Controller & Strategic Operations Lead in Cleveland, OH
Title: Controller & Strategic Operations Lead | Job ID: | Hire Type: Permanent
Controller & Strategic Operations Lead
Cleveland, OH
BH Solutions Group is an Executive Recruiting and Consulting firm located in Cleveland, OH.
We are assisting our client, a Cleveland-based global small business manufacturer of customized industrial fabrications and safety solutions, in their search for a high-impact Controller & Strategic Operations Lead to join their growing global business. This is not a traditional, siloed accounting role but designed for a hands-on financial leader who thrives in dynamic settings and wants to actively contribute to scaling the business.
Due to the current accounting volume, this role extends beyond pure financial reporting. The ideal candidate will serve as both a financial expert and operational driver, partnering closely with leadership to improve processes, enhance profitability, and support long-term growth.
This is an opportunity for someone who prefers being in the business – not just reporting on it.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities for the Controller & Strategic Operations Lead
Manufacturing Operations & Job Costing
- Act as the financial bridge between the shop floor and financial performance
- Analyze and improve quoting processes to ensure accurate margins across:
- In-house manufactured goods
- Resale products
- Develop and maintain robust job costing methodologies
- Participate in physical inventory counts and develop a deep understanding of product flow
- Partner with operations to identify cost drivers, inefficiencies, and margin improvement opportunities
Financial Leadership & Reporting
- Oversee core accounting functions including general ledger, month-end close, and financial reporting
- Provide actionable insights—not just reports—to support strategic decision-making
- Establish and refine financial controls, processes, and reporting frameworks
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management
Operational Leadership & “Multiple Hats” Contribution
- Operate as a key member of the leadership team in a hands-on, small business environment
- Contribute across departments to improve efficiency and drive growth
- Take ownership of both strategic initiatives and day-to-day execution
- Adapt to shifting priorities and business needs with a solutions-oriented mindset
ERP Implementation & Systems Leadership
- Serve as the financial lead and architect for an upcoming ERP implementation (6–12 month horizon)
- Partner with internal ERP project leadership to design and optimize financial modules
- Oversee configuration and setup of:
- Accounts Payable
- Inventory management
- Job costing systems
- Ensure financial data integrity, reporting accuracy, and scalability within the new system
- Drive process improvements through system capabilities
HR Oversight & Organizational Support
-
- Lead or support key HR functions, including:
- Employee onboarding
- Benefits administration
- HR compliance and documentation
- Help professionalize and scale HR processes as the organization grows
- Assess and advise leadership on the appropriate level of HR oversight within the role
- Lead or support key HR functions, including:
Education/Experience
Requirements for the Controller & Strategic Operations Lead
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance, MBA
- CPA License
- Minimum 5 years experience in accounting or finance roles
- Manufacturing experience is non-negotiable, with strong exposure to job costing environments
- Proven experience in ERP implementations or major system upgrades
- Strong understanding of inventory, cost accounting, and operational finance
- Assertive, confident decision-maker with the ability to guide leadership
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems—not just identify them
- High level of initiative with a strong bias for action
- Comfortable operating in an environment with evolving structure and priorities
- Willingness to be hands-on—from strategic planning to tactical execution
-
- A successfully implemented and optimized ERP system
- Improved visibility into margins, costing, and operational performance
- Streamlined financial and operational processes
- A stronger, more scalable foundation for company growth .
Contact: Ben Basnett
Type:
Full-time
Salary:
Commensurate with Experience
Travel:
Minimal
Area:
Finance, Accounting & Payroll
State:
Ohio
Apply for the Controller & Strategic Operations Lead position:
We are assisting a Cleveland-based manufacturing company with their search for a Senior IT Business Analyst who will work as a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies and information systems. Understands business problems and opportunities in the context of the requirements and recommends solutions that enable the organization to achieve its goals. Interprets and transforms information based on business requirements and provides the data for delivery. Conducts detailed research of vendor products and assists with general project management.
Responsibilities
- Seek opportunities continuously to increase customer satisfaction and deepen client relationships.
- Identify client organization’s strengths and weaknesses and suggest areas of improvement to address and resolve business issues.
- Push creative thinking beyond the boundaries of existing industry practices and client mindsets.
- Suggest areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions.
- Gather, analyze and document business and functional requirements from clients and business users.
- Analyze, document, and improve workflows, processes, and standards.
- Understand business process management and business requirements of the customers and translating them to specific software requirements.
- Communicate effectively with internal teams and external clients to deliver functional requirements including GUI, screen and interface designs.
- Act as an interface between business units, technology teams and support teams.
- Provide technical guidance concerning business implications of application development projects.
- Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions with project management.
- Manage client expectations effectively.
- Work with Quality Assurance to build and validate test cases against all requirements.
- Analyze application defects to determine if they fall within scope of project requirements.
- Participate in post-project analysis to reflect upon successes, failures, and lessons learned.
- Provide training and documentation for supported applications.
- Utilize existing systems to track and manage requests and issues.
- Review and edit requirements, specifications, business processes and recommendations related to proposed solution within the group.
- Provide application expertise as a project resource.
- Train and mentor other Business Analysts as assigned.
- Prepare and lead presentations as requested.
- Research or prototype new tools and/or technologies.
- Assist with other projects as necessary to contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of the teamwork.
- Lead internal teams/task forces on initiatives as assigned.
- Participate in hiring activities and fulfilling affirmative action obligations and ensuring compliance with the equal employment opportunity policy.
Education/Experience
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Bachelor degree in IT, Business or related field or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years IT and/or Business experience.
- 5+ years working with internal clients and/or external agencies/partners.
- Well versed in Microsoft Office applications.
- Understanding of various essential business functions of an organization.
- Strong technical knowledge coupled with business intelligence and ability to understand customer’s needs.
- Ability to facilitate process mapping activities and working knowledge of mapping techniques.
- Understanding of Internet, Intranet, Extranet and client/server architectures.
- Familiarity with how legacy and web-based system interfaces with each other.
- eCommerce experience preferred.
- Experience with Agile methodologies a plus.
- Advanced analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
- Proven ability and initiative to learn and research new concepts, ideas, and technologies quickly.
- Exhibits confidence and an extensive knowledge of emerging industry practices when solving business problems.
- Ability to transform an idea or need into a completed solution or work product.
- Willingness and ability to train and mentor other business analysts.
- Ability to facilitate meetings and follow up with resulting action items.
- Ability to develop relationships with client personnel that foster client ties.
- Minimal travel as required
- Work outside the standard office 7.5 hour workday as required.
Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status now or in the future.
Will relocate the right candidate.
Contact: Ben Basnett
Type:
Full-time
Salary:
Up to $103,000
Travel:
Minimal
Area:
Information Technology
State:
Ohio
