Controller

Position Summary

The Controller is the financial backbone of ASPIRE Salon Studios, responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial reporting, accounting operations, and compliance functions across the portfolio. This role serves as the CEO's primary financial partner — translating the numbers behind a fast-growing, multi-site business into clear, actionable intelligence that drives confident decision-making at every level of the organization.

As ASPIRE scales aggressively across Southern California and beyond, the Controller plays a critical role in building the financial infrastructure to support that growth — including the implementation of a new ERP system, the management of third-party bookkeeping and HR service partners, and the development of financial controls and reporting frameworks that reflect the sophistication of a premium, expanding brand. The Controller also provides direct oversight of the Operations Manager, ensuring that administrative and operational financial workflows are tightly aligned.

Reporting Structure

• Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Direct Reports: Operations Manager
• Managed Partners: Third-Party Bookkeeping Service, Third-Party HR Service

Core Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Own the full monthly close process, ensuring all accounts are reconciled, entries are posted, and financial statements are produced accurately and on schedule.
• Prepare and deliver timely, clear financial reports to the CEO, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and variance analyses.
• Maintain separate operating, financial, and tax books in accordance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and manage depreciation schedules across all fixed assets, including leasehold improvements, FF&E, and equipment at each location.
• Ensure financial records across all operating entities and locations are maintained with consistency, accuracy, and full auditability.

Cash Management & Forecasting

• Develop and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts that provide the CEO and leadership team with clear visibility into near-term and long-range liquidity.
• Monitor daily cash positions and proactively flag variances, shortfalls, or opportunities to optimize cash deployment.
• Manage banking relationships and oversee cash management processes, including sweep accounts, reserves, and intercompany transfers where applicable.
• Support capital planning efforts by modeling cash requirements for new site build-outs, equipment purchases, and working capital needs.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Oversee the AP/AR cycle in coordination with the third-party bookkeeping service, ensuring invoices are processed accurately and on time, and that tenant collections are managed effectively.
• Partner with the Operations Manager on tenant billing, delinquency tracking, and collections workflows within Buildium and the forthcoming ERP platform.
• Establish and enforce AP approval workflows and payment authorization controls to protect the organization from unauthorized disbursements.
• Monitor aging reports for both payables and receivables, escalating and resolving exceptions promptly.

Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process across all locations and departments, working with the CEO and President to align financial plans with strategic priorities.
• Prepare location-level and portfolio-level budget vs. actual analyses, identifying trends and recommending corrective actions where needed.
• Support new site financial modeling, including projected build costs, ramp-up timelines, break-even analyses, and return on investment projections.
• Collaborate with the Leasing Director to integrate occupancy and revenue forecasts into the broader financial plan.

Tax, Compliance & Governance

• Coordinate with external tax advisors to ensure timely and accurate preparation of all federal, state, and local tax filings across all operating entities.
• Maintain the company's compliance posture across all financial regulatory requirements, including sales tax, payroll tax, and business licensing obligations.
• Develop, implement, and enforce internal financial controls designed to safeguard company assets and ensure the reliability of financial reporting.
• Support legal and corporate governance needs as they relate to financial documentation, entity structure, and audit preparation.

ERP Implementation & Systems

• Serve as the internal financial lead on the company's ERP implementation, partnering with the vendor and operational team to ensure the new system accurately reflects ASPIRE's accounting structure and reporting needs.
• Manage the parallel operation of Buildium and the ERP during the transition period, ensuring continuity of financial reporting and data integrity.
• Establish chart of accounts, cost centers, and reporting hierarchies within the new ERP that support multi-site, multi-entity financial management.
• Train internal staff and coordinate with the third-party bookkeeping service on updated workflows and system processes post-implementation.

Team & Partner Management

• Provide direct supervision and development support to the Operations Manager, ensuring alignment between administrative operations and financial workflows.
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the third-party bookkeeping service, setting clear expectations for deliverables, quality, and turnaround times.
• Oversee the third-party HR service relationship, ensuring payroll accuracy, benefits administration, and compliance with employment regulations are handled correctly and on time.
• Act as the primary internal escalation point for any financial, payroll, or HR administrative issue requiring management-level resolution.

Core Competencies

• Financial Precision — An unwavering commitment to accuracy, completeness, and integrity in all financial work.
• Strategic Partnership — The ability to translate financial data into clear, actionable guidance for non-finance executives.
• Systems Thinking — Comfort building and improving financial processes, controls, and systems that scale with the business.
• Accountability — A sense of ownership over outcomes, with the discipline to meet deadlines and hold partners to the same standard.
• Adaptability — Ease navigating the demands of a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment where priorities and systems are actively evolving.
• Collaborative Communication — Skill in working cross-functionally with operations, leasing, and executive leadership to align financial and business goals.

Work Environment

The Controller works primarily from a central office location in Southern California, with periodic visits to studio locations as needed for audit, onboarding, or operational review purposes. This is a high-visibility role within a lean, fast-moving organization, and the right candidate will thrive in an environment where financial leadership directly impacts the company's ability to grow. The Controller will be a key figure in the company's ERP transition and will have the opportunity to build and shape ASPIRE's financial infrastructure from the ground up as the portfolio expands.

About ASPIRE Salon Studios

ASPIRE Salon Studios is a premier salon suite operator based in Southern California, currently operating across 9 locations with significant expansion underway. At ASPIRE, we understand that studios are salons first. With over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry — much of it running hair salons — we know what it takes to create the right environment for independent beauty professionals to succeed. We're not real estate people; we're salon people, and you'll feel that every time you walk through our doors.