Corporate Controller

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Job description

Our client is a rapidly growing big data company, and they are need of a public company-experienced Controller.

The Controller will be responsible for the corporate accounting and financial reporting function. The candidate will have proven success in developing robust financial reporting processes and financial systems and controls necessary of a fast-growing public company. The ideal candidate will have participated in an IPO process and have experience operating under public company requirements and overseeing various accounting and payroll systems and processes.

The Company

The Company is a big-data company in the $100b+ publishing industry. Located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, the company currently has a long list of blue-chip venture capital investors. The company is now preparing itself for an Initial Public Offering.

Our client focuses on hiring candidates who embody our core values of collaboration, diversity and inclusion, empiricism, and ambition. If you have an insatiable desire to work in a high-performance and results-driven environment that embraces our core values (Ownership, Collaboration, Empiricism, Ambition, Diversity, and Inclusion.)

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead Accounting team to perform month-end close on-time and deliver timely and accurate financial statements
• Perform hands-on accounting including preparing and posting journal entries and performing account reconciliations, as needed
• Review for accurate and timely month-end balance sheet reconciliations.
• Maintain NetSuite accounting and fixed asset software to ensure proper, complete, and accurate record-keeping of accounting transactions are performed within the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Manage the accounting team, both in-house and outsourced
• In collaboration with the HR team, supervise timely and accurate processing of payroll
• Provide leadership regarding all technical accounting questions and update the Company on changes to critical accounting policies and procedures
• Supervises financial audits of external auditors
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships across the Company
• Drive change and process improvement within the Accounting and Finance department
• Facilitate and manage tax and business compliance activities (local, state, and federal) in collaboration with the Company's tax services firm
• Manage external accounting/finance relationships: banking and insurance programs
• Manage the payroll and stock plan administration function, reviewing the processing and recording of the semi-monthly payroll.
• Retain, hire, and develop additional staff as needed.
• Oversee federal, state, and local tax return preparation as well as tax provision.
• Act as a liaison for external auditors
• Provide support for Audit Committee and Board presentations as needed
• Maintain knowledge of FASB pronouncements that impact the Company
• Maintain a basic understanding of the Company's Corporate and R&D operations.
• Manage all aspects of SEC reporting

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced Excel spreadsheet skills
• Ability to effectively communicate to all levels of the organization by knowing your audience
• Solid Managerial skills and ability to function in a supervisory role
• Must be able to prioritize work to meet scheduled deadlines while handling multiple tasks

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting or finance is required
• CPA, ideally active and Big 4 strongly preferred
• At least ten years of experience as a Controller supporting fast-growth companies
• At least ten years of experience supervising a team of accountants.
• Experience in operating in the Accounting and Finance function of a public company
• Experience leading a company to and through an IPO.
• Mix of public and private company experience.
• Knowledge of SEC rules and experience with SEC filings, including 10-Qs and 10-Ks
• Broad knowledge of GAAP and SEC reporting requirements.
• Stock-based compensation accounting experience.
• Experience with SOX 404, for compliance with Section 302 and Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, desired.
• Proficient in the use of accounting software packages (NetSuite strongly preferred)
• Systems implementation experience desired.
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• High motivation for a fast-paced, high-stake role in a growth company
• Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter and independently tackle ambitious and complex challenges

 Compensation

Annual base compensation for this role includes base salary, an annual bonus plan, and pre-IPO stock options. The Company has a competitive benefits package.

About Hardesty

Hardesty is a national executive services firm that provides best-in-class senior leadership to companies through executive search, interim and project-based engagements. The firm has offices in major markets in the US and Canada. Clients include both public, investor-owned and privately held companies. Hardesty's founders and executives have vast experience in healthcare, life sciences, A&D, software/technology, consumer products, financial services, manufacturing and distribution companies.

Contact Us

If you are interested in this position or know of an executive who is the right fit, please contact us or forward this document. Contact information follows: Rachel Gibson, Director of Recruiting at