Financial Controller -NY

Job Description

The Opportunity

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We are a founder-owned luxury transportation company, operating an asset-light model across multiple entities and states. We’re ready to add a Controller who brings deep technical accounting expertise, proven process optimization, and the drive to build infrastructure that supports the next stage of the company’s growth.

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You will report directly to the CFO and work closely with an established accounting team that knows the business well. We are looking for a technical accounting partner who can own the close, lead the audit relationship, and bring structured process where it’s needed. You’ll earn autonomy quickly here: the expectation is a structured ramp-up, then the freedom to run.

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What You’ll Own

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Financial Reporting & Close Management

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• Own the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process; work with the existing accounting team to drive continuous improvement in close timelines and accuracy
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• Prepare and present financial statements in accordance with US GAAP, with particular attention to revenue recognition across service types, multi-entity consolidation, and contractor/vendor accounting
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• Build and maintain the company’s accounting policy documentation, working with the team to codify the institutional knowledge and practices
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• Produce management reporting that gives the CFO and ownership clear, actionable insight — not just numbers, but narrative
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General Ledger & Internal Control

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• Maintain and improve the general ledger in Workday Financials; own the chart of accounts, intercompany entries, and elimination processes across multiple entities
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• Assess the current state of internal controls and develop a practical, right-sized control framework — one that protects the company without creating bureaucracy that slows a fast-moving business
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• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual work
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• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for external auditors; manage the audit timeline, prepare schedules, and resolve questions efficiently
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• Coordinate with outside tax advisors on federal and multi-state filings, ensuring the accounting team provides clean, timely data; flag tax-relevant transactions proactively
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• Prepare support for the founder’s related entities, working with external advisors as needed
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• Lead a team of 1–3 accounting professionals; set clear expectations, develop skills, and build on the team’s existing strengths to handle growth without simply adding headcount
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• Foster a culture of accuracy, curiosity, and continuous improvement. Technology & Process Modernization
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• Serve as the functional owner of Workday Financials from an accounting perspective; partner with IT and operations to optimize configuration, reporting, and integrations
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• Evaluate and recommend tools that complement Workday — whether for expense management, AP automation, close management, or analytics — with a bias toward reducing repetitive work so the team can focus on judgment and analysis
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Who You Are

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Required

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• CPA license (active)
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• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with a meaningful portion in external audit and subsequent experience in a corporate/industry Controller or senior accounting role
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• Deep working knowledge of US GAAP, particularly revenue recognition (ASC 606), multi-entity consolidations, and intercompany accounting
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• Hands-on experience managing a monthly close process end to end and serving as the primary audit liaison
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• A management style that is direct, organized, and development-oriented. You should be comfortable holding people accountable while investing in their growth.
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Strongly Preferred

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• Experience in a services, transportation, or other asset-light business model. The revenue recognition and cost structure patterns in these industries translate well
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• Working knowledge of Workday Financials, including module configuration, report building, and integration management
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• Exposure to founder-owned or closely held private companies, where you understand the dynamics of working with ownership directly and navigating related-entity considerations with appropriate discretion
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• Experience with ERP systems at an administrative or power-user level. We run Workday Financials, but we are more interested in your ability to learn and optimize a system than in whether you’ve used this specific one. If you’ve been a strong user of NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Sage Intacct, or a comparable platform, you’ll adapt.
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• Multi-entity and multi-state accounting experience. We operate across state lines and support related legal entities — you need to be comfortable with consolidation complexity and varied compliance requirement
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• Demonstrated comfort with technology modernization — you’ve led or contributed to an ERP migration, automation initiative, or process overhaul in a prior role
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• Familiarity with AI-powered accounting tools or a clear point of view on where automation should replace manual effort in the close, reconciliation, and reporting cycle. This is increasingly table stakes for the profession, and we want someone who leans forward on it
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What Will Make You Successful

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• Here Beyond the technical requirements, we’re looking for a specific type of professional
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• You are a self-starter who doesn’t need to be managed closely. The CFO will invest time in onboarding you and building the relationship, then expects to step back. You should be energized by that autonomy, not anxious about it
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• You know when to check in and when to run. Not every decision needs approval, but some do. You have the judgment to know the difference, and you communicate proactively when something is heading off-track rather than waiting to be asked
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• You will challenge ideas constructively. We want your perspective, especially when you see risk or disagree with a direction. What we value is someone who raises concerns directly and supports them with evidence — then commits fully once a decision is made
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• You bridge the technical and the practical. The leadership team understands the business deeply. Your value-add is connecting business knowledge to the accounting and reporting implications — explaining complex treatments and risks in clear, accessible terms
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• You take ownership of problems, not just tasks. When something needs fixing — a process, a reconciliation, a deadline — you don’t just flag it. You come with a recommendations
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What the First 90 Days Look

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• Like We don’t expect you to transform the function in your first quarter. We do expect you to Immerse yourself in the business — understand how we generate revenue, where cash moves, who our key partners and vendors are, and how the operational model connects to the financials
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• Conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of the books, the close process, internal controls, and the Workday configuration. Produce a written evaluation with a prioritized improvement plan
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• Build relationships with the external audit partner, outside tax advisor, banking contacts, and key internal stakeholders.
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• Lead at least one close cycle start to finish, identifying friction points and quick wins.
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Work Environment & Logistics

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• We are an in-person-first organization. We believe that proximity matters — especially during your first several months when relationship-building and hands-on assessment of our processes require being in the room. That said, we are adults. Periodic remote work to accommodate life is expected and supported; we simply don’t operate on a permanent hybrid or remote schedule. This role may involve occasional travel to other company locations.
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Salary: On-Target Earnings: $150,000 based on experience and competency.

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Work Authorization

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Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and maintain valid work authorization throughout their employment. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization or visa sponsorship now or in the future. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Form I-9 employment eligibility verification.