Hire a Controller

The controller owns the store's books: the monthly financial statement, the factory statement, cash, contracts in transit, schedules and internal controls. A group controller does the same across several stores and consolidates them.

When a store needs one: large stores. Pay: $101,170 to $211,740 a year.

What to look for in a Controller

• Ask how many days it takes them to close the month, and what they do on the first business day.
• Ask which DMS they have closed books on. Dealership accounting is tied to the DMS.
• Ask how they keep contracts in transit and schedules clean, and how they catch problems early.
• Ask about the audits they have handled: manufacturer, floor plan and outside accountants.

How the pay plan usually works

Controllers are usually paid a salary, often with a bonus tied to a clean close, audit results or store profit.

What you get

• An intake call within one business day of payment: pay plan, hours, brand and what your best performer looks like
• Sourcing, screening and presenting candidates, with the first typically within 10 days of the intake
• You interview and make every hiring decision
• A 90-day replacement guarantee on every hire
• If we have not presented a qualified candidate within 45 days of the intake, you can cancel that position for a refund of its fee

Questions about the guarantee, refunds or hiring decisions? See common questions and our terms.

Read more: The Dealership Controller: What the Job Pays and When a Store Needs One

Need a different level? Dealership accounting positions: every level, pay band and fee.