Controller

About the role

Known is a modern marketing company that pairs PhD data scientists with award-winning creatives, strategists, engineers, and expert research teams to produce innovative and cutting-edge creative work. This role is intended for a candidate who views accounting as a tool to support the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead all core accounting activities, including general ledger, revenue accounting, cost accounting, and the monthly close
• Maintain and enforce accounting policies in accordance with U.S. GAAP
• Ensure financial processes are scalable and aligned with the agency’s growth and evolving service offerings
• Own the monthly and quarterly close process, including timelines, deliverables, and review procedures
• Ensure balance sheet integrity through rigorous review of reconciliations and account analyses
• Deliver accurate and timely financial statements and management reports
• Present financial results to senior leadership and other financial stakeholders
• Oversee revenue recognition in accordance with ASC 606, including principal vs. agent considerations
• Ensure accurate accounting for media and production costs, including accruals, true-ups, rebates, credits, and vendor incentives
• Partner with Media and Operations teams to deliver clear reporting on client and project profitability, including margin analysis and resource utilization
• Oversee day-to-day cash management, including cash positioning, liquidity planning, and bank relationships
• Manage debt obligations, including borrowings, repayments, and compliance with all loan covenants, ensuring accurate and timely debt reporting, including covenant calculations and lender reporting requirements
• Partner with the SVP, Accounting & Finance and Head of FP&A on cash forecasting and liquidity planning
• Establish and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and lead the audit process
• Ensure compliance with all applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements
• Improve the speed, consistency, and accuracy of the financial close
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce manual work and increase efficiency
• Partner with finance and technology teams on ERP, billing, and media system enhancements to ensure data accuracy and consistency across platforms
• Manage and develop the accounting team, including setting clear responsibilities and performance expectations
• Foster a disciplined and accountable team environment focused on accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement
• Build trust and credibility within the team, across the organization and among executive leadership through consistent execution and clear communication

Requirements

• Experience: 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership responsibility. Prior experience in a media, marketing, or advertising environment is required
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required
• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and ASC 606; experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and industry platforms (e.g., Mediaocean/Prisma, Bill.com); awareness of the growing role of AI in financial operations and best practices for its use
• Execution: Demonstrated ability to improve close processes, strengthen controls, and implement more efficient accounting workflows
• Mindset: Approaches accounting as a tool to support business performance; able to connect financial results to operational drivers and communicate implications clearly
• Communication: Ability to explain financial results and issues clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Partnership: Track record of building strong working relationships with senior leadership and across the organization

Qualifications

• Sound judgment in prioritizing issues, improving processes, and focusing the accounting team on the areas of greatest business impact

Skills

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and ASC 606
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite)
• Awareness of the growing role of AI in financial operations and best practices for its use
• Demonstrated ability to improve close processes, strengthen controls, and implement more efficient accounting workflows
• Approaches accounting as a tool to support business performance
• Ability to connect financial results to operational drivers and communicate implications clearly
• Track record of building strong working relationships with senior leadership and across the organization

Benefits

• Unlimited paid time off
• 401k with company matching and no vesting period
• Annual bonuses
• Generous medical plan
• Paid parental leave

Pay

The base salary for this position is $175k-$200k

Schedule

N/A