Controller

Professional Search Group; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Professional Search Group is helping a fast-growing, PE-backed financial services firm in San Diego hire a permanent Controller to own the accounting function and build the infrastructure for the next growth phase.

The Controller reports to the CFO and Managing Partner, leading a small, hands-on accounting team and partnering with the executive team and investor partners on strategic financial direction.

Qualifications

• CPA and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field are required.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including Controller-level leadership.
• Strong US GAAP knowledge applied in a multi-entity environment.
• Proven ownership of external audits from planning to resolution.
• Experience with system implementations or migrations.
• Exposure to private equity-backed or acquisitive environments.
• Public accounting background / Big 4 preferred.
• Advanced Excel and comfort with multiple systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-, quarter-, and year-end closes across multiple entities under US GAAP.
• Oversee technical accounting areas including revenue, leases, equity compensation, and acquisitions.
• Manage external audit relationships from planning to findings resolution.
• Develop policies, procedures, and internal controls to scale with growth.
• Evaluate finance systems landscape and potential ERP transition.
• Oversee cash, liquidity, working capital, and lender relationships.
• Oversee tax compliance with external advisors across federal, state, payroll, and sales/use.

Skills

US GAAP expertise

Multi-entity leadership

Audit ownership

ERP/system migrations

Private equity exposure

Big 4 experience

Advanced Excel

Education

CPA

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Tools

ERP systems

Consolidation software

Job description

A fast-growing, private equity-backed financial services firm headquartered in San Diego is looking to hire a Controller to join their team. The firm has scaled quickly, both organically and through acquisition, and is on track to nearly double revenue over the next two years. They are hiring a permanent Controller to take full ownership of the accounting function and build the infrastructure behind the next phase of growth.

This is a true seat at the table. The Controller reports directly to the CFO and Managing Partner, works closely with the executive team and investor partners, and leads a small, hands-on accounting team.

What You’ll Own

• The month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close across multiple entities, delivering clean, timely financials under US GAAP
• Technical accounting positions, including revenue, leases, equity compensation, and acquisition accounting such as purchase price allocations and earn-outs
• The external audit relationship from planning through resolution of findings
• Policies, procedures, and internal controls that hold up as the firm scales
• Evaluation of the finance systems landscape, including a potential ERP transition and the chart of accounts and data work that comes with it
• Cash, liquidity, and working capital oversight, plus lender and banking support alongside the CFO
• Tax compliance oversight with outside advisors across federal, state, payroll, and sales and use
• An honest assessment of the current team, then a plan to develop it and add headcount as the business grows

What You Bring

• CPA and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including time as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or equivalent senior accounting leader
• Strong US GAAP knowledge applied hands-on in a multi-entity environment
• Proven ownership of the external audit from start to finish
• Experience with systems implementations or migrations
• Exposure to private equity-backed or acquisitive environments
• Public accounting background / Big 4 preferred
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working across multiple systems