Description

Chief Financial Officer / Group Controller
Multi-Franchise Automotive Group

Southern California

Confidential Executive Search
High Accountability | High Standards | High Trust

We are seeking a true automotive accounting leader to take command of the financial operations for a growing multi-rooftop dealership group in Southern California.

This is not a “keep the lights on” Controller role.
This is a senior leadership seat for a highly disciplined, highly capable executive who can build structure, enforce accountability, and deliver clean, timely, trustworthy financials across multiple dealerships.

If you are the kind of person who thrives on precision, control, speed, and operational excellence — and you know how to lead a dealership accounting office with authority and credibility — this is a rare opportunity.

 
About the Opportunity
This role will oversee the accounting and business office functions for a multi-franchise dealer group operating on two DMS platforms: CDK and Lightyear.

You will be expected to create and maintain a financial operation that is:

Accurate
Organized
Timely
Audit-ready
Operationally disciplined
This position requires someone who can do more than close books.
We need someone who can build a bulletproof month-end process, enforce clean schedules, develop strong people, identify issues before they become problems, and give ownership absolute confidence in the numbers.

 
What This Role Is Really Responsible For
At its core, your job is straightforward:

You make sure the books are right. Every month. No excuses.
That means:

Financial statements are clean, accurate, and submitted on time
Schedules are current, reconciled, and supportable
The accounting office operates with discipline, urgency, and accountability
Problems are identified and corrected before they affect the financials
Ownership can rely on the numbers without hesitation
 
Key Areas of Responsibility
Financial Leadership & Oversight
Lead all accounting and office operations across multiple rooftops
Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end closings
Oversee preparation and review of monthly financial statements
Ensure all statements are completed with supporting documentation and schedule integrity
Deliver accurate reporting to ownership, OEMs, lenders, and outside partners as needed
Month-End Close Discipline
Build, refine, and enforce a repeatable, deadline-driven month-end close process
Eliminate fire drills, bottlenecks, and last-minute surprises
Establish a close cadence that creates consistency across all stores
Ensure reconciliations and adjustments are completed correctly and on schedule
Schedule & Balance Sheet Integrity
Maintain strict control over all schedules and balance sheet accounts
Ensure every account is current, reconciled, explainable, and supportable
Identify stale items, unreconciled balances, and process breakdowns quickly
Hold accounting staff accountable for timely cleanup and resolution
Accounting Office Leadership
Lead, train, and hold accountable office managers, controllers, and accounting personnel
Create clear roles, responsibilities, ownership, and workflow accountability
Improve departmental structure, communication, and execution
Build a culture of urgency, precision, and professionalism
Controls, Process & Compliance
Strengthen internal controls and reduce operational/accounting risk
Standardize procedures where appropriate across rooftops
Ensure compliance with dealership accounting best practices and manufacturer expectations
Maintain readiness for audits, lender reviews, and internal review processes
Operational Partnership
Work closely with ownership and dealership leadership
Provide financial visibility, identify concerns early, and support sound decision-making
Bring clarity and order to the financial side of the business so operators can perform with confidence
 
What We Are Looking For
We are not looking for someone who simply has dealership experience.

We are looking for someone who has already proven they can lead a high-functioning automotive accounting operation at a senior level and can step in with authority from day one.

Minimum Requirements
10+ years of automotive dealership accounting experience at a senior level (non-negotiable)
Prior experience as a Controller, Group Controller, CFO, or senior dealership accounting leader
Deep understanding of dealer financial statements, schedules, reconciliations, and month-end close
Strong working knowledge of dealership accounting workflows across variable and fixed operations
Experience managing accounting teams in a high-volume, high-accountability environment
Hands-on familiarity with dealership systems and financial controls
Experience working in CDK and/or Lightyear strongly preferred
 
The Right Candidate Will Be…
System-Oriented
You build structure.
You do not wait for problems to happen and then react to them.

Highly Accountable
You hold standards.
You do not tolerate sloppy work, weak follow-up, or recurring avoidable issues.

Fast, Clear, and Decisive
You move with urgency, think critically, and solve problems without creating chaos.

Respected by Operators
You understand dealership realities and know how to work with leadership without losing financial discipline.

Calm Under Pressure
You can manage complexity, multiple rooftops, and high standards without becoming disorganized.

Trusted
Your numbers are credible.
Your process is tight.
Your word means something.

 
What Success Looks Like in This Role
A top performer in this seat will create an accounting operation where:

Month-end is predictable, not chaotic
Schedules are clean, current, and supportable
Financial statements go out on time — every time
Ownership trusts the numbers without questioning them
The accounting office runs with discipline, urgency, and professionalism
Problems get solved before they become expensive
There is structure, consistency, and accountability across all rooftops
 
Why This Is a Great Opportunity for the Right Person
This role is ideal for a high-level automotive accounting professional who wants:

A serious leadership role with real authority
A company that values financial discipline and operational excellence
The opportunity to build and refine systems instead of constantly cleaning up preventable messes
Direct visibility and impact with ownership
A platform where elite performance is recognized and respected
This is a chance to step into a role where your leadership, structure, and financial discipline will genuinely matter.

 
Compensation
Compensation will be highly competitive and commensurate with experience, capability, and proven performance.

A strong compensation package will be designed for the right candidate.

 
To Be Considered
This opportunity is intended for serious automotive accounting professionals only.

If you have a proven history of building clean, disciplined, high-performing dealership accounting operations — and you are ready to lead at a high level — we want to hear from you.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years experience in automotive accounting at a senior level