VP, Controller

About the role

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) is seeking a transformational VP, Controller to lead the Company's global accounting organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the VP, Controller serves as a strategic business partner to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, providing financial leadership that supports the Company's continued growth, acquisition strategy, operational excellence, and commitment to strong governance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior accounting executive for the Company, providing strategic leadership over the global accounting and controllership organization.
• Partner with the CFO, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors on financial strategy, governance, enterprise risk, and long-term business planning.
• Build and lead a high-performing global accounting organization focused on operational excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and talent development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and financial stewardship across the enterprise.
• Present quarterly and annual financial results, accounting updates, technical accounting matters, and SEC reporting to executive leadership and Board of Directors.
• Provide executive leadership through periods of growth, acquisitions, organizational change, and business transformation.
• Partner with executive leadership to influence strategic business decisions through financial insight and risk management.
• Own the Company's external financial reporting process, ensuring timely and accurate preparation and filing of: Annual Reports (Form 10-K), Quarterly Reports (Form 10-Q), Current Reports (Form 8-K), Proxy Statements, Earnings releases, SEC disclosures and supporting schedules, and consolidate financial statements, footnotes, MD&A, earnings materials, and presentations.
• Maintain compliance with U.S. GAAP, SEC regulations, SOX, and other regulatory requirements, and monitor emerging accounting standards and SEC regulations, ensuring timely adoption and communication of new requirements.
• Serve as the executive liaison with external auditors, regulatory agencies, and accounting advisors.
• Lead the Company's technical accounting function, providing guidance on complex accounting matters including: Business combinations, Revenue recognition, Lease accounting, Impairment analyses, Stock compensation, Debt and equity transactions, Foreign operations, Foreign currency translation and multi-currency consolidation, and develop accounting policies and governance frameworks that support a growing public company.
• Ensure consistent application of U.S. GAAP across domestic and international operations and oversee U.K. statutory reporting and the reconciliation of IFRS/local GAAP differences for international subsidiaries.
• Lead global accounting operations, including: Financial close, Consolidations, General accounting, Financial reporting, Corporate accounting, Payroll accounting oversight, Warranty accounting oversight, Fixed asset accounting, and drive improvements in the month-end close process while increasing efficiency and reporting quality.
• Ensure the integrity of financial systems, accounting processes, and internal controls.
• Provide executive oversight of SOX compliance and the Company's internal control framework, strengthen governance practices that reduce financial reporting risk while improving operational effectiveness, and partner with auditors to continuously improve the control environment.
• Support the Company's acquisition strategy through accounting due diligence, purchase accounting, integration planning, and post-close financial reporting, evaluate accounting implications of strategic initiatives and capital allocation decisions, and partner with Corporate Development, Treasury, Tax, Legal, and FP&A to support enterprise growth.
• Champion modernization of the accounting organization through automation, process redesign, AI-enabled solutions, and financial systems optimization, lead Oracle enhancements and implementations as well as financial reporting technology initiatives, and build scalable accounting processes capable of supporting continued domestic and international expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (advanced degree such as an MBA or Master's in Accounting/Taxation preferred)
• Active CPA license
• 20+ years of progressive accounting leadership experience, including executive leadership within a publicly traded, multi-national organization
• Extensive experience leading: SEC reporting, External financial reporting, Technical accounting, Global controllership, International / multi-jurisdiction operations (e.g., U.K.), including statutory reporting and foreign-currency consolidation, SOX compliance, and Deep expertise in: U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, Internal controls, Corporate governance
• Demonstrated success partnering with Boards of Directors, Audit Committees, executive leadership, and external auditors
• Experience leading global accounting organizations through periods of growth, acquisitions, and organizational transformation
• Demonstrated success building, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams