Controller / Director of Accounting (Austin,TX)

About Homeward Homeward takes the “what ifs” out of homebuying by creating financial products that give buyers and sellers certainty and convenience. We’re a fast-paced, remote-first real estate startup that partners with real estate agents to offer innovative products and services, helping clients buy with cash, sell with certainty, and time their move, regardless of the market. Founder and CEO Tim Heyl, owner of one of the fastest-growing agent teams in the country, started Homeward in 2018 to fix the antiquated and broken real estate process. Today, we offer bundled cash offers, mortgage, and title services in 13 states, enabling buyers and sellers to move with certainty and convenience. About the Opportunity As the Controller / Director of Accounting at Homeward, you will own all accounting operations at a high-growth company backed by leading investors. This is a high-impact leadership role that sits at the intersection of technical accounting rigor and strategic business partnership. You’ll drive the integrity of our financial reporting, build and mentor a high-performing team, and help shape the systems and processes that will carry us through our next stage of growth. You’ll report directly to the CFO and work in close partnership with FP&A, Legal, Product, Technology, and executive leadership. This is a role for someone who is equally comfortable in the weeds of a complex technical accounting question and discussing strategic problems with executive leadership. Due to current team needs, we are only accepting applicants based in the greater Austin area. What You’ll Do Financial Close & Reporting: Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes – ensuring they are timely, accurate, and continuously improving in efficiency. Prepare and review GAAP-compliant financial statements – including balance sheet, P&L, cash flow statement, and all required footnote disclosures. Deliver clear, insightful financial reporting packages to the CFO, executive team, and external parties on a regular cadence. Maintain a well-documented close calendar with accountability across the accounting team. Audit, Compliance, & Controls: Lead external audit relationships with our Big-4 firm and regional audit partners from planning through final issuance – on time and without significant findings. This includes the Consolidated Company GAAP Audit as well as Mortgage, Title, and 401k audits during the year. Ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements, lender covenants, and other reporting obligations. Establish, maintain, and continuously strengthen internal controls and accounting policies; build towards SOX-readiness as the company scales. Partner with an external tax firm on federal, state, and local tax compliance and planning. Technical Accounting: Serve as in-house technical accounting authority, providing guidance on complex areas including revenue recognition (ASC 606), leases (ASC 842), receivables (ASC 310), debt issuance costs (ASC 835), and warrant classification (ASC 815). Draft and maintain technical accounting memos and position papers to document judgments and conclusions. Stay current on new and proposed accounting standards and assess their impact on Homeward’s financial reporting. Business Partnership & Strategic Support: Partner closely with FP&A, Business Intelligence, Legal, Growth, Product, and Technology teams on budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, tool development, and more. Support cash flow management, banking and treasury functions, and working capital optimization. Provide accounting and financial due diligence support for potential financing transactions, partnerships, or other strategic initiatives. Translate complex accounting concepts for non-accounting audiences, enabling better business decisions across the company. People Leadership & Team Development: Lead, mentor, and develop an accounting team spanning staff accountants through Assistant Controller – cultivating a culture of excellence, ownership, and continuous learning. Set clear goals and provide regular, actionable feedback; support career development and retention of top talent. Build team capacity and structure to support Homeward’s growth, including hiring as needed. Systems, Processes, & Scalability: Drive process improvement and automation initiatives to increase the speed, accuracy, and scalability of accounting operations. Lead or support financial system integrations (NetSuite experience highly valued). Document and standardize accounting processes and policies to support a growing, distributed team. What You’ll Bring Required: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA strongly preferred. 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, with a mix of public accounting and industry experience. Proven track record leading and developing accounting teams in a high-growth environment. Deep knowledge of US GAAP, including experience navigating complex technical accounting matters. Experience managing external audits with Big-4 or equivalent firms. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to zoom out to the big picture. Excellent communicator – able to present financial information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. ERP proficiency; NetSuite experience strongly preferred. Familiarity with SOX compliance and internal control frameworks. Preferred: Experience in real estate, mortgage, fintech, or financial services industries. Background in private equity-backed or venture-backed companies. Experience with lender covenant reporting and compliance in a debt-financed business. Track record of leading or contributing to automation initiatives. Exposure to cash management in a capital-intensive business. Pay & Benefits Compensation: $170k - $180k base salary. Annual performance bonus eligibility. Meaningful equity grant – stock options with real upside potential. Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage – with company contributions towards premiums. Meaningful time off – including 20 days of paid vacation, 5 sick days, 12 company holidays, and 2 floating holidays. Generous paid parental leave of up to 13 weeks. 401(k) with employer contribution match. Remote-first work environment (our headquarters are in Austin, TX). Collaborative, low-ego team that values intellectual curiosity and continuous improvement. #J-18808-Ljbffr Homeward