Job Title: Assistant Controller
About Us
LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) is the private developer and manager of the state-of-the-art Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport. With our new award-winning $4B terminal now complete, LGP is seeking talented individuals to help us achieve ongoing excellence in terminal operation and guest experience. Get onboard and join the team transforming the NYC travel experience.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Controller, the Assistant Controlle r is a key member of the Finance team responsible for supporting the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of the Company's accounting and financial reporting activities.
This position requires a hands-on accounting leader who can operate both strategically and tactically. The Assistant Controller will be expected to independently manage core accounting processes, provide technical accounting guidance, supervise and develop accounting staff, identify process improvements, and ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial information.
This position partners closely with the Controller and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on financial reporting, audits, compliance, systems improvements, and special projects. The Assistant Controller also works cross-functionally with Operations, Commercial, IT, Human Resources, and other departments to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial and operational data.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Accounting Leadership & Financial Close
- Support the Controller in the preparation of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements on both an accrual and cash basis, as required.
- Lead and participate in the monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes.
- Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure transactions are accurately recorded, classified, allocated, and supported.
- Review balance sheet, bank account reconciliations, and supporting schedules prepared by Accounting staff, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely resolution of reconciling items.
- Analyze full P&L and provide detailed monthly variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior-year results to ensure accuracy. Investigate significant financial variances and provide clear explanations to the Controller and CFO.
- Work collaboratively with other departments to ensure accounting entries appropriately reflect underlying business activity.
Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Assist the Controller with monthly and quarterly reporting to executive leadership and other stakeholders.
- Prepare and review supporting schedules and analyses used in management and financial reporting.
- Ensure consistency between the general ledger, management reporting, supporting schedules, and externally reported financial information.
- Partner with FP&A and operational teams to understand financial results, identify trends, and resolve reporting discrepancies.
- Assist with accounting and reporting related to passenger activity, airline revenues, concessions, operating expenses, capital projects, and other key business drivers.
Audit, Internal Controls and Compliance
- Serve as a key point of contact for external auditors and coordinate audit requests across the accounting team.
- Prepare and review audit schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries.
- Assist with tax, regulatory, contractual, and other compliance reporting as required.
- Track audit findings and assist with implementation of corrective actions and process improvements.
- Support compliance with financial and reporting requirements under LGP’s financing agreements, concession arrangements, and other contractual obligations.
Financial Systems and Data Integrity
- Oversee the integrity and effective operation of financial systems and related accounting applications, including Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Navision or successor ERP platforms.
- Lead or support the evaluation, implementation, enhancement, and optimization of financial systems and ERP modules.
- Partner with IT and external vendors to troubleshoot system issues and implement system improvements.
- Identify opportunities to automate accounting processes, reduce manual effort, strengthen controls, and improve reporting capabilities.
- Develop and maintain procedures documenting financial data flows, interfaces, and system processes.
- Ensure financial and operational data used for reporting is complete, accurate, appropriately controlled, and reconciled.
- Manage relationships with key technology vendors and service providers supporting Finance systems.
- Coordinate user access and appropriate segregation of duties within financial applications.
Team Leadership and Process Improvement
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and development to members of the accounting team.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop Accounting team members, providing appropriate guidance, training, performance feedback, and professional development.
- Review staff work to ensure accuracy while supporting the development of stronger technical accounting capabilities within the team.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability for assigned responsibilities and deadlines.
- Review team members’ work and provide constructive, timely feedback. Identify and lead cross-functional initiatives to streamline Finance processes, strengthen controls, improve data quality, and accelerate financial reporting.
- Promote continuous improvement and effective collaboration across Finance and other LGP departments.
- Participate in and lead special accounting, finance, systems, and process improvement projects as assigned.
- Perform all other duties and responsibilities as required.
Competencies
- Ownership: Takes responsibility for issues from identification through resolution rather than waiting for direction.
- Judgment: Knows when to independently resolve an issue and when to escalate it.
- Technical strength: Understands the accounting behind transactions, not simply the mechanics of processing them.
- Attention to detail: Produces accurate, well-supported work while maintaining an understanding of the broader financial picture.
- Leadership: Can effectively direct, develop, and hold team members accountable.
- Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with employees at all organizational levels and with external stakeholders.
- Organization: Effectively manages competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Problem solving: Investigates issues, identifies root causes, recommends solutions, and follows through on implementation.
- Partnership: Works collaboratively while maintaining appropriate financial controls and accounting discipline.
- Continuous improvement: Consistently looks for opportunities to simplify, automate, strengthen, and improve processes.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting required
- CPA and/or MBA preferred not required.
- Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
- Public accounting experience preferred.
- Minimum of 2–3 years of supervisory or personnel management experience required.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting required.
- Demonstrated experience with monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close and reporting.
- Experience coordinating external financial statement audits required.
- Experience with construction accounting, infrastructure, aviation, transportation, real estate, or other capital-intensive environments is a strong plus.
- Experience with Business Central or a large ERP required.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, and Word
- Experience implementing or improving financial systems, accounting processes, internal controls, and reporting automation is highly desirable.
Primary Work Location: LaGuardia Airport, NY
Employee Status: Regular Full Time
Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action
LaGuardia Gateway Partners provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other protected characteristics. Further, it is the policy of LaGuardia Gateway Partners to undertake affirmative action in compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements.