Description
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.
This executive will lead a global accounting organization responsible for SEC reporting, external financial reporting, technical accounting, controllership, SOX compliance, consolidations, financial systems, and accounting operations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who combines deep technical expertise with a commercial mindset and a passion for building scalable organizations capable of supporting long-term growth.
The ideal candidate is a confident executive communicator who is equally comfortable presenting technical accounting conclusions and leading discussions with executive leadership and the Board. This leader possesses the ability to simplify complex financial matters into meaningful business insights that support strategic decision-making.
The successful candidate will be an influential leader who builds high-performing teams, drives organizational transformation, and fosters a culture of financial excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
This is a highly visible executive role with significant interaction with the Board of Directors, auditors, regulators, investors, and executive leadership.
Position Overview
The VP, Controller is responsible for ensuring the integrity, transparency, and accuracy of the Company's global financial reporting while maintaining a best-in-class control environment.
The VP, Controller will oversee all aspects of SEC reporting, accounting policy, technical accounting, financial close, consolidations, external reporting, internal controls, and corporate and operational accounting. In addition to maintaining compliance with U.S. GAAP, SEC regulations, SOX, and other regulatory requirements, this leader will drive accounting transformation initiatives, modernize financial processes, support acquisition integration, and help shape the long-term financial infrastructure of the organization.
As Group 1 continues to grow through acquisitions and operational excellence, the VP, Controller will play a critical role in ensuring the accounting organization scales alongside the business while serving as a trusted advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team.
Responsibilities
Executive Financial Leadership
- 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.
SEC Reporting & External Financial Reporting
- 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
- Oversee preparation of consolidated financial statements, footnotes, MD&A, earnings materials, and presentations.
- 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.
Technical Accounting & Accounting Policy
- 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
- 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.
Global Controllership & Financial Operations
- Lead global accounting operations, including:
- Financial close
- Consolidations
- General accounting
- Financial reporting
- Corporate accounting
- Payroll accounting oversight
- Warranty accounting oversight
- Fixed asset accounting
- 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.
Governance, SOX & Risk Management
- 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.
- Partner with auditors to continuously improve the control environment.
Growth & Corporate Development
- 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.
- Partner with Corporate Development, Treasury, Tax, Legal, and FP&A to support enterprise growth.
Accounting Transformation & Technology
- 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.
- Build scalable accounting processes capable of supporting continued domestic and international expansion.
Requirements
- 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
- 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
- Experience building, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams.
Preferred
Big Four public accounting experience
Automotive retail or multi-unit retail organization experience
Fortune 250 or other large public company leadership experience
Demonstrated success leveraging technology, automation, and AI to modernize accounting operations
Location & Travel
This position is based at the Company's corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas. Given the Company's U.S. and U.K. operations, this role requires periodic domestic and international travel at least 25% of the time.
