For 20 years, LaPlaca Cohen has helped many of the world’s leading cultural and creative organizations build powerful connections and achieve greater impact through strategy, branding, design, and advertising solutions. We have been privileged to work with an unrivalled roster of leading museums, performing arts organizations, architecture firms, universities, orchestras, dance companies, botanical gardens, and foundations.

The Controller will be a leading member of a small Finance Department, and a coordinator of our legal and accounting consultants. This role will require an expert understanding of the finance of advertising, branding, and strategic consulting and small, entrepreneurial business strategy; an adaptability to ever-changing project types and financial and legal requirements; and strong leadership, team-building, and communication skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Planning:

Advise on short-, mid-, and long-term business planning and growth assessment.
Help determine annual revenue goals for the company, and for each department/service.
Continuously advise, manage and benchmark company’s cost/fee structure for efficiency within the parameters of meeting the company’s objectives. Evaluate outsource and onboard opportunities to meet these goals.
Coordinate a consistent system of incentives and rewards for employees, and track the management potential of select employees.
Create and manage a controlled environment to protect company assets.
Maintain spreadsheet on employees’ salaries, raises, promotions, reviews, and anniversaries; and systematize a 360 degree review process.
Coordinate monthly review with Directors (budget, expenses, raises, etc.).
Set budgets for thought leadership projects (including Culture Track), professional development (including conferences), freelancers, office maintenance (including IT needs, office supplies and improvements, etc.).
Assess contributions towards benefits (including healthcare and 401(k)) and how we can increase such contributions to make us more competitive to new hires.

Accounting:

Create/revise annual projections.
Review financial reporting and projections with outside accountant.
Coordinate and manage/monitor budgets of departments in company.
Manage company’s existing line of credit and other banking relationships.
Review/advise on RFPS and proposals (budgeting, legal and corporate obligations, discrepancies).
Review/coordinate client agreements: create/resolve issues, see through to execution; coordinate with legal counsel (if needed).
Supervise general accounting, cost accounting, budget/projections, fixed assets, financial reporting preparation/maintenance, corporate insurance, compliance with federal, state, and city tax guidelines, corporate tax returns, etc.
Manage cash flow.
Approve company expenses and purchases.
Review/approve corporate tax returns.
Oversee New York Sales tax payments/audits.
Coordinate 401(k): staff setup, contributions, changes, terminations, maintain IRS compliance and mandates, month and annual payroll reconciliation, coordinate/process/review/approve annual non-discriminating testing, coordinate/process/review/approve annual submittal IRS form 5500; per request of IRS – review of plan benefits ADP Payroll: maintain payroll records, employee information, review/approve/process bi-monthly payroll, reconcile bi-monthly payroll, and review/reconcile annual W2’s.
Oversee Assistant Controller and Finance Assistant on the following:
Review monthly sub-ledger reconciliations (Cash, Disbursements, Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Expense and Production input/ Accounts Payables, Production & Media Sales, Income and Timesheet reports; Bank reconciliations; and GL entries).
Authorize monthly and annual close of sub-ledgers, bank reconciliations, GL and Cost Accounting.
Prepare/update quick reference financial management reports.
Prepare financial statements.
Oversee AR (issuing client invoices and collections) and AP (vendor payables and payments).
Approve weekly payments to be issued (expense, media, & production).
Client Accounting: setup, billing (media, production, strategy, design – meets agreement terms, estimates, timeline, projections, etc.).
Corporate Insurance (all types and maintain certificates of insurance as per client agreements).
Oversee accounting system: staff, client, vendors, production, expense, media, general accounting, cost accounting, etc.).
Oversee processing/issuing vendor IRS Form 1099 Misc.

Operations and Human Resources:

General oversight of staff and consultants in charge of Office Administration, Operations, IT, and Human Resources.
Assess and identify internal and external structure and resources for Operations, HR and IT.

REQUIREMENTS:

10+ years of full-time experience as Controller or in a related position.
Strong expertise in the management of operations, finance, and HR.
B.A. required, and related graduate degree preferred.
Strong, inspiring, collaborative leadership, team-building, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Proven ability to manage and prioritize work, resources, schedules, deadlines, and budgets.
Experience in marketing, media, advertising, innovation, or consulting businesses is a plus.
Experience with small, growing businesses is plus.
Dedication to and passion for the cultural world is a plus.

How to apply

LOGISTICS:

September/October 2015 start date.
Email cover letter, resume, current salary, salary requirements, and portfolio to jobs@laplacacohen.com and indicate “Controller” in the subject line.