Assistant Controller

Duolingo, Inc; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 128,000 - 232,000; Full time

Job summary

Duolingo is seeking an Assistant Controller in Pittsburgh to lead the accounting team, ensuring compliance and supporting strategic initiatives. The role requires strong leadership and analytical skills, with a focus on collaboration across departments. Join a mission-driven organization that values innovation and education.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant accounting experience.
• Experience managing and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including month-end close.
• Lead and develop the core accounting team, fostering a culture of excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Bachelor’s degree in Finance

Tools

NetSuite

Blackline

Zip

Google Workspace

Job description

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!

At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about educating our users, experimenting with big ideas, making fact-based decisions, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities and daily collaborations with world-class minds — while doing work that’s both meaningful and fun.

Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.

Duolingo is looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and dynamic Assistant Controller to help scale a best-in-class accounting organization. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role will oversee accounting operations, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and support strategic financial initiatives.

To be successful in this role, the candidate should have deep expertise in US GAAP, strong leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate across teams. Success in this role requires adaptability in a fast-paced environment and a commitment to excellence.

This position is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and reports to the Corporate Controller.

You will...

1. Support all aspects of controllership, partnering closely with the Corporate Controller and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
2. Lead and develop the core accounting team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
3. Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
4. Champion automation and efficiency across the Accounting team to scale with the company’s growth, bringing a fresh perspective on what best-in-class looks like.
5. Manage internal and external auditor relationships to facilitate the completion of audit procedures in a timely and efficient manner.
6. Partner with other departments, including FP&A, Tax, and Legal, to support business initiatives and ensure seamless collaboration on close activities and financial reporting, and ensure alignment with financial reporting goals.
7. Ensure compliance with SOX controls and internal policies, maintaining strong governance and documentation.

You have...

1. Proven leadership experience, with a track record of mentoring and developing accounting teams.
2. Experience in high-growth environments, with the ability to adapt and optimize processes.
3. Ability to navigate complex accounting issues, applying strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
4. Strong collaboration skills, working effectively across finance, legal, and business teams.
5. Excellent organizational and project management abilities, balancing multiple priorities under deadlines.

Exceptional candidates will have...

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
2. Over 10 years of relevant accounting experience, including work in a large, complex industry organization.
3. Experience managing and developing teams.
4. Experience working in a public company and/or a Big 4 accounting firm.
5. Proficiency in NetSuite, Blackline, and Zip.
6. Familiarity with Google Workspace.
7. Experience in a fast-paced tech startup.

Take a peek at how we care for our employees' holistic well-being with our benefits here.

We will do everything we can within reason to make sure that your interview takes place in an environment that fairly and accurately assesses your skills. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics.

We post a multi-level salary range for all of our roles.

This is not inclusive of the rest of our portfolio that includes equity compensation and benefits. Our salary ranges are the same for all US locations. Your recruiter can share more details during the hiring process. The actual salary within the range depends on skills, experience, education, and internal factors.

Salary Range:

$128,000 — $231,600 USD

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