Controller

About Us

Vast.ai’s cloud powers AI projects and businesses all over the world. We are democratizing and decentralizing AI computing—reshaping our future for the benefit of humanity.

We are a growing and highly motivated team dedicated to an ambitious technical plan. Our structure is flat, our ambitions are out‑sized, and leadership is earned by shipping excellence.

We are past the search for product-market fit and are building the financial infrastructure needed to scale a high-volume, API-native marketplace for AI compute.

LOCATION: On-site at our office in Westwood, Los Angeles.

The Role

This is a hands‑on leadership role. Today, you will be the senior in‑house owner of accounting and finance operations, partnering with the COO, fractional CFO, external accounting, tax, payroll, audit, and systems advisors, and engineering, data, and product teams. You will build a scalable, automation‑first function: not by adding process for its own sake, and not by assuming every problem requires headcount, but by designing clean policies, strong controls, and systems that make high‑volume finance operations reliable. As the company scales, you will have the mandate and budget to hire and lead a team where specialization, volume, or control needs justify it.

What You Will Do

• Lead GAAP conversion and audit readiness. Own the transition from cash to accrual accounting, establish GAAP‑compliant financial statements and supporting policies, and prepare the company for its first audit in coordination with external advisors.

• Own the close and accounting operations. Run the monthly close and core finance operations, including accounts receivable and collections, accounts payable and vendor management, payroll, reconciliations, approval workflows, and close documentation.

• Build marketplace revenue accounting. Own accounting for usage‑based, multi‑party marketplace transactions, including ASC 606 analysis, gross-versus-net principal‑agent conclusions, customer credits, refunds, chargebacks, deferred revenue, host/provider payouts, payment processor reconciliations, and unit‑economics reporting.

• Design payout and cash controls. Create reliable controls over customer funds, host payouts, credits, disputes, fraud adjustments, bank activity, and the reconciliation of product, billing, payments, payout, and general ledger data.

• Lead tax and compliance operations. Manage outside tax specialists and internal stakeholders for all tax related matters.

• Stand up systems and controls. Select, implement, or improve the finance stack across ERP, billing‑to‑cash, AP automation, payout tooling, tax engines, payroll, equity administration, and reporting.

• Own financial reporting and planning inputs. Run monthly financial reporting, cash visibility, actuals analysis, and operating metrics. Partner with the COO and fractional CFO on the quarterly forecast, annual budget, board and investor reporting, and equity and stock‑based‑compensation accounting, including ASC 718 and 409A coordination.

• Partner cross‑functionally. Work closely with engineering, product, data, legal, and operations to translate product and transaction logic into accounting policies, financial controls, and scalable reporting.

• Build the future team. Define the roadmap for when to hire versus automate across accounting operations, revenue accounting, tax, systems, and FP&A support, then recruit and lead that team as the company scales.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months

• Cash‑to‑accrual conversion completed, with a predictable monthly GAAP close and written accounting policies in place.

• Audit‑ready financial statements, support schedules, reconciliations, and process documentation delivered with external advisors.

• Revenue recognition, gross‑versus‑net conclusions, host payout accounting, customer credits, refunds, and marketplace reconciliations operating reliably at scale.

• Finance systems roadmap implemented across ERP, billing‑to‑cash, payouts, AP automation, tax compliance, payroll, equity administration, and reporting.

• Indirect‑tax compliance live across the jurisdictions that matter, with clear ownership between Vast.ai and outside tax specialists.

• Monthly reporting, cash visibility, forecast inputs, budget process, and unit‑economics reporting used by leadership for operating decisions.

• A practical hiring and automation roadmap in place for the next stage of finance team growth.

What We Need — Must-Haves

• Active CPA. CPA in good standing with strong technical accounting judgment and practical GAAP experience.

• Controller‑level operating experience. 8+ years in accounting and finance, including 2+ years at Controller, Assistant Controller, or equivalent senior accounting leadership level in a high‑growth company.

• Close and reporting ownership. Hands‑on experience owning or materially leading the monthly close, account reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and accounting operations in a private company environment.

• Marketplace or usage‑based business model exposure. Direct experience with a marketplace, platform, SaaS, usage‑based, fintech, payments, infrastructure, or other multi‑party transactional business.

• Revenue accounting foundation. Working knowledge of ASC 606, gross‑versus‑net principal‑agent analysis, deferred revenue, customer credits, refunds, payouts, and unit‑economics reporting.

• US indirect‑tax exposure. Practical experience with multi‑state US indirect‑tax compliance and the judgment to manage outside specialists effectively.

• Systems and data orientation. Comfort implementing or operating ERP, billing, payment, payout, payroll, tax, and reporting systems, and reconciling operational data to the general ledger.

• Automation‑first mindset. Demonstrated ability to use systems, AI tools, workflows, and controls to reduce manual work without sacrificing accuracy, auditability, or judgment.

• Builder mindset. A hands‑on operator who can move from blank page to operating reality, communicate clearly with non‑finance teams, and build structure without slowing the company down.

Strongly Preferred

• Public‑accounting experience at a Big 4, national, or top regional firm, paired with in‑house operating experience.

• 10–12 years of total accounting and finance experience, including time as the first or most senior in‑house accounting leader at a high‑growth company.

• Hands‑on experience leading or co‑leading a cash‑to‑accrual conversion and first‑audit readiness process.

• Marketplace‑facilitator analysis, international VAT and GST exposure, host/provider withholding, and 1099 and 1042‑S information reporting experience.

• Experience implementing or upgrading an ERP, plus tools such as Stripe, Adyen, Avalara, Vertex, TaxJar, Tipalti, Bill.com, Ramp, Brex, Rippling, Carta, or similar systems.

• Demonstrated use of AI and automation tooling in finance operations, especially AP automation, close management, reconciliations, exception review, or payout workflows.

• Equity and stock‑based‑compensation accounting experience, including ASC 718 and 409A coordination.

• Comfort working with SQL, data warehouses, BI tools, or product analytics teams to reconcile operational events to financial reporting.

On‑Site Expectations

This is a full‑time on‑site role based in Los Angeles. The role requires close collaboration with the COO, founders, engineering, product, data, and operations teams, especially during close, systems implementation, audit‑readiness, and tax‑compliance buildout.

Interview Process

After you apply, our team reviews your credentials. If selected, you will proceed through the following stages:

• 15 minutes: Initial screening, virtual.

• 45 minutes: Deep dive into Vast.ai’s business model, financials, and your background, virtual.

• 60 minutes: Structured technical case covering revenue recognition, marketplace reconciliations, and monthly financial reporting.

• 2 hours: On‑site working session with leadership based on a representative Vast.ai finance problem, with confidential or sensitive details redacted.

We aim to complete the interview process in about 2 to 4 weeks.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Meaningful early‑stage equity

• Onsite meals, snacks, and close collaboration with founders/tech leaders

• Ambitious, fast‑paced startup culture where initiative is rewarded