Financial Controller

Chili; São Paulo; On-site; BRL 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Strategic exposure

International team

Finance function growth

Job summary

Chili Digital is seeking a hands-on Financial Controller to lead finance across five entities in Brazil, Mexico, and Panama. You will partner with CEO, Sales Director, HR, and local accountants to ensure accurate reporting, strong controls, and scalable financial processes.

Bring 4+ years in senior finance roles, strong English, and expertise in Xero, Excel, and cross-border governance. This role offers strategic influence and growth within an international team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or related field (CPA or equivalent is a plus).
• Minimum 4 years as Financial Controller or senior finance management role.
• Proven experience managing full financial operations across multiple entities/countries.
• Advanced knowledge of tax and accounting regulations in Brazil; experience in Mexico/Panama is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the full financial operation across five entities (Brazil, Panama, Mexico; multiple entities per country).
• Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and month-end close.
• Develop cost controls, dashboards, and financial analysis to support leadership decisions.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and intercompany accounting across regions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Autonomous worker

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting

CPA or equivalent certification (a plus)

Tools

Xero

Excel/Google Sheets

Job description

Chili Digital is a performance-driven digital marketing agency operating across Latin America. We specialize in SEO, paid media, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and data-driven marketing strategies that maximize return on investment. Our approach is rooted in technical expertise and analytics, ensuring brands achieve sustainable growth through measurable results.

We are committed to fostering homegrown talent and helping the best companies in our region compete on a global scale while supporting international brands in thriving across Latin America.

Why Join Us?

Joining Chili Digital is an exciting opportunity if you’re looking for:

Strategic Impact: You will own the financial backbone of a fast-growing international agency and sit at the table for key business decisions.

Data-Driven Culture: Everything we do is measured. You’ll work with clear KPIs, real-time dashboards, and leadership that values numbers over opinions.

Collaborative Environment: You’ll work closely with leadership, Sales, HR, Legal, and Operations to turn financial insight into business action.

Growth Opportunities: As we scale across Brazil, Mexico, and Panama, you’ll have the chance to build and shape the finance function with us.

About the Role

The Financial Controller plays a strategic role in structuring and leading Chili Digital’s financial operations across our international footprint, with five legal entities: Brazil (2), Panama (2), and Mexico (1).

You will be the link between financial performance, operational health, and strategic goals. You’ll make sure Chili’s financial infrastructure is accurate, compliant, and scalable, and you’ll drive profitability, process optimization, and sustainable growth with full transparency and control.

You will report directly to our CEO and work closely with the Sales Director, HR Manager, Legal, and the local accountants in each country.

Ultimately, the Financial Controller at Chili is responsible for:

• Owning the full financial operation across all five entities, from budgeting and forecasting to reporting and compliance.
• Guaranteeing accurate, on-time financial reporting and month-end close.
• Protecting cash flow, liquidity, and financial stability in every region.
• Ensuring zero penalties, fines, or late filings with tax authorities and banks.
• Driving cost efficiency and automation across finance processes.
• Giving leadership clear, actionable financial insight for decision-making.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis across all entities.
• Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with growth and profitability goals.
• Deliver quarterly budgets for all departments and run monthly budget vs. actual reviews with each department lead.
• Update and circulate revised forecasts monthly, with documented approval from department leads.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction initiatives, including regular audits of subscriptions and recurring expenses.

Accounting Operations & Reporting

Manage all accounting operations: billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, cost accounting, revenue recognition, intercompany accounting, reconciliations, and monthly and annual close.

Prepare P&L statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, forecasts, and audit documentation.

Issue all recurring client invoices on time each month and actively reduce days sales outstanding (DSO).

Deliver monthly financial dashboards to the executive team covering KPIs, cash position, margin analysis, and risk exposure.

Tax, Compliance & Regulatory

Ensure all tax, regulatory, and compliance obligations in Brazil, Mexico, and Panama are met on time (e.g. INSS, FGTS, IVA, ISR, IMSS).

Manage and coordinate external accountants in all three countries, holding them accountable for monthly submissions, reconciliations, and tax and labour compliance.

Maintain full compliance with local GAAP and applicable accounting standards.

Make sure financial systems and documents are protected in line with LGPD, GDPR, and other applicable data-privacy laws.

Internal Controls, Audit & Risk

Establish, monitor, and enforce internal controls, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and fraud prevention.

Conduct quarterly internal audits with written reports, identified gaps, and corrective actions.

Prepare documentation for external audits, aiming for no material findings.

Perform financial risk analysis, manage liabilities and investments, and monitor FX exposure with mitigation strategies.

Lead financial due diligence on potential partners, suppliers, service providers, and M&A opportunities, including tax-exposure validation.

Systems, Automation & Process

Implement and optimize accounting software and financial tools (e.g. Xero).

Implement at least one financial automation per quarter (e.g. bank reconciliation, reporting, payment tracking), with documented time and error savings.

Develop, maintain, and enforce finance SOPs across all entities: monthly close, invoicing, tax obligations, and internal controls.

Manage finance tasks and approvals in ClickUp with zero overdue items.

Present financial reports and strategic recommendations to leadership.

Collaborate with Marketing, HR, SEO, PPC, and Operations to align financial planning with business objectives.

Train and support junior finance team members, ensuring knowledge transfer across regions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (CPA or equivalent certification is a plus).
• Minimum 4 years of experience in a Financial Controller or senior finance management role.
• Proven experience managing full financial operations independently, across multiple entities and/or countries.
• Strong knowledge of tax and accounting regulations in Brazil; experience with Mexico and/or Panama is a major plus.
• Advanced knowledge of financial principles, internal controls, and accounting standards (local GAAP).
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g. Xero) and advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, VBA).
• Experience implementing financial automations and dashboards is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills for presenting to leadership and managing external accountants.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple deadlines.
• Advanced English proficiency is required; Spanish is a plus.

• Competitive compensation package.
• Direct involvement in strategic decision-making and financial planning.
• Opportunity to collaborate with an international team (Brazil, Mexico, and Panama).
• Opportunity to build and scale the finance function of a growing agency.

This Financial Controller role is ideal for a hands-on, strategic finance leader who thrives on ownership, accuracy, and building scalable processes. If you have a proven track record of running multi-entity finance operations and delivering measurable results, we’d love to hear from you!

Participating in our selection process is completely free of charge. We never request payments or require any courses as a condition to apply.

If you receive any message suggesting otherwise, please be aware that it is not associated with Chili Digital or our recruitment process.