Controller/Finance Lead

Controller / Finance Lead
Location: Onsite New York, NY
Salary: $200,000 plus equity

A venture-backed, high-growth technology company is seeking its first in-house Controller / Finance Lead to build structure and ownership within the finance function. This is a hands-on role for a finance professional excited to strengthen financial infrastructure, implement scalable processes, and serve as a trusted partner to leadership during a key growth phase.
Currently supported by an outsourced firm, this individual will own day-to-day financial operations, including monthly close, financial reporting, payroll oversight, revenue recognition, internal controls, audit coordination, and tax compliance. The Controller will also manage budgeting, forecasting, cash flow visibility, and board reporting, while improving systems and standardizing core processes (order-to-cash, procure-to-pay). Over time, there is an opportunity to transition accounting fully in-house and help build out the finance team.

Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Close

• Oversee monthly and annual close processes and ensure accuracy of financial statements
• Maintain strong reconciliations, accrual discipline, and deferred revenue tracking
• Prepare executive and board reporting packages
• Manage working capital and provide clear cash flow visibility

Accounting Operations & Controls

• Own day-to-day accounting operations including AP, AR, payroll review, vendor payments, and expense management
• Establish and maintain GAAP-aligned accounting policies and internal controls
• Strengthen approval workflows and segregation of duties appropriate for a scaling organization

Revenue, Billing & Systems

• Oversee order-to-cash processes and ensure alignment between contracts, billing systems, and revenue recognition
• Improve financial systems and workflows to support scale
• Standardize documentation for core processes (order-to-cash, procure-to-pay)
• Build consistent reporting on recurring revenue, retention, gross margin, and key financial metrics

Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Maintain audit-ready documentation and processes
• Serve as primary internal liaison to external auditors and tax providers
• Support R&D credit programs and fundraising due diligence
• Ensure ongoing compliance with investor and regulatory expectations

Business Partnership & Planning

• Partner closely with the CEO and leadership team on budgeting, forecasting, and cash planning
• Provide variance analysis and operational insights
• Review vendor contracts and assess financial implications
• Present clear, structured financial updates to leadership and the Board

Qualifications

• 6-12 years of experience across accounting, finance, or FP&A
• Experience as an early or first finance hire in a startup or high-growth environment strongly preferred
• Strong technical accounting foundation with the ability to operate strategically
• Comfortable building structure in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
• Detail-oriented, pragmatic, and highly accountable
• CPA preferred but not required