A junk removal controller runs the monthly close and shows what every truck, branch and type of load really earns after dump fees, fuel and crew hours. They manage the bookkeeper and payroll, keep sales tax and other filings on time, and build the budget with the CFO.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, waste collection companies · BLS, May 2025
This role is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of our junk removal division, ensuring accurate monthly financial statements, and providing strategic support through budgeting and audit preparation. The Accounting Manager / Controller plays a pivotal part in maintaining financial integrity and supporting operational efficiency.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Produce and review monthly financial reports to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processes.
Manage tax filings and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Support the budgeting process and prepare documentation for audits.
Collaborate with cross-functional departments to streamline financial operations.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Review daily transactions, bank reconciliations, and financial entries.
Monitor accounts payable and receivable to maintain optimal cash flow.
Coordinate payroll processing and ensure timely tax submissions.
Prepare and organize supporting documentation for internal and external audits.
Liaise with department heads to update and monitor budgetary allocations.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Monthly financial report accuracy at 98% or higher.
Accounts receivable turnover of 30 days or less.
Payroll processing error rate of less than 1%.
100% on-time tax filings with zero penalties.
Budget variance maintained within a 5% threshold.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in accounting and financial management.
Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office applications.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.
Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Previous experience in the home services or junk removal industry.
Demonstrated expertise in financial auditing and regulatory compliance.
Experience working in fast-paced, customer-centric environments.
Familiarity with ERP systems and advanced financial management tools.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to work in a standard office setting with moderate desk-based tasks.
Capability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs as needed.
Ability to sit for extended periods while focusing on detailed financial analysis.
Comfort with extended computer use and screen interactions during long work sessions.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Standard office-based environment with minimal on-site field work.
Typical work hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Limited travel required for auditor meetings or financial reviews.
Occasional extended hours during month-end or audit periods.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Competitive salary range of $80,000 - $100,000 USD per year.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) plan with company matching.
Additional fringe benefits including paid time off and professional development opportunities.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we pride ourselves on cultivating a supportive and dynamic work environment where innovation, accountability, and continuous learning thrive. Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction drives our success, and we always invest in the growth and development of our team members. Join us to be a part of a forward-thinking company that values collaboration, diversity, and a shared vision for success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
Much of a junk hauler's cost is spent away from the office: at the scale house, the fuel pump and the landfill gate. Getting those costs onto the books on time, and in the right place, is most of the controller's job.
Dump bills arrive after the month ends
Transfer station statements, fuel card bills and scrap payouts can show up days or weeks after the month is over. Waiting for them pushes every report back. The controller books an estimate from the month's weigh tickets and card data, closes on schedule, then trues it up when each statement comes in. Ticket matching by the warehouse coordinator keeps those estimates close.
Drive time is part of the dump fee
A cheaper landfill an hour away can cost more than a closer transfer station once fuel and paid crew time on the road are counted. The controller prices each disposal site as its gate fee plus the round trip in wages and truck costs, using the fleet manager's fuel and mileage data. Operations can then compare sites and service areas before changing routes.
Sales tax on hauling depends on the state
Whether a junk pickup is taxed is up to each state. Texas, for one, taxes garbage and other waste removal whether the customer is a household or a business. Its rule also says a hauler can't split the landfill charge out of the bill to shrink the taxed amount. The controller sets tax codes by state and type of service in the booking system and checks a new branch's rules with the CPA before its first invoice. Source: 34 Tex. Admin. Code 3.356: Real property services (Cornell LII).
Outside haulers need a status check
In busy months, a company may send overflow jobs to other haulers or pay drivers by the load. For federal tax, the IRS says to weigh all the facts about control: who directs how the hauling gets done, who controls pay, expenses and trucks, and whether the hauler keeps working for you on the company's main line of work. No single fact settles it. The controller writes down that review before anyone is paid as a contractor, and has an employment lawyer check the setup too. Source: IRS: Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee?.
How much junk removal controllers make
The closest BLS group for junk removal controllers is financial managers. Financial managers who work for waste collection companies earned a median of $149,190 a year ($71.73 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s below the $166,570 median for financial managers in all industries. About 290 of the 841,710 financial managers in that survey work for waste collection companies.
Under the template, the controller earns a salary plus a performance bonus. BLS counts controllers with all financial managers, including treasurers and finance directors, so its pay figures run well above the template's range. Check local offers for controllers at companies your size. Tie the bonus to a close finished on time with few corrections and to clean filings, since profit depends on pricing and crews the controller doesn't run.
Waste collection companies
$149,190$149,190 median Middle half $111,380–$179,990 10th–90th $96,990–$238,920
All industries
$166,570$166,570 median Middle half $125,490–$219,980 10th–90th $94,310–$323,270
$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k$350k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Waste collection companies
$96,990
$111,380
$149,190
$179,990
$238,920
All industries
$94,310
$125,490
$166,570
$219,980
$323,270
BLS doesn’t publish pay for junk removal companies on their own. These figures cover waste collection, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Has run the monthly close for a company with several locations
Builds job, truck and branch reports from field software data, not only the ledger
Manages a bookkeeper and an outside payroll service
Has handled sales tax for several states, or knows which questions go to the CPA
Explains margins to operations managers in plain words
Teach these on the job
How junk jobs are priced by truck space, with heavy-material charges
Each transfer station's rates and billing cycle
Your fuel card and GPS reports
Which partners pay for scrap metal and how that income is booked
The job and payment exports in your booking system
Expect QuickBooks Online or a larger system such as Sage Intacct or NetSuite, a payroll service, fuel card and GPS reports, and job exports from the booking software. Say in the posting how job data reaches the ledger today, by direct sync or by spreadsheet, because that decides how much of the close is manual work.
Junk removal controller interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Disposal cost variance
Disposal fees jumped this month, but job count is flat. How do you find out why?
A strong answer: Pulls transfer-station invoices and scale tickets, compares tons per job and rates by facility, checks for duplicate or miscoded bills, and looks for heavy loads priced by volume. Brings the cause and a fix to operations.
Behavioral · Internal controls
Tell me about a control weakness you found in how cash, card payments or vendor bills moved through a business. What did you change?
A strong answer: Names a specific gap, such as one person both approving and paying vendors or cash taken with no receipt, the fix (split duties, approval limits, a second review), how they got buy-in and how they checked it held.
Set each target against your last year of closes, filings and budgets, and agree on it with the CFO.
Monthly financial report accuracy at 98% or higher
Count entries corrected after the books close and any figure changed after the CFO has the report. Note why, for example a late dump statement or fuel coded to the wrong truck.
Accounts receivable turnover of 30 days or less
Many homeowners pay when the crew finishes, so measure collection days on billed accounts: property managers, contractors, realtors and estates. Divide open receivables by average daily billed sales.
Payroll processing error rate of less than 1%
Divide paychecks that needed a fix by all paychecks in the period. Check the usual trouble spots first: overtime from long cleanouts, card tips and crew bonuses.
100% on-time tax filings with zero penalties
Keep one calendar of every sales tax, payroll tax, information return and vehicle or property tax due date by state. Log the date each was filed and every notice received.
Budget variance maintained within a 5% threshold
Compare actual results to budget monthly by branch, with disposal, fuel, crew labor and truck repairs each on its own line, and explain every line that misses.
What's the difference between a controller and a CFO in a junk removal company?
The controller makes sure the numbers are right and on time: the close, payroll, taxes and job costing. The CFO uses them for the bigger calls, like financing trucks, planning cash for a new branch and working with lenders and owners. Here, the controller usually builds the reports the CFO takes into those meetings.
How much does a junk removal controller make?
Financial managers who work for waste collection companies earned a median of $149,190 a year ($71.73 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $111,380 and $179,990 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
Does a junk removal controller need to be a CPA?
The template lists a degree and several years of accounting work, but no license. A CPA helps with audits and tax questions. Still, someone who has closed the books at a multi-site service company may fit better than a CPA who has only audited other people's books. Ask how they have worked with outside tax preparers and auditors, since the controller gathers what those firms ask for.
Is a bookkeeper enough, or do we need a controller?
Look for the signs. You run several branches, a lender or investor wants monthly statements, the close drags into the middle of the next month, or nobody can say which branch or truck makes money. At that point you need someone who owns the close and can explain the numbers to the CFO and branch GMs. Before then, an outside CPA who reviews the books each quarter can fill the gap.
How should scrap and resale income show up in the books?
Give it its own income line by branch instead of subtracting it from dump fees. Netting the two hides both: you can't tell whether disposal costs are rising or scrap prices are falling. Match each scrap payment to the yard's weight slip, and ask your CPA how resale income should be taxed in your state.
How can I test a controller candidate?
Hand finalists one month of a branch's numbers with a missing transfer station statement, a fuel bill coded to the wrong truck and a wrong sales tax setting. Ask them to find the problems and say what the month really earned. Listen for questions about weight, load type and timing, not just debits and credits.
