Group Controller - Technology & Manufacturing

Group Controller.

3LED Group | New England–Based.

About 3LED Group:

3LED Group is a growing portfolio of lighting, optics, and technology businesses serving architectural, commercial, and specialty markets. We operate as a group of focused, entrepreneurial divisions, each led by strong General Managers with clear P&L ownership. Our headquarters and primary operations are in New England, with key manufacturing sites in Woburn, Massachusetts and Randolph, Vermont.

At our current stage (approximately $25M in revenue), success is driven by clarity, discipline, and execution, not bureaucracy. We believe finance teams should exist to enable operators, remove friction, and help teams hit their targets — not slow them down. We are now hiring a Group Controller to build and lead a centralized accounting function that supports our GMs and strengthens the financial backbone of the group as we scale.

The Role:

The Group Controller is a hands-on, high-impact leadership role responsible for financial accuracy, consistency, and operational enablement across the 3LED Group.

This is not a narrow accounting or audit role.
It is a role for a rounded finance professional who enjoys being close to the business and working collaboratively with operating leaders.

You will:

• Own group-level accounting and reporting.
• Centralize key financial workflows to reduce administrative burden on divisions.
• Partner directly with General Managers to help them understand performance and meet KPIs.
• Build a lean, practical finance backbone appropriate for a growing private company.
• The role reports directly to the CEO and works closely with divisional leadership.
• Centralized Accounting as a Service to the Divisions.
• A core objective of this role is to centralize group accounting and financial operations in a way that actively supports the GMs.

By owning shared accounting functions at the group level, the Group Controller helps ensure that divisional leaders can focus their time on customers, people, and execution — not accounting infrastructure.

Responsibilities include:

• Operating a centralized group accounting function.
• Owning:
  • Monthly close and general ledger.
  • Financial reporting and analysis.
  • Banking and cash management.
  • Payroll and benefits administration.
  • Coordination with external providers (tax, audit, insurance).
• Designing workflows that are:
  • Consistent.
  • Efficient.
  • Easy for divisions to work with.
• Reducing duplicative accounting effort and headcount at the divisional level.

Partnering with General Managers:

The Group Controller is a service-oriented partner to the GMs.

You will:

• Meet regularly with divisional leaders to:
  • Review monthly results.
  • Understand drivers and variances.
  • Track KPIs and financial targets.
• Help GMs translate operating activity into financial outcomes.
• Provide clear, practical insight without over-complicating the business.
• Measure success by how effectively finance enables the divisions to perform.

This role requires periodic travel between sites (Woburn, MA and Randolph, VT) to build strong working relationships with GMs and operations teams.

Financial Integrity & Discipline:

• Ensure accurate inventory and cost accounting across product-based businesses.
• Maintain internal controls appropriate for a growing private company.
• Ensure data integrity across systems and reporting.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and cash planning.
• Build financial discipline that scales without over-engineering.

Systems & Process Support:

• Support ERP and systems initiatives (including manufacturing ERP at one division).
• Own chart-of-accounts discipline and reporting consistency.
• Improve processes with a bias toward practicality over theory.
• Balance rigor with speed and usability.

What We’re Looking For:

We are looking for a Controller who wants to be close to the business and is motivated by helping operating leaders succeed.

Experience & Background:

• 8–15 years of experience in accounting/controllership roles.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, industrial, or product-based businesses.
• Comfortable with inventory, cost accounting, and margin analysis.
• Experience operating or building centralized accounting or shared services.
• ERP experience (NetSuite, Dynamics, SAP, Rootstock, or similar).
• CPA or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Experience in growing, mid-sized private companies (not only large public enterprises).

How You Work:

• Hands-on, pragmatic, and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable rolling up your sleeves when needed.
• Clear communicator with non-finance leaders.
• Enjoys collaborating with GMs and operations teams.
• Service-oriented mindset — you take pride in removing friction for others.
• Low ego, high standards, strong sense of ownership.

What This Role Is Not:

This role is not:

• A pure audit or compliance position.
• A narrow technical accounting role disconnected from operations.
• A corporate headquarters role removed from the business.
• A CFO or capital-markets-focused position.
• A place to build a large finance organization for its own sake.

We are intentionally seeking someone who likes being close to the work, the people, and the results.

Compensation & Role Scope:

This role is right-sized for the stage of the business and designed for a senior, hands-on Controller at a growing private company.

Compensation will be competitive and appropriate for a Group Controller role at this stage, with a strong emphasis on:

• Scope and impact.
• Proximity to decision-making.
• Long-term growth with the business.

We are focused on finding the right fit, not over-titling or over-engineering the role.

Why This Is a Compelling Opportunity:

• Direct access to the CEO and divisional leadership.
• Meaningful influence on how the group operates and scales.
• Opportunity to help strong GMs succeed — and see the impact of your work.
• A collaborative, low-ego culture.
• A role that can grow naturally as the business grows.

If you are a Controller who wants to help businesses run better, not just report on them, this role will likely feel like a strong fit.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume along with a brief note explaining:

• Why this role and stage of company appeal to you.
• How you have partnered with operating leaders in the past.

We believe that Bright Minds Make Light Work™. Since 2003, our team of innovators, engineers, and creators has been revolutionizing the way the world experiences light. From our headquarters in Woburn, MA, we design, develop, and manufacture cutting-edge LED components and modules that power lighting solutions in homes, businesses, and critical industries like science, medicine, aerospace, and the military. Our mantra, Bright Minds™, reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of ingenuity, collaboration, and excellence. We are more than a workplace—we're a team of diverse, driven individuals united by a passion for innovation and an unrelenting focus on delivering exceptional results. We value growth and celebrate our people. By promoting from within and rewarding outstanding work, team contributions, and commitment, ensures that talent and dedication never go unnoticed. Our compensation and benefits are crafted to attract and retain the best. In addition to competitive base salaries, we offer quarterly bonuses, profit-sharing opportunities, and a robust benefits package, including: a group wide Fidelity 401(k) plan with a generous 6% company match. The Gradifi program, helping employees pay off student loans or save for their children’s education. Comprehensive healthcare, dental, life, and disability coverage—with 100% of premiums covered for individuals. We are proud to be recognized as a leader in innovation and growth. We’ve been named one of Red Herring's Top 100 Most Innovative Companies in the Americas and featured in Inc. Magazine's list of fastest-growing manufacturing companies in the U.S.. Our patented technologies are trusted by some of the world’s most iconic brands and can be found in over 40 countries worldwide. If you’re ready to bring your Bright Mind™ to a team that’s transforming the lighting industry, we want to hear from you!