Temporary Accounting and Controllership Optimization Lead

San Francisco, CA
Temporary
Accounting and Finance
Experienced

About Heath 
Heath Ceramics is a California company making dinnerware and architectural tiles of good and enduring design for 75 years. We are design-led, with the mission of creating products of beauty and integrity, while designing, manufacturing, and running our business in a way that's better for society and our planet. Our products are designed, manufactured, and sold in our two California factories and five showrooms, ensuring accountability in our process, from beginning to end. As a Certified B Corp, we maintain high standards of social responsibility, environmental performance, and transparency. We believe in the benefits of local manufacturing and support a community of people committed to and inspired by the process of designing, making, and sharing. We believe in pay equity, full health and welfare benefits, and a place for meaningful work.

Position Summary
This six-month assignment is for an experienced accounting leader who will work closely with the VP of Finance and accounting team to understand how work is currently organized and completed, from accounts receivable and accounts payable through reporting and close. The role will identify gaps, duplication, bottlenecks, and opportunities to improve processes, reporting, controls, and the use of NetSuite, AI, automation, and other tools.

Success means leaving the team with clearer roles, practical SOPs, more reliable reporting, and approved improvements that are working in practice. This role will support the team by strengthening how work gets done rather than taking over ongoing accounting responsibilities.

Position Responsibilities

  • Partner with members of the accounting team to understand and document current responsibilities, workflows, handoffs, systems, and reporting practices across the full accounting cycle.
  • Assess how work is organized and distributed, identifying gaps, duplication, bottlenecks, manual work, key-person dependencies, and opportunities to better align responsibilities with role scope and team capacity.
  • Develop practical process maps, ownership documentation, and standard operating procedures, validating them with the employees who perform the work.
  • Review close processes, account reconciliations, internal controls, and accounting practices, and implement approved improvements that strengthen accuracy, consistency, compliance, and visibility.
  • Standardize the NetSuite reporting structure, reports, and definitions so the company uses clear and consistent financial information.
  • Identify practical opportunities to use AI, automation, NetSuite capabilities, and other tools to reduce manual work and improve the quality and timeliness of accounting processes.
  • Lead the implementation and testing of approved process, reporting, and system changes in partnership with the VP of Finance, accounting team, and other internal partners.
  • Support adoption through training, documentation, and knowledge transfer, and provide a prioritized roadmap for remaining improvements.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 10+ years of progressive accounting experience including experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or in a comparable accounting leadership role.
  • Strong knowledge of full-cycle accounting including accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, cost accounting, reconciliations, reporting, and close, as well as GAAP and internal controls.
  • Experience documenting processes and implementing improvements through SOPs, process maps, workflow changes, reporting standards, or system enhancements.
  • Hands-on NetSuite experience including reporting, reconciliations, and accounting workflows.
  • Ability to build trust, handle sensitive information with discretion, guide change collaboratively, organize a broad project, and follow improvements through implementation.

Preferred

  • CPA or equivalent accounting certification.
  • Experience with manufacturing, inventory, or cost accounting.
  • Experience evaluating or implementing accounting automation, AI-assisted finance tools, NetSuite workflows, or integrations.

Work Environment and Hours
This is a full-time, temporary position expected to last approximately six months. The schedule is Monday through Friday, generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. While we offer a hybrid work model, spending time together in person is an important part of how we collaborate. This role is expected to work onsite at least two days per week, typically one day at our San Francisco location and one day in Sausalito, with additional onsite days as business needs require. The salary range for this position is $72–$77 per hour, based on experience.

Only Bay Area candidates will be considered.

Benefits
Heath provides sick time accruals in line with California Sick Leave requirements. We offer a great discount on all Heath Ceramics products.

Proud Equal Opportunity Employer
At Heath, we don’t just accept differences — we celebrate it, we support it. Heath is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce at all job levels. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, transgender status, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

How to Apply
If you would like to be considered for this position apply through this application form. Thank you for your interest!

 


 

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