Financial Controller (Fractional, CPA)

Overview

This is a Fractional Financial Controller role (CPA required) for a US-based, remote team.

The Financial Controller will own finance end to end for a marketplace connecting travelers with Part 135-certified operators. The work includes month-end close, cash planning, accounting controls, marketplace accounting, tax/compliance ownership, and providing financial input into strategy and investor readiness.

Responsibilities

• Own the books and close every month on schedule; deliver clear financials with a short narrative on what changed and why.
• Start hands-on by working directly in the ledger; document processes and manage day-to-day transaction work through a bookkeeping team.
• Plan the cash: build budgets, rolling cash forecasts, and a runway view; confidently answer whether key expenditures are affordable.
• Build finance controls including approval workflows, spend policies, and an audit trail that apply across the organization.
• Ensure correct marketplace accounting, including revenue recognition, customer credits and refunds, and operator payables.
• Maintain compliance by owning the tax and compliance calendar (including aviation excise taxes and multi-state obligations) and managing an outside CPA firm.
• Serve as a finance voice in strategy by providing the numbers used to guide investment decisions and preparing for investor reporting as the organization grows.

Requirements

• Active US CPA license (hard requirement).
• 5+ years in accounting, including owning the close at a startup or high-growth company.
• Experience building a finance function from scratch (not only maintaining one).
• Strong marketplace accounting knowledge (gross vs. net, funds held for others, refunds and payables).
• Deep QuickBooks Online experience.
• Hands-on US tax compliance experience, including sales and use tax, multi-state payroll tax, and pass-through entities.
• Uses AI in daily work.
• Ability to explain variances to non-accountants in a few sentences.
• Absolute discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aviation, charter, or travel accounting.
• Federal excise tax experience.
• Fundraising and investor reporting experience.
• Experience leading a remote bookkeeping team.

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay depends on experience.
• Fractional schedule: start fractional; more hours in the first two months while learning the business, then approximately 10 hours a week, growing with the company.

Location

• Remote, US-based.
• Requires meaningful overlap with US Pacific hours.