SVP, Chief Accounting Officer

SVP, Chief Accounting Officer

Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Cross River builds the infrastructure behind the world's most innovative financial products. Our technology and capital solutions power payments, cards, lending, and digital asset capabilities that move money safely, instantly, and inclusively — trusted by leading fintechs, enterprises, and disruptors across the globe.

Our mission is simple: to build the financial infrastructure that expands access and opportunity for all. Guided by a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and purpose, Cross River has been named one of American Banker's Best Places to Work in Fintech year after year. Whether you're designing code, solving regulatory puzzles, or developing strategy, you'll join a team where innovation and integrity drive everything we do — and where your work helps shape the future of finance.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer to join our Finance leadership team. This critical role reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer and serves as the operational backbone of the company's financial infrastructure. This role requires a seasoned finance executive who thrives in a fast-paced, technology-driven banking environment and can scale financial operations to match the company's rapid growth trajectory.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Governance

• Maintain and continuously enhance the company's financial governance framework, including internal controls, policies, and procedures over financial reporting
• Oversee the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) and ensure SOX-equivalent rigor appropriate for a regulated banking institution (FDICIA)

Lending Reporting

• Oversee all financial reporting related to Cross River's lending portfolio, including marketplace lending, Commercial and SBA lending, and principal financing activities
• Ensure accurate and timely loan-level accounting, including origination, servicing, gain-on-sale, fair value measurements, and allowance for credit losses (CECL)
• Direct reporting processes for loan sales, participations, securitizations, and warehouse facility utilization
• Ensure proper treatment of fee income, interest income, and provision expense across all lending verticals

Financial & Regulatory Reporting

• Serve as the primary owner of the company's accounting policies, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory accounting standards
• Direct the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
• Manage the end-to-end SEC reporting process, including drafting financial statements, footnotes, and MD&A disclosures, ensuring accuracy and adherence to filing deadlines
• Oversee preparation and filing of all regulatory reports, including Call Reports, FR Y-9 filings, and other submissions to the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and state banking regulators
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of required management reporting packages, and board-level financial presentations, including Audit Committee

Tax & New Product Planning

• Oversee the company's tax function, including federal, state, and local income tax compliance, tax provision (ASC 740), and tax planning strategies
• Lead tax structuring analysis for new products, partnerships, and business initiatives to optimize tax efficiency while maintaining full compliance
• Evaluate accounting implications of new fintech partnerships, BaaS integrations, and program structures

Procurement

• Build and oversee a centralized procurement function that drives cost efficiency, vendor governance, and operational discipline across the organization
• Refine and implement procurement policies, approval workflows, and vendor selection criteria aligned with regulatory expectations for third-party risk management
• Build reporting and analytics capabilities to provide visibility into organizational spending patterns and budget adherence

Revenue Management

• Serve as the enterprise owner of revenue recognition policies and practices under ASC 606 and other applicable standards (ASC 310, ASC 320, ASC 460)
• Oversee the accurate identification, measurement, and reporting of revenue across all business lines — including interchange fees, transaction processing fees, program fees, lending income, gain-on-sale, and SaaS/platform-related revenue streams
• Lead revenue assurance processes to ensure completeness and accuracy of revenue capture from complex fintech partner arrangements, embedded finance programs, and multi-element agreements

Leadership & Strategic Responsibilities

• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing controllership organization of 30+ professionals across all seven functions, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Advise on the financial implications of strategic decisions, M&A activity, capital raises, and potential IPO readiness
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of financial systems (ERP, sub-ledgers, automation tools) to support scale and efficiency

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA required
• 15+ years of progressive experience in accounting/controllership roles, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity managing multiple functions
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, regulatory accounting for banking institutions (Call Report preparation, FFIEC guidelines), and financial governance best practices
• Prior experience in a regulated banking environment (commercial bank, fintech bank, or BaaS institution); experience with FDIC-regulated entities strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience building and overseeing internal control frameworks and managing external audit relationships (Big 4 experience a plus)
• Strong understanding of complex financial products including lending (marketplace, SBA, consumer, commercial), payments, card issuing, and capital markets

Preferred:

• Experience supporting IPO readiness or public company reporting strongly preferred
• Experience with crypto/digital asset accounting and stablecoin-related financial products
• Familiarity with embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) business models and their unique accounting complexities
• Knowledge of API-driven banking platforms and their impact on financial reporting and controls
• CECL modeling exposure and familiarity with credit loss accounting frameworks

Salary Range: $280,000.00 - $350,000.00

Cross River is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cross River does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

By submitting your application, you give Cross River permission to email, call, or text you using the contact details provided. We will only contact you with job related information.