Assistant Controller at Three Bears Alaska Inc – Wasilla, Alaska

Role Description

The Assistant Controller plays a key role in strengthening financial discipline, inventory accuracy, and operational profitability across a multi-store retail grocery organization. This position partners closely with the Controller, finance leadership, merchandising and store operations to ensure accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and consistent accounting processes across approximately 35-40 locations. In addition to managing core accounting responsibilities, the Assistant Controller helps translate financial results into operational insights, with a particular focus on inventory integrity, margin performance, labor efficiency, and store-level profitability. This role supports initiatives designed to improve EBITDA performance and operational consistency across the store network.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Support the Controller in managing the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes for a multi-location retail organization.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of consolidated and store-level financial results.
• Review journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance with GAAP.
• Develop and maintain financial reporting that provides visibility into store-level performance, including margin, labor, and operating expenses.

Inventory Integrity & Margin Accuracy

• Oversee accounting processes related to inventory, cost of goods sold, and shrink.
• Investigate inconsistencies between bill-in margins and reported financial results and identify root causes.

Store-Level Profitability & Operational Analysis

• Support leadership with financial analysis focused on improving store-level EBITDA performance.
• Monitor trends in labor, shrink, and operating expenses across locations and highlight opportunities for improvement.
• Assist with benchmarking store performance and identifying best practices across the store network.
• Provide financial insight to support operational initiatives, new store openings, and store improvement programs.

Internal Controls & Process Standardization

Systems & Data Integration

• Support integration and optimization of financial systems, POS systems, and inventory management platforms.

Audit, Compliance & Risk Management

• Assist with external audits, tax filings, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure accounting policies and procedures are documented and consistently applied.
• Support ongoing monitoring of financial and operational risks within store operations.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Support development and mentorship of accounting staff.
• Act as a financial liaison between the accounting department and store operations leadership.
• Foster collaboration between finance, operations, procurement, and store leadership to improve financial outcomes.
  

Experience/Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.

• CPA preferred

• 6+ years of accounting experience, ideally within retail, grocery, or other multi-location operations

• Strong understanding of inventory accounting, cost of goods sold, and retail margin analysis.

• Experience working with ERP systems, retail POS platforms, and inventory management systems
  
  

Company Description

Three Bears Alaska is a family-owned chain of Alaskan grocery stores with so much more. We are committed to providing customers with quality goods and services at the lowest possible price. We strive to meet the needs of our customers by offering a diverse range of products and exceptional customer service. With multiple locations throughout Alaska, Three Bears Alaska, Inc. is dedicated to serving the local community and creating a positive shopping experience.

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Colonial Life Elective Benefits
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Holiday Pay

Pay Range: Dependent on experience.

Schedule:

• Full-time
• Evening, Weekends and Holidays are required.

Office Location and Travel:

• LOCATION: In person
• Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Working Environment
Work is performed in a store setting with ability to speak and receive phone communications often. Work requires computer usage with strength, dexterity, coordination and visual acuity to use keyboard and video display terminal and other office equipment. Continuously standing, walking, reaching at/below shoulders, frequently lift/carry up to 10 pounds below waist, up to 50 pounds at waist/chest and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds above shoulders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to provide basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions may change as needs evolve.