Corporate Controller in Manassas, Virginia at Gold Medal Environmental - Apple Valley Waste Inc

Position Summary

The Corporate Controller serves as the senior accounting leader for Gold Medal Environmental and its family of operating companies, including Patriot Disposal, Apple Valley Waste, J&J Trash, and affiliated entities. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Corporate Controller is responsible for the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting, accounting operations, internal controls, and compliance activities.

This role provides leadership across all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, treasury support, and financial reporting. The Corporate Controller will play a critical role in supporting the Company’s continued growth by building scalable accounting processes, strengthening financial controls, supporting acquisition integration activities, and driving financial discipline across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting leader who can operate strategically while remaining engaged in the day-to-day execution of accounting operations within a fast-paced, multi-entity environment.

Company Overview

Patriot Disposal/Apple Valley Waste is a regional provider of solid waste and recycling services serving residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial customers across the Mid-Atlantic region. The company operates a decentralized network of hauling operations, transfer stations, and recycling facilities supported by a modern fleet and an experienced operations team. With approximately 600 employees across multiple operating locations, the organization delivers reliable waste collection and environmental services to thousands of customers while maintaining a strong focus on safety, operational discipline, and customer service. The company’s operating footprint includes key markets throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and New Jersey.

Backed by Kinderhook Industries, a private equity firm specializing in environmental and industrial services businesses, the company is pursuing a disciplined growth strategy that combines organic expansion with targeted acquisitions. The organization continues to invest in fleet, infrastructure, technology, and operational capabilities to support long-term growth and service excellence. Operational execution and workforce stability are central to the company’s strategy. Leadership places strong emphasis on safety performance, route efficiency, labor productivity, cost management, and customer retention through data-driven operational management and accountability across all locations.

As the company continues to grow, Gold Medal Environmental is focused on strengthening operational infrastructure, enhancing leadership capabilities, and driving sustainable operational improvement while maintaining high service standards for customers and communities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting Leadership & Financial Operations

• Lead and oversee all corporate accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing and collections, payroll accounting, fixed assets, treasury support, and financial reporting.

• Maintain ownership of the integrity and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements and balance sheet.

• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Ensure consistent accounting practices across multiple operating companies and locations.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting staff, including accounting clerks, payroll personnel, billing professionals, and future accounting leadership positions.

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within the accounting organization.

• Directly supervise and develop accounting support functions, including payroll administration, billing and collections, accounts payable, and accounting support personnel.

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.

• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules.

• Ensure timely and accurate reporting in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• Maintain strong balance sheet discipline through oversight of reconciliations, accruals, reserves, and account analyses.

• Develop and enhance management reporting packages to support executive decision making.

• Monitor key financial metrics and performance indicators across operating entities.

• Develop and maintain operational and financial KPI reporting, including revenue trends, route profitability, labor productivity, fleet-related costs, working capital metrics, and customer performance indicators.

Internal Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

• Design, implement, and monitor effective internal control frameworks.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

• Coordinate annual financial statement audits and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.

• Oversee preparation and support for tax filings, property tax reporting, and other compliance requirements in partnership with external advisors.

• Identify and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks.

• Oversee accounting support for multi-state sales and use tax, property tax, fuel tax, and other regulatory reporting requirements in partnership with external advisors

Treasury, Cash Management & Financial Planning Support

• Partner with the CFO to support cash management, liquidity planning, and banking relationships.

• Monitor cash flow trends and working capital performance.

• Assist with annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.

• Support lender reporting requirements and covenant compliance.

• Evaluate opportunities to improve financial visibility and reporting capabilities. Systems, Process Improvement & Scalability

• Serve as the accounting lead for financial systems and ERP platforms.

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

• Standardize accounting processes across locations and acquired entities.

• Optimize workflows, chart of accounts structures, reconciliations, and reporting processes.

• Support future system implementations, upgrades, and integrations. Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Initiatives

• Support acquisition due diligence, integration planning, and post-acquisition accounting activities.

• Assist with purchase accounting and integration of acquired entities.

• Partner with Operations, Human Resources, Fleet, Safety, and Information Technology leaders on strategic initiatives.

• Participate in special projects and business improvement initiatives as assigned.

• Lead accounting integration activities for newly acquired businesses, including chart of accounts alignment, financial reporting standardization, control implementation, and process integration.

• Support quality of earnings reviews, financial due diligence, and post-acquisition performance reporting.

Direct Reports

Potential direct reports include:

• Billing/Accounts Receivable Personnel

• Accounting Clerks

• Staff and Senior Accountants

• Accounts Payable Clerks

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.

• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive accounting experience.

• Minimum of 5 years of accounting leadership experience.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls.

• Experience leading month-end and year-end close processes.

• Experience managing accounting functions in a multi-entity, multi-location organization.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) strongly preferred; candidates without a CPA must demonstrate significant progressive accounting leadership experience in complex multi-entity organizations.

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.

• Experience within waste management, environmental services, transportation, logistics, construction, manufacturing, or other field-service industries.

• Experience in a private equity-backed organization.

• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and integration activities.

• ERP implementation, optimization, or conversion experience.

• Experience with ADP, Tower, Trux or similar enterprise financial systems.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.

• Hands-on leader who is willing to roll up their sleeves when needed.

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to build trust and credibility with executive leadership and operational stakeholders.

• Effective communicator capable of translating complex financial information into actionable business insights.

• Proven ability to lead teams through change and organizational growth.

• High degree of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment.

Work Environment

This position is based at the Company’s corporate office and operates in a professional office environment. Periodic travel to operating locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey may be required to support financial operations, audits, integrations, and business initiatives.

Benefits

The Company offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Company-Paid Life Insurance

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match

• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

• Professional Development Opportunities

• Career Advancement within a Growing Organization

Compensation and Benefits

Gold Medal Environmental offers a competitive compensation package, including a target base salary range of approximately $215,000 plus bonus opportunity, along with comprehensive benefits and professional growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Gold Medal Environmentalis an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.