Controller

The Brand Guild; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 71,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Professional development stipend

Job summary

The Brand Guild in Washington, DC seeks a part-time Controller to own financial reporting, controls, and cash management for our DC office. This role oversees our part-time bookkeeper and ensures accurate monthly closes in a hybrid, 60-hour-per-month engagement.

You bring 7+ years of accounting leadership, QuickBooks Online proficiency, and a CPA track. Experience in a PR/marketing agency setting is a plus.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience with controller-level responsibility.
• Experience supervising or reviewing work by a bookkeeper or staff accountant.
• CPA license or CPA-track is a plus, not required.
• Strong working knowledge of services-agency financials (retainer billing, project revenue).
• Demonstrated ability to own monthly close processes independently.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly close process and approve journal entries.
• Prepare monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow).
• Maintain and review department-level P&Ls across eight service departments.
• Monitor cash position and forecast cash flow weekly.
• Review AP disbursements and payroll funding; establish internal controls.

Skills

Close process

Financial reporting

Bookkeeper supervision

Internal controls

Revenue recognition

Education

CPA license or CPA-track

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Sage Expense Management

Job description

The Brand Guild is an award-winning, mid-sized integrated communications agency with offices in Washington D.C. and NYC. and we are looking for an energetic, organized and proactive individual to join our team as a Part-time Controller in our DC office. We're looking for an experienced, hands-on Part-Time Controller to own our financial reporting, controls, and cash management, and to directly oversee our part-time bookkeeper.

Note: This is a part-time, fractional engagement requiring 60 hours of support a month (weekly hour requirement may vary based on time of month). This is a hybrid position with some in office days required (~2-3 times/month).

You Are Someone Who

• Owns the numbers. You are comfortable being the final reviewer on the books, not just an input provider
• Enjoys building and tightening process, especially around close, controls, and reporting
• Can operate independently with minimal oversight while keeping leadership informed
• Is comfortable managing a bookkeeper's day-to-day work and holding that work to a high standard
• Is comfortable upskilling and supporting bookkeeper to their full potential
• Communicates clearly with finance and non-finance stakeholders including department heads, the SVP of Operations, fraction CFO, and Co-CEOs.
• Is discreet and trustworthy with sensitive financial and payroll information

You Will

Financial Reporting & Close

• Own the monthly close process; review and approve journal entries prepared or entered by the bookkeeper
• Prepare monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) for leadership
• Maintain and review department-level P&Ls across TBG's eight service departments

Cash Management & Controls

• Monitor weekly cash position and rolling cash flow forecasts
• Review and approve AP disbursements and payroll funding prepared by the bookkeeper
• Establish and maintain internal controls over billing, collections, and vendor payments
• Review client billing accuracy and support collections escalations on overdue accounts
• Oversight of retainer, project, and client reimbursable expenses invoicing

Bookkeeper Oversight

• Manage and directly supervise the part-time bookkeeper's day-to-day transactional work (AP/AR entry, bank reconciliations, data entry)
• Review reconciliations and transactional entries for accuracy before closeSet priorities and cadence for the bookkeeper's weekly workload

Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Coordinate with The Brand Guild's external CPA/tax preparer on timely tax filings (sales tax, payroll tax)
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support any external audit or review
• Help ensure compliance with multi-jurisdiction payroll and tax requirements as applicable

Systems & Process

• Maintain and improve accounting system architecture (Quickbooks and Sage Expense Management) and ensure tools and technology supports scaling company needs.
• Recommend process improvements to reduce close time and reporting errors

What You Bring

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including prior Controller-level responsibility
• Experience managing or reviewing the work of a bookkeeper or staff accountant
• Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks (Online)
• Experience with services-agency financials: retainer billing, project-based revenue, or professional-services revenue recognition
• Demonstrated experience owning a monthly close process independently
• CPA license or CPA-track background (a plus, not required)
• Prior experience in a PR, marketing, advertising, or events agency

Why You'll Love Working Here

• People-first culture: A supportive, high-energy team that values creativity, collaboration, and balance
• Professional development: Annual stipend, training programs, and mentorship opportunities
• Hybrid flexibility that fosters connection and creativity
• Exciting clients: Work with best-in-class brands in our F&B portfolio

The Brand Guild is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. If you require accommodations during the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].