquired company management, and external advisors.
• Evaluate acquired businesses’ accounting practices and identify differences from Vessco Water policies and U.S. GAAP and create action plans to address those differences post close.

Purchase Accounting and Opening Balance Sheets

• Lead the accounting implementation of completed acquisitions.
• Coordinate purchase accounting and purchase price allocation activities in accordance with ASC 805.
• Establish and document opening balance sheets for newly acquired entities.
• Coordinate valuation of acquired intangible assets, goodwill, property and equipment, and other acquired assets and liabilities.
• Review and account for transaction costs, contingent consideration, seller notes, earnouts, and other acquisition-related items.
• Maintain supporting documentation for acquisition accounting and external audit requirements.
• Monitor measurement-period adjustments and ensure they are recorded and documented appropriately.

Post-Acquisition Accounting Integration

• Develop and manage an accounting integration plan for each acquisition.
• Assist in transitioning acquired companies into Vessco Water’s month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting processes.
• Align newly acquired businesses with Vessco Water’s chart of accounts, accounting policies, reporting requirements, and close calendar.
• Establish appropriate balance sheet reconciliations, review procedures, and financial controls.
• Partner with local Controllers and accounting teams to standardize accounting processes while considering each business’s operational requirements.
• Coordinate integration of accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, inventory, payroll, banking, and other accounting functions.
• Partner with the Enterprise Business Applications team to support ERP and financial system conversions and integrations.
• Assist in validating accounting processes, reporting requirements, internal controls, and compliance considerations within ERP solutions.
• Ensure acquired entities are appropriately incorporated into consolidated financial reporting.

Technical Accounting and Compliance

• Research and document technical accounting matters related to acquisitions and integrations.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, including applicable guidance under ASC 805, ASC 842, ASC 606, and other relevant accounting standards.
• Prepare accounting memoranda and documentation for significant acquisition-related accounting conclusions.
• Partner with Corporate Accounting team and external auditors on acquisition accounting, purchase price allocations, opening balance sheets, and related audit requests.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls as businesses transition into Vessco Water processes.

Integration Project Management

• Maintain an accounting integration roadmap and status tracker across multiple concurrent acquisitions.
• Establish milestones for Day 1, first close, 30-, 60-, 90-day, and longer-term accounting integration activities.
• Coordinate accounting integration across Corporate Accounting, Regional Controllers, IT, Treasury, Tax, Payroll, HR, Operations, and acquired company teams.
• Identify integration risks, dependencies, and resource constraints and escalate issues appropriately.
• Develop repeatable acquisition accounting processes, templates, checklists, and best practices to support continued growth.
• Track lessons learned from completed acquisitions and improve the integration process.

Ongoing Accounting Support

• Provide additional accounting oversight to newly acquired companies during the transition period.
• Work with Regional Controllers to support local Controllers and accounting teams through their first several month-end closes.
• Review balance sheets and financial results to identify unusual items or accounting issues following acquisition.
• Transition ongoing responsibility to the appropriate Regional Controller and operating company accounting team.
• Serve as a resource for acquisition-related accounting questions across the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Six or more years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience with acquisitions, integrations, audit, controllership, or multi-entity accounting.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting, including purchase accounting and business combinations.
• Experience working in a multi-entity or decentralized organization.
• Strong understanding of month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, financial controls, and consolidation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization, from small-company Presidents and accounting staff/bookkeepers with varying levels of formal training to Vessco Water corporate leadership, adapting communication and support to each audience.
• Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time.

Preferred

• CPA certification and public accounting experience.
• Experience with ASC 805 purchase accounting and purchase price allocations.
• Percentage of Completion accounting experience
• Experience integrating acquired companies into a larger organization.
• Experience with ERP implementations, conversions, or financial system integrations.
• Experience in a private equity-backed, highly acquisitive, distribution, manufacturing, or industrial organization.

Key Success Measures

• Timely and accurate completion of acquisition opening balance sheets and purchase accounting.
• Successful transition of acquired companies into monthly close and consolidated reporting processes.
• Consistent implementation of Vessco Water accounting policies and internal controls.
• Clear ownership and timely completion of accounting integration milestones.
• Reduction in post-acquisition accounting issues and reporting inconsistencies.
• Scalable, repeatable accounting integration processes that support approximately eight acquisitions annually.
• Effective transition of newly acquired companies to Regional Controllers and ongoing accounting leadership.
• Able to build strong relationships and trust, remotely, with partners of all experience levels.

Compensation: Base salary $130–$150K plus bonus

Benefits:

• Health insurance

• 401(k)

• Dental insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Vision insurance

• Dog-friendly office!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

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