Controller

Confidential - AI Startup; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential - AI Startup seeks a hands-on Controller to lead accounting and finance operations. This newly created role partners with the CFO and CEO to provide robust financial reporting for leadership and the Board, while building out the financial infrastructure to support rapid growth.

The Controller will own day‑to‑day accounting, manage revenue recognition and month‑end close, and drive budgeting/forecasting, cost analysis, and internal controls in a fast-paced, AI‑driven startup

Qualifications

• Must have strong operational accounting and budgeting/forecasting experience.
• Experience in start-up tech environments is highly valued.
• Hands-on with financial automation and AI-enabled workflows is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own accounting operations including AR, AP, Payroll, GL, revenue recognition, month-end close.
• Prepare financial statements and reports for leadership and the Board.
• Manage full cycle revenue, AR, billing, and collections.
• Oversee AP and employee expense reimbursements; implement procurement processes.
• Partner with CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.

Skills

Operational accounting

Budgeting/Forecasting

Start-up experience

Education

CPA preferred

Tools

QuickBooks

Excel

Job description

CONTROLLER

Growing start up AI company is seeking a hands‑on Controller to join their expanding team. This is a newly created position to lead the company's accounting/finance operation and help build out the financial infrastructure to support the company's growth. The Controller will partner with the CFO, CEO and provide financial reporting for the leadership and the Board.

Responsibilities

• Own accounting operations including AR, AP, Payroll, GL, revenue recognition, month-end close


• Prepare financial statements and financial reports for the leadership and the Board of Directors


• Manage full cycle revenue, AR, billing, and collections


• Manage AP and employee expense reimbursements; implement and oversee procurement process


• Partner with the CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and budget-to-actuals analysis, financial reporting, operating metrics


• Support board and investor reporting, including gross margin tracking, cost structure analysis, unit economics tracking, and scenario planning


• Oversee tax implications of projects and ensure proper tax registrations, filings, and payments,


• Design and maintain internal controls; implement and maintain expense policies

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience, CPA highly preferred


• Experience with strong operational accounting and finance (budgets/forecast)


• Experience in start-up tech companies


• QuickBooks and strong Excel skills


• Comfortable working in a fast paced and ambiguity of an early-stage company


• Demonstrated interest in AI tools and their application to finance work preferred


• Mercury or Ramp (or other spend-management platforms)


• Hands‑on experience building AI-assisted automations in a finance or accounting