Controller

About the role

We are seeking a Controller to lead our accounting functions and ensure financial reporting integrity. This role is foundational and involves turning a small, capable team into an audit-ready, scalable function.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, driving towards a faster, cleaner cycle as the company scales.
• Produce accurate, timely GAAP financial statements and supporting schedules.
• Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts in Sage Intacct; own the integrity of the actuals that feed the three-statement model.
• Document major reconciling items between cash and accrual in the models such as capitalized software.
• Deliver reporting packages for the VP of Finance, board, and investors.
• Own revenue recognition under ASC 606 for our take-rate, launch-date-driven revenue model, including the policies and documentation that hold up under audit scrutiny.
• Research and document technical accounting positions; maintain accounting policies and memos.
• Own software capitalization, stage determination, amortization and impairment, and the cross-functional process with Engineering/Product to source reliable cost data.
• Own accounting integrity of the cap table: reconcile equity ledger to the GL each close and ensure grants, exercises, and cancellations are captured accurately.
• Coordinate company’s 409A valuation with independent provider and apply its outputs in the ASC 718 accounting.
• Lead ClearJet's first external financial statement audit end to end — readiness, PBC management, and serving as the primary point of contact for auditors.
• Design and implement internal controls and accounting policies appropriate to our size and risk, building toward a control environment that supports future scale and diligence.
• Develop documentation methodology and control that reliably captures developer time/cost by capitalized project.
• Prepare the accounting function for multi-entity and international operations expected within 6–12 months — entity structure, consolidations, intercompany accounting, and foreign currency — partnering with the VP of Finance and external advisors on the build-out.
• Oversee payroll accounting and reconciliation (ADP), accounts payable, accounts receivable, and expense management.
• Manage cash and bank reconciliations and support treasury and runway reporting.
• Own the close-side mechanics behind accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, and equity.
• Manage compliance across federal, state, and local requirements (including multi-state payroll/registration as we hire across the country), and prepare for international tax, payroll, and statutory requirements as we expand abroad.
• Own coordination with external tax advisors on income tax provision (including transfer pricing as expand abroad), filings, and 1099/sales-and-use as applicable.
• Manage, mentor, and develop the Senior and Junior Accountants; build the structure and hiring plan as the team grows.
• Own and optimize the accounting tech stack (Sage Intacct, ADP, Carta) and drive automation and process improvement.
• Partner with the VP of Finance on FP&A inputs, investor/board reporting, and Series B-related accounting workstreams.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including a leadership or Controller/Assistant Controller role.
• Strong technical command of US GAAP, with hands-on ASC 606 revenue recognition experience, ASC 718 Sock based compensation, ASC 350-40 Capitalized internal-use software.
• Demonstrated ownership of a full monthly close and GAAP financial statements.
• Experience leading or managing an external audit.
• People management experience, including developing junior staff.
• Advanced Excel; comfort working alongside a detailed three-statement financial model.
• Strong communication skills and the judgment to operate with limited oversight in a fast-moving environment.
• Strongly Preferred: CPA, public accounting background (Big 4 or national firm), ideally combined with high-growth, VC-backed startup experience, equity administration and 409A coordination, ideally in a VC-backed environment, hands-on experience with Sage Intacct and ADP, exposure to logistics, supply chain, marketplace, or transaction/take-rate revenue models, experience standing up or operating multi-entity consolidations and international accounting (intercompany, foreign currency, cross-border tax/payroll), familiarity with the demands of a Series B environment — investor reporting, scaling controls, and diligence.