Controller

Dave Steineke Executive Search; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 258,000 - 304,000; Full time

Job summary

The company is building the next generation of cybersecurity through autonomous offensive security. As Controller in San Francisco you will lead a scalable finance operating model for a high-growth SaaS business, owning accounting foundation and partnering with Finance and the wider team.

You will shape policies, strengthen close, implement systems, and develop a high-performing team (12 reports). This role blends strategy and execution, requiring hands-on leadership, rigorous controls, and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including meaningful controllership responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or equivalent experience preferred.
• Experience operating in a high-growth SaaS, technology, or recurring-revenue environment.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit management.
• Demonstrated experience owning or significantly improving the close, forecast, cash-management, and financial-reporting processes.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close process, including timelines, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and management reporting.
• Lead the preparation of accurate financial statements and reporting packages in accordance with US GAAP.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls for a scaling SaaS company.
• Oversee revenue recognition, deferred revenue, commissions, expense accounting, fixed assets, leases, equity accounting, and other complex areas.
• Manage the annual audit, tax and compliance coordination, and relationships with external accounting partners.
• Build a strong control environment and improve audit readiness as the company scales.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong analytical skills

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance

CPA or equivalent preferred

Tools

ERP systems (NetSuite/Oracle)

Revenue recognition systems

Automation tools

Job description

Position: Controller

Reports to: CFO

Compensation: $258k - $304k + 20% bonus + equity

Company:

The company is building the next generation of cybersecurity through autonomous offensive security. Their platform helps organizations identify and prioritize exploitable risk so they can act before attackers do.

$165 million ARR with projected revenue growth of 6x by April 2028.

They just raised $250 million (current valuation $2 Billion)

The company is still private (IPO readiness will be important).

For someone who is high energy and driven this could be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity.

The opportunity:

We are looking for a hands-on, systems-oriented Controller to build and lead a scalable finance operating model for a high-growth SaaS business. You will own the company’s accounting foundation while partnering across Finance and the broader business to improve planning, controls, cash visibility, and operational decision-making.

This role is ideal for a finance leader who can move comfortably between strategy and execution: setting the right policies and processes, strengthening the close, implementing systems, and developing a high-performing team (12 reports)

What you’ll do:

Corporate accounting and controllership

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close process, including timelines, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, and management reporting.
• Lead the preparation of accurate financial statements and reporting packages in accordance with US GAAP.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls appropriate for a scaling SaaS company.
• Oversee revenue recognition, deferred revenue, commissions, expense accounting, fixed assets, leases, equity accounting, and other complex areas as applicable.
• Manage the annual audit, tax and compliance coordination, and relationships with external accounting partners.
• Build a strong control environment and improve audit readiness as the company scales.

Planning, analysis, and business partnership:

• Partner with the CFO and finance leadership on annual planning, rolling forecasts, long-range planning, and scenario analysis.
• Improve visibility into revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, cash flow, headcount, and key SaaS metrics.
• Translate financial data into clear insights and recommendations for business leaders.
• Support investment decisions, operating reviews, board materials, and other high-priority finance initiatives.

Treasury and finance operations:

• Own cash management, liquidity forecasting, banking relationships, payment processes, and working-capital visibility.
• Strengthen procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, expense management, and other core finance workflows.
• Partner with People, Legal, Sales, Operations, and other teams to ensure accurate and timely financial processes.
• Establish scalable policies for purchasing, approvals, spend management, and financial accountability.

Systems, process, and team leadership

• Look for opportunities to introduce AI into Accounting workflows. Suggest ways to remove HITL and automate processes. Identify opportunities to adopt agentic workflows.
• Assess and evolve the company’s accounting, planning, billing, expense, and reporting systems.
• Lead automation and process improvements that reduce manual work, improve data quality, and accelerate close and reporting cycles.
• Document critical processes and create clear ownership, controls, and operating cadences.
• Hire, coach, and develop a strong accounting and finance operations team as the function grows.
• Set a high bar for accuracy, follow-through, judgment, and service to internal stakeholders.

What we’re looking for

• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including meaningful controllership responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or equivalent experience preferred.
• Experience operating in a high-growth SaaS, technology, or recurring-revenue environment.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit management.
• Demonstrated experience owning or significantly improving the close, forecast, cash-management, and financial-reporting processes.
• Experience implementing or optimizing ERP, planning, billing, expense, and reporting systems.
• A track record of automating manual workflows and building scalable processes from the ground up.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to connect accounting detail to business outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with executives and cross-functional partners.
• A practical, high-judgment, hands-on leadership style with a bias toward action.

Success in this role

In your first 12 months, you will:

• Deliver a timely, accurate, and well-controlled monthly close.
• Create a clear, scalable operating model across accounting, planning, treasury, and finance operations.
• Improve the quality and accessibility of financial and operating reporting.
• Reduce manual work through better systems, automation, and documented processes.
• Strengthen cash-flow forecasting and financial visibility for the CFO and leadership team.
• Build trusted relationships across the business and develop the team needed for the next stage of growth.
• Help shape the finance function at a mission-driven cybersecurity company with significant growth ahead.
• Work directly with the CFO and executive team on decisions that matter to the business.
• Build systems and processes that will scale with the company rather than inherit a finished playbook.
• Partner with talented, entrepreneurial colleagues who value ownership, speed, and thoughtful execution.