Fractional Controller

A Little Spice Goes a Long Way Paprika Partners is a boutique financial firm built for a new generation of business owners. The ambitious owner-operators, the diverse founders, and the unconventional builders who deserve the same quality of financial partnership as the big guys. We provide bookkeeping, accounting, advisory, and fractional CFO services for businesses ranging from $2M-$20M in revenue. We're not a corporate shop. We move fast, we think in systems, we geek out on AI and technology, and we show up as real human beings who genuinely care whether our clients win. Our team is small, deeply collaborative, and building something we're all proud of, and we're looking for someone who wants to be part of that. The Role As a Fractional Controller at Paprika Partners, you’ll be a senior financial lead for a portfolio of owner-operated businesses. You’ll own the client relationship, oversee the quality and accuracy of the accounting function, and help founders understand what their numbers are really telling them. This is a senior role, but it is not a “review from a distance” role. The right person can move comfortably between high-level financial strategy and hands-on execution. One moment you may be advising a founder on cash flow, margins, or hiring decisions. The next, you may be reviewing journal entries, tightening month-end close, cleaning up a balance sheet, or helping resolve an AP/AR issue that needs real judgment. You’ll report directly to the founder and lead principal of the firm and work closely with Accounting Managers, Staff Accountants, Bookkeepers, and FP&A team members. This role will not directly manage other team members, but it will be expected to guide work, review deliverables, raise standards, provide technical direction, and help ensure nothing falls through the cracks. This is a seat for someone who has formal accounting training, real private-company experience, and the mindset of an owner/operator. You know what strong accounting looks like, but you also understand that business owners need clarity, practicality, and judgment, not just technically correct financial statements. What You'll Do Client Relationship Owner Serve as the primary relationship owner for a dedicated portfolio of approximately 5–8 clients Build strong, trusted relationships with founders, owners, and leadership teams Understand each client’s business model, goals, pain points, and financial drivers Lead recurring client meetings, including monthly and quarterly financial reviews Translate accounting and financial data into clear, practical recommendations Proactively identify risks, opportunities, process gaps, and decision points Help clients make better decisions around cash flow, profitability, hiring, pricing, growth, and operational efficiency Maintain a high standard of responsiveness, professionalism, and follow-through across all client relationships Accounting Oversight & Execution Oversee full-cycle accounting for multiple client accounts Ensure client books are accurate, complete, timely, and useful for decision-making Review and/or prepare: Monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, Balance sheet reconciliations, General ledger activity, Journal entries and accruals, AP and AR workflows, Cash flow reports, Month-end close packages Identify and resolve accounting issues before they become client-facing problems Maintain compliance with GAAP and applicable accounting standards Review work prepared by Accounting Managers, Staff Accountants, and Bookkeepers as needed Guide the team on technical accounting questions, workflow improvements, and client-specific accounting treatment Step in directly when needed to execute accounting work, clean up messy books, or move a client deliverable across the finish line Advisory, Analysis & FP&A Partnership Partner with FP&A team members to connect accounting results with forward-looking analysis Help ensure financial reporting, forecasting, and advisory work are aligned Support budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning, and profitability analysis Interpret trends, margins, KPIs, and financial performance for business owners Help clients understand the “why” behind the numbers, not just the numbers themselves Provide practical recommendations grounded in accurate accounting and real business context Customize reporting and analysis based on each client’s industry, goals, and operating model Process, Systems & Standards Improve accounting workflows, close processes, documentation, and reporting standards Help standardize best practices across client accounts while recognizing that each business is different Use technology to improve accuracy, efficiency, and visibility Work confidently across QuickBooks Online, Xero, Google Sheets, Excel, Bill.com, and various ERP systems Help build scalable systems that support better client service and a stronger internal team Maintain clear documentation so work can be understood, reviewed, and repeated What We're Looking For 8–12 years of progressive accounting experience Experience in both public accounting and private accounting CPA strongly preferred Strong technical accounting foundation and working knowledge of GAAP Experience serving business owners, leadership teams, or multiple client accounts Strong understanding of full-cycle accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, AP, AR, journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals Ability to operate as both a strategic advisor and a hands-on doer Strong client service instincts and relationship management skills Ability to communicate clearly with non-financial stakeholders Strong business acumen and the ability to think like an owner/operator High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture Strong organizational and time management skills Ability to manage multiple clients, priorities, deadlines, and moving pieces at once Proactive problem-solving mindset Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative, entrepreneurial environment Strong proficiency with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Google Sheets, Excel, and Bill.com Experience working in or around ERP systems Familiarity with outsourced accounting, fractional CFO, advisory, or multi-client service environments is a plus What Success Looks Like Clients see you as their trusted financial partner, not just their accountant Client books are accurate, timely, and decision-ready Month-end close processes are clean, consistent, and well-managed Accounting issues are identified and resolved proactively Client meetings are clear, useful, and grounded in real business insight Accounting and FP&A work are aligned, practical, and valuable Internal team members feel supported by your guidance and review The founder can trust you to own client relationships, maintain standards, guide the work, and raise the level of the firm You bring both technical rigor and practical judgment to every client engagement You contribute to a team culture where people invest in each other’s growth and enjoy working together Why Paprika Partners We built the firm we wished existed. One with deep expertise but without the stiffness. One that picks up the phone, knows your team by name, and truly cares whether you win. Working here means: Competitive salary: $150,000 Employer-paid health insurance: we cover 100% of the employee premium. 401(k) with employer contribution Competitive PTO Paid parental leave Hybrid schedule: 3 days/week in our Roseville, CA office Real agency over your client relationships and input in the direction of the firm A people-first, inclusive, passionate team building a culture we’re proud to be part of AI-empowered workflows and a team that invests in staying ahead of the curve THE NAME PAPRIKA WASN'T ACCIDENTAL. A SPICE DOESN'T TAKE OVER THE DISH. IT BRINGS OUT WHAT'S ALREADY THERE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. #J-18808-Ljbffr