Controller

Meow; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Meow is seeking a Controller to own finance and financial operations across the company. You will be responsible for the accuracy of the books, the control environment, and the reporting used by the board and leadership.

You will direct outsourced partners, determine what to bring in-house, and build processes and systems for scalable finance in a fast-moving fintech. This hands-on role requires ownership of payroll, tax, audits, and financial planning and reporting as the company grows.

Qualifications

• Strong command of US GAAP and related financial reporting.
• Experience leading a financial statement audit and SOC 1 or SOX controls work.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-moving team environment.
• Experience managing outsourced bookkeepers or accounting firms.
• Hands-on payroll and benefits administration experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage outsourced bookkeepers: set close calendar, review monthly close, sign off on statements.
• Review revenue recognition and GAAP judgments for accuracy.
• Ensure reconciliations for all balance sheets; decide what to move in-house.
• Lead SOC 1 readiness and external auditor coordination.

Skills

US GAAP knowledge

Audit leadership

Financial reporting

SOX controls experience

Autonomy

Startup/scale-up finance

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Gusto

Rippling

Justworks

Excel

Job description

About Meow

Meow is a business banking platform that brings checking, corporate cards, global payments, treasury, invoicing, and accounting integrations into a single dashboard. Startups, small and mid-sized businesses, investment funds, and international companies use Meow to run their finances in one place. Banking services are provided by FDIC-insured partner banks; Meow Technologies is a financial technology company, not a bank.

About the role

Meow is hiring a Controller to own finance and financial operations across the company. You'll be accountable for the accuracy of our books, our control environment, our financial audit and SOC 1, payroll and benefits, tax, and the reporting our board and leadership use to run the business.

Today we run lean: outsourced bookkeepers handle day-to-day accounting and the monthly close, and outside CPAs handle tax. You'll direct these partners, decide what to bring in-house, and build the processes, policies, and systems our finance function needs as we grow. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants full ownership of finance at a fast-moving fintech.

What you'll do

Accounting and close

• Manage our outsourced bookkeepers: set the close calendar, review each monthly close, and sign off on the financial statements
• Review revenue recognition and other key accounting judgments for accuracy and GAAP compliance
• Make sure every balance sheet account is reconciled and supported each month
• Evaluate over time which accounting work should move in-house

Audit and SOC 1

• Serve as the primary contact for our external financial auditors, preparing PBC lists and schedules and supporting fieldwork
• Own SOC 1 readiness and the annual examination: document controls, coordinate testing, and remediate findings
• Design and maintain internal controls, including approval limits, segregation of duties, and finance policies

Payroll and benefits

• Administer payroll, including approvals, employee records, and accurate tax withholdings and filings
• Administer health insurance and benefits, including open enrollment, broker and carrier relationships, and employee questions
• Ensure payroll and benefits are recorded correctly in the books

Tax and corporate compliance

• Manage outside CPAs on federal and state income tax, R&D credits, Delaware franchise tax, and state registrations
• Own 1099 filings and keep entities in good standing, including annual reports and registered agents

Reporting and planning

• Produce monthly management reports and the financials for board meetings and investor updates
• Own budgeting and forecasting, and track profitability, margins, and cash flow
• Lead finance diligence for fundraising and strategic partnerships

Finance operations

• Oversee accounts payable, vendor payments, corporate cards, and expense management
• Maintain stock compensation accounting, coordinate 409A valuations, and keep the cap table tied to the books
• Manage corporate insurance renewals, including D&O, E&O, and cyber
• Own the finance tool stack and automate manual processes

What you'll bring

• 6+ years of accounting experience, including public accounting and time as a controller or assistant controller at a startup or growth-stage company
• Strong command of US GAAP, including revenue recognition (ASC 606) and stock compensation (ASC 718)
• Experience leading a financial statement audit and SOC 1 or SOX controls work
• Hands-on experience administering payroll and benefits platforms such as Gusto, Rippling, or Justworks
• Experience managing outsourced bookkeepers or accounting firms
• Advanced proficiency with QuickBooks Online
• Comfort working autonomously on a fast-moving team

Nice to have

• CPA license
• Experience in fintech, banking, or payments
• Experience with treasury or cash management
• A track record of building finance processes from scratch
• Curiosity about AI systems and hands-on interest in using them to automate and improve Meow's financial processes