Controller | Hypergrowth AI Data Company in CT

Ember Search; Connecticut; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Ember Search, a fast-growing AI data company backed by top-tier investors, is hiring its first in-house Controller. You will partner with the CFO to design and build the accounting function from scratch.

Bring the books in-house, establish monthly closes in Campfire, and prepare for the first external audit, building records suitable for investor scrutiny during a major raise. This hands-on role requires 8+ years of accounting experience (Big 4/public), in-house scaling experience, and a track

Qualifications

• 8+ years of accounting experience, starting in Big 4 or public accounting.
• In-house experience at a fast-growing, investor-backed company, ideally in data, AI, fintech or software.
• Has reported to a controller who built an accounting function and is now ready to step up as the most senior accountant.
• Track record of building processes, controls and a month-end close from scratch.
• Experience preparing a company for audit, ideally a first-time audit.
• Comfortable working hands-on as an individual contributor.
• Thrives in an intense, fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Bring the books in-house from an outside accounting firm and own accounting end to end.
• Build processes, controls and a reliable monthly close on Campfire, a modern AI-native ERP.
• Prepare the company for its first external audit, including rebuilding records from its early years.
• Keep the books accurate and investor-ready ahead of a major institutional raise.
• Give leadership clear, accurate data and help scale internal reporting, controls and investor relations.
• Build a small team as the company grows.

Skills

Accounting

Big 4 experience

In-house accounting

Month-end close

Audit preparation

Investor relations

Tools

Campfire ERP

Job description

Ember Search has been retained on a Controller search for a fast-growing AI data company backed by top-tier investors.

Revenue has grown roughly 5x this year to around $10M, with $30M+ forecast for 2027. All of it has come from inbound demand, with no website, no marketing and no outbound sales.

The company turns hard-to-find information into simple products that businesses and AI systems rely on to make better decisions. Its model is highly scalable, with strong margins, and it serves both public and private sector customers. It is led by a small, highly experienced leadership team and is preparing for a major institutional raise.

The Role

As the company’s first accounting hire, you will build the accounting function from the ground up, working directly with the CFO.

You will:

• Bring the books in-house from an outside accounting firm and own accounting end to end
• Build processes, controls and a reliable monthly close on Campfire, a modern AI-native ERP
• Prepare the company for its first external audit, including rebuilding records from its early years
• Keep the books accurate and investor-ready ahead of a major institutional raise
• Give leadership clear, accurate data and help scale internal reporting, controls and investor relations
• Build a small team as the company grows

This is a hands-on build role at a company where clean numbers underpin its next raise and its first audit.

Candidate Profile

• 8+ years of accounting experience, starting in Big 4 or public accounting
• In-house experience at a fast-growing, investor-backed company, ideally in data, AI, fintech or software
• Has reported to a controller who built an accounting function and is now ready to step up as the most senior accountant
• Track record of building processes, controls and a month-end close from scratch
• Experience preparing a company for audit, ideally a first-time audit
• Comfortable working hands-on as an individual contributor
• Thrives in an intense, fast-moving, mission-driven environment

Why This Role

This is a rare chance to be the first accounting hire at a company growing roughly 5x a year, while it is still small enough for one person to shape the whole function. You will build accounting exactly the way it should be built, take the company through its first institutional raise and first audit, and work directly with the CFO and CEO. Because you would be joining so early, the role comes with a compelling equity offering. As the company scales, you will have room to build and lead a team and to broaden your scope across finance.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Ember Search and our client are equal opportunity employers. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected status.