Controller

AZALEA WANG Controller (Wholesale Footwear & Fashion)Azalea Wang is a dynamic wholesale footwear and fashion brand with distribution through major national retail accounts, including Urban Outfitters and Von Maur. We operate at the intersection of creative brand-building and disciplined wholesale operations, requiring finance leadership that can move between strategic oversight and hands-on execution.Our finance team is a small, high-ownership group embedded in the business. We don’t have layers of process handed down from a large corporate parent — we build what we need, own what we build, and move fast. The person in this role will be expected to bring the same energy.The Position: Controller (Wholesale Footwear & Fashion)Location: Chicago, IL - OnsiteDepartment: Finance & AccountingReports To: Controller / Senior LeadershipPosition SummaryAzalea Wang is seeking an experienced Controller to lead the accounting function and serve as the primary finance leader for the business. This is a full-ownership role: you will be responsible for the complete accounting cycle, from daily transactional operations through month-end close, financial reporting, and audit readiness.The right candidate has deep experience in fast-fashion, wholesale apparel or footwear, or a similarly high-velocity inventory-driven environment. You have led a close, built processes from scratch, managed a team, and understand the full scope of what it means to be the top accounting resource in a fast-moving wholesale business.Month-End Close & Financial ReportingOwn and execute the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycle end-to-endPrepare and review financial statements, supporting schedules, and variance analysisEnsure timely and accurate revenue recognition, inventory accounting, and expense accrualsMaintain general ledger integrity and manage the chart of accountsDeliver clean, audit-ready financials to leadership on a consistent close calendarSupport budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planningWholesale AR & Retailer ReconciliationManage accounts receivable for wholesale retail accounts including department stores and specialty retailersReconcile retailer remittances against open invoices — identify, dispute, and resolve deductions and short paymentsMaintain deduction aging reports and track recovery on disputed retailer deductionsPartner with sales and operations on retailer compliance requirements and EDI-related billing issuesDevelop and document AR processes to reduce deduction exposure and improve cash application accuracyAccounts Payable & Vendor ManagementOversee AP operations, including high-volume invoice processing, vendor reconciliation, and payment management across a large domestic and international vendor baseManage payment runs, vendor statement reconciliations, and dispute resolutionWork directly with international and domestic vendors on payment timing, invoice discrepancies, and account cleanupEnsure accurate three-way matching and proper cut-off for accrualsInventory & Cost AccountingEnsure accurate inventory accounting across wholesale channels and product categoriesManage inventory reconciliations, reserves, and shrink/write-off analysisOversee COGS accounting and gross margin reporting by channel and categoryPartner with merchandising and operations on inventory controls, costing, and landed cost accuracySupport seasonal inventory roll-forwards and physical count reconciliationSystems, Controls & Process ImprovementServe as the accounting owner of the ERP system (NetSuite preferred) — including saved searches, reporting, and workflow optimizationLead or support system implementations, upgrades, or integrations as neededBuild and maintain strong internal controls and process documentationIdentify and drive process improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, and scalabilityPartner with IT/admin on system configuration, data integrity, and automation opportunitiesTeam Leadership & Cross-Functional PartnershipManage, review, and develop accounting team membersCollaborate with operations, sales, merchandising, and logistics on financial reporting and planningServe as a key finance partner to leadership on ad hoc analysis, business decisions, and strategic initiativesSupport annual audit preparation and act as primary contact for external auditorsQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred but not required7+ years of progressive accounting experience in wholesale apparel, footwear, fast fashion, or retailDemonstrated ownership of the full month-end close cycleHands-on experience with wholesale AR — retailer deductions, remittance reconciliation, and high-volume vendor managementStrong understanding of inventory accounting, COGS, and cost of goods in a wholesale environmentNetSuite experience strongly preferred; proficiency in other ERP systems consideredAdvanced Excel skills — comfortable building and maintaining complex reconciliation workbooksExperience managing direct reports and building team capacityProven ability to build, improve, and document accounting processes in a fast-moving environmentStrong communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally and present to senior leadershipsIdeal Candidate ProfileHas worked in a high-SKU, high-velocity environment where speed and accuracy both matterUnderstands wholesale AR from the inside — how retailer deductions get disputed and recovered, and how to manage high-volume vendor relationships with accuracy and accountabilityHas owned a close cycle, not just contributed to one, and has a track record of hitting the calendarHas been through a system implementation and can speak to what went wrong and how they managed through itSelf-directed, high standards, and comfortable operating without a detailed playbookBrings strong process instincts — identifies gaps and fixes them without being askedInternational vendor experience (AP reconciliation, payment coordination) is a plusWe are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position (Pay Range $130,000 - $160,000) will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.Job Type: Full-TimeAt AKIRA, we believe in breaking down the barriers of the traditional retail experience and embracing the individuality of both our team and our clients. We’re on the lookout for extraordinary individuals who thrive on creativity, innovation, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.Join our team and become part of a culture that values diversity, fosters personal growth, and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.