Financial Controller (Director)

Overview

The organization is seeking a Financial Controller to own the integrity of financial reporting and transform how it is produced. This is a hands-on build-and-lead role modernizing systems, bringing the accounting function to full US GAAP rigor, and building a leaner, more automated finance organization. The role reports directly to the CFO.

Responsibilities

Accounting & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, delivering accurate, timely consolidated financials.
• Own the general ledger, technical accounting, and financial reporting, including:
  • Revenue recognition across domains, renewals, hosting subscriptions, and marketplace/auction transactions
  • Deferred revenue
  • Multi-currency and intercompany accounting
• Oversee accounting across diverse payment rails (cards, PayPal, crypto, bank transfer) and reconcile high-volume, low-value transaction flows.
• Design and run an internal controls framework across multiple entities, currencies, and jurisdictions—right-sized to the organization’s stage.
• Prepare board- and sponsor-ready reporting, partner with FP&A on variance analysis, and manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners.

Rebuild & Transformation

• Re-architect accounting foundations from first principles and bring the function to full US GAAP rigor.
• Partner with the CFO to select a modern, AI-native ERP, then lead the end-to-end implementation (design, data migration, testing, and go-live), moving off legacy tooling.
• Re-engineer close, reporting, and controls to be scalable, automated, and audit-ready as the business grows.
• Lead change management across finance and adjacent functions (revenue operations, billing, product) and manage the transformation to measurable outcomes.

AI-First Operating Model

• Build accounting operations around automation (close automation, reconciliation, anomaly detection, and AI-assisted reporting and analysis).
• Design a lean, high-seniority team where experts focus on judgment and impact while AI handles manual work—moving beyond a traditional monthly-close cadence.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging finance-AI tooling consistent with an AI-embedded approach in the organization’s products.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop an established accounting team, reshaping structure and ownership as the operating model evolves.
• Set standards for a build-first culture, including clear processes, strong documentation, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Big Four foundations: trained at a top-tier global accounting firm, ideally with multi-entity consolidations, multi-currency environments, and US GAAP exposure.
• CPA or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., ACCA or CA).
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including time as a Controller or Assistant Controller.
• Deep technical accounting expertise in areas including:
  • ASC 606 (multi-element, marketplace, and subscription revenue)
  • ASC 350 (goodwill, intangibles, and capitalized software)
  • ASC 830 (multi-currency operations)
  • ASC 805 (business combinations)
  • Comfort handling areas beyond textbooks (e.g., crypto payment accounting under ASU 2023-08)
• Hands-on ERP implementation experience: led or heavily contributed to a major ERP rollout (not just operated within one).
• Experience with high-volume, low-ACV transaction flows (e-commerce, subscription, SaaS, or marketplace) is a strong plus.
• First-principles builder mindset—prefers designing systems over maintaining them, energized by ambiguity and a blank canvas.
• Proven transformation and change leadership, including specific processes rebuilt, systems implemented, and teams upskilled.
• AI-native mindset: real experience automating finance workflows, with a clear view of where AI drives leverage in close, reporting, and controls.
• Comfort with control and audit rigor of a larger/public-company environment, with judgment to right-size for stage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex transaction environments, including payment rail diversity and revenue recognition across multiple product and transaction types.

Success Metrics (Year One)

• A new or significantly re-architected ERP live and stable, with the accounting team fully transitioned onto it.
• A documented finance transformation roadmap with clear milestones beyond year one.
• Faster close and materially less manual effort, with automation embedded across reconciliation and reporting.
• A strengthened internal controls framework appropriate to scale and transaction complexity.
• Accounting rebuilt to full US GAAP rigor, from the chart of accounts up.
• A reshaped team into a leaner, more senior structure with clear ownership.
• A trusted partnership with the CFO, executive leadership, and CVC.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation set well above typical early-stage benchmarks, with potential equity in a business entering its next growth phase.