Dealership Controller
High Desert Ford | Victorville, CA
About Us
High Desert Ford is a growing Ford dealership committed to operational excellence, accountability, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Dealership Controller to lead our accounting office, strengthen internal controls, and provide accurate financial reporting to ownership and management.
This is a key leadership position that partners directly with the General Manager and ownership team to ensure the financial health and integrity of the dealership.
Position Summary
The Dealership Controller is responsible for overseeing all dealership accounting operations, financial reporting, reconciliations, internal controls, and accounting personnel. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with dealership accounting experience who can identify issues, implement processes, develop staff, and provide timely and accurate financial information to support business decisions.
Reporting and Performance Expectations
The Dealership Controller typically reports to the General Manager, Dealer Principal, or ownership group.
Success in this position is measured by timely and accurate financial statements, clean reconciliations, effective accounting controls, reduced posting errors, timely deal processing, accurate inventory accounting, strong communication between the accounting office and operating departments, and the ability to proactively identify accounting issues, hold departments accountable for timely documentation and corrections, and maintain accounting processes that consistently meet month-end deadlines and accounting standards.
Compensation & Benefits
· Competitive salary based on experience.
· Health, dental, and vision benefits.
· Paid time off.
· 401(k) and additional benefits available.
If you are an experienced dealership accounting professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and wants to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.
Key Responsibilities
· Supervise and support accounting office personnel, including staff responsible for vehicle inventory, deal posting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, deposits, product cancellations, reconciliations, and administrative accounting functions.
· Review and monitor new and used vehicle accounting, including deal jackets, recap posting, inventory schedules, flooring, trade payoffs, cost of sale postings, packs, add-ons, and related general ledger activity.
· Ensure daily deposits, EFT postings, bank activity, and cash handling procedures are completed accurately and in accordance with dealership controls.
· Oversee monthly schedule reconciliations, including vehicle inventory, receivables, payables, product payable accounts, flooring, warranty, internal repair orders, petty cash, credit cards, and other balance sheet accounts.
· Prepare financial statements and general ledger activity for accuracy, completeness, and proper classification prior to submission to ownership or management.
· Identify accounting errors, posting issues, process gaps, and control weaknesses, and implement corrective action with the appropriate department managers.
· Coordinate month-end close activities, including reconciliations, expense reviews, accruals, inventory verification, and financial statement preparation.
· Work with sales, finance, service, parts, and management teams to ensure paperwork, contracts, repair orders, charge accounts, product forms, and supporting documents are timely and complete.
· Maintain compliance with dealership policies, manufacturer requirements, lender requirements, tax rules, and applicable accounting standards.
· Provide training, guidance, and accountability to accounting staff to ensure procedures are consistent, documented, and followed.
Qualifications
· 5+ years of automotive dealership accounting experience.
· Prior experience as a Dealership Controller, Assistant Controller, or Office Manager.
· Strong knowledge of dealership accounting, general ledger, financial statement preparation, inventory schedules, flooring, deal posting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end close.
· Experience cleaning and reconciling aged schedules, warranty receivables, contracts in transit, and inventory discrepancies.
· Ability to research accounting discrepancies, reconcile schedules, and communicate required corrections clearly.
· Strong leadership, organization, follow-up, and communication skills.
· Ability to work with multiple departments and hold teams accountable for accurate and timely documentation.
· High level of attention to detail, confidentiality, and professional judgment.
· Experience with Dealertrack, Tekion, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds, or similar dealership management systems preferred.
