Controller

About Challenger Partners

Challenger Partners is a Waco, Texas-based private holding company that acquires and grows essential-services businesses across Central Texas. Our portfolio includes MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) contractors and HVAC operators serving both residential and commercial customers. We are actively expanding through acquisition and building out a centralized shared services platform to support our growing family of companies.

The Opportunity

We are seeking our first Controller — a foundational hire who will build the financial infrastructure of our platform from the ground up. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role is responsible for establishing centralized accounting and reporting across all portfolio companies, managing multi-entity consolidations, and partnering with operations to drive financial clarity across a growing platform of trades businesses.

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for a hands-on accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic, build-it environment and wants to grow alongside a company. The Controller will have a direct line to ownership and the opportunity to grow into a VP of Finance or CFO role as the platform scales.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process across all portfolio entities with a target of a 5-day close

• Prepare and deliver consolidated and entity-level financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)

• Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and intercompany eliminations

• Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and collections processes

• Oversee payroll processing in coordination with the HR/payroll platform (Gusto)

Job Costing & Project Finance

• Implement and manage job costing systems for MEP and HVAC field operations

• Produce work-in-progress (WIP) schedules and over/under billing reports for project-based work

• Partner with project managers and field supervisors to ensure accurate cost capture and billing

• Track and report on contract revenue recognition using percentage-of-completion methodology

Reporting & Analysis

• Build and deliver a monthly financial reporting package to ownership and stakeholders

• Develop KPI dashboards and financial metrics relevant to trades and service businesses

• Provide variance analysis and actionable commentary on performance vs. budget

• Support acquisition due diligence with financial analysis, normalized EBITDA models, and integration planning

Systems & Process

• Lead the implementation and ongoing administration of the company’s accounting and ERP platform

• Standardize chart of accounts, close procedures, and financial controls across portfolio companies

• Establish and enforce internal controls and accounting policies

• Coordinate with external CPA firm on tax filings, audits, and year-end reporting

Shared Services Build-Out

• Serve as the founding financial leader of Challenger Partners’ shared services platform, building centralized finance, accounting, and back-office functions that serve all portfolio companies

• Design and implement a shared services operating model — defining service scope, SLAs, charge-back structures, and transition timelines for each portfolio company onboarded to the platform

• Lead the migration of each portfolio company’s accounting function onto the centralized platform, including chart of accounts standardization, data conversion, and staff transition

• Build and manage a shared services finance team (bookkeepers, AP/AR staff, payroll admin) as the platform grows, with a focus on scalable processes over headcount

• Partner with the CEO and operating company GMs to establish shared services agreements and ensure each company receives timely, accurate financial support

• Identify opportunities to consolidate vendor contracts, insurance programs, payroll, and benefits across portfolio companies to reduce cost and administrative burden

• Develop onboarding playbooks for newly acquired companies — covering financial due diligence wrap-up, system migration, staff integration, and reporting setup

Team & Leadership

• Build and manage an accounting team as the platform grows

• Serve as a key member of the shared services leadership team alongside HR, operations, and recruiting

• Collaborate cross-functionally with operators at each portfolio company to improve financial literacy and data quality

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 2 years in a Controller or senior accounting leadership role

• Experience with multi-entity accounting, intercompany consolidations, and shared services or centralized finance functions

• Demonstrated ability to build, document, and implement accounting and back-office processes from scratch across multiple business units

• Strong command of job costing, WIP reporting, and project-based revenue recognition

• Proficiency in at least one accounting or ERP platform (e.g., QuickBooks Online, Sage Intacct, Jonas, Viewpoint, or similar)

• Experience managing or developing small accounting teams (AP, AR, payroll, bookkeeping staff)

• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Benefits

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience

• Performance-based bonus tied to company and platform financial goals

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• PTO and paid holidays

• Opportunity to grow into a senior leadership role as the platform expands