Controller

Job Description 10709

Controller

Serves as an accounting leader for a U.S.-based upstream oil and gas organization, overseeing all accounting activities for an operated onshore unconventional asset. Leads and mentors accounting functions including production, joint interest, revenue, and general accounting. Ensures compliance with IFRS, corporate reporting standards, U.S. regulatory requirements, and SOX.

Provides insights to support management decision-making, capital allocation, and operational performance through financial reporting, cost and CAPEX control, tax and regulatory reporting, and maintenance of accounting records. Supports annual budgeting, periodic forecasting, and ad hoc financial analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Management

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of accounting professionals, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Own and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with corporate standards
• Partner with executive leadership to manage external service providers, including tax advisors, consultants, and audit firms
• Serve as primary accounting liaison with cross-functional teams including Operations, Land, Subsurface, Treasury, Tax, Risk, and Internal Controls
• Support annual budget processes, forecasts, and management reporting

Transactions

• Oversee operated and non-operated revenue accounting, ensuring accuracy of revenues from marketing partners, including realized pricing analysis
• Ensure proper distribution of revenue to mineral and royalty owners in compliance with COPAS standards
• Support capital allocation and operational performance through oversight of all accounting transactions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and SOX compliance
• Manage capital reporting and controls, including AFE tracking and joint interest billing (JIB) accuracy and compliance
• Ensure proper management and reporting of cash and working capital, including debt and deposit arrangements

Reporting

• Ensure timely issuance of production-related financial reports (JIBs, revenue statements, royalty payments, payout statements) in compliance with COPAS
• Deliver financial and operational metrics to support decision-making and capital allocation
• Support development of annual budgets and periodic forecasts
• Oversee cost reporting systems, including OPEX, capital reporting, and asset-level profitability
• Provide financial analysis related to capital investments, operating expenses, and working capital

Compliance

• Act as primary accounting contact for internal/external audits, joint venture audits, and regulatory inquiries
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal reporting requirements and tax filings
• Lead SOX compliance efforts, including documentation, testing, coordination, and remediation

Environment & Processes

• Ensure adherence to statutory, regulatory, and contractual accounting standards
• Establish and optimize accounting processes, procedures, and tools
• Adapt accounting practices in response to regulatory and business changes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; Master’s preferred
• CPA preferred
• Strong experience with oil and gas accounting systems
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams
• 15+ years of progressive experience in upstream operated oil and gas accounting, with significant U.S. onshore exposure
• Deep expertise in revenue accounting, royalty distribution, joint interest billing, gas balancing, lease operating expenses, and payout reporting
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a performance-driven, multi-entity or global organization with strong ethical judgment and collaborative leadership style

Thomas Edwards Group is an Executive Search Firm specializing in the direct hire and interim placement of Accounting, Finance, HR and IT professionals. We’ve been in business since 1997 and the Dallas Business Journal has ranked us a Top Search Firm in Dallas and one of the “Best Places to Work” multiple times. Thomas Edwards Group also made the Inc. 5000 list in 2016 and our award-winning team of Search Consultants, which rank among the best and most experienced in the area, includes MBAs, CPAs, former Big 4 Professionals, Controllers, IT Search Professionals, Finance/Banking, and Business Professionals.