Controller - Sports & Entertainment

Staff Financial Group; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company is looking for an Event Controller in Atlanta to manage financial operations for live sports and entertainment events. The role involves overseeing budgets, tracking expenses, reconciling finances, and collaborating with leadership teams. The ideal candidate will have over five years of finance experience in the events sector and a degree in Accounting or Finance. This position requires strong analytical and communication skills, along with proficiency in Excel and accounting systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience in sports or entertainment.
• Experience in developing and reconciling event budgets.
• Understanding of revenue recognition and cost tracking.

Responsibilities

• Manage comprehensive event budgets.
• Monitor event-related expenses in real time.
• Perform post-event reconciliations.

Skills

Budget management

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Event financial lifecycle management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Accounting/ERP systems

Job description

Event Controller – Sports & Entertainment

Who: Sports & Entertainment organization

What: Event Controller

When: ASAP

Where: Metro Atlanta, GA

Why: Growth

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented Event Controller to oversee financial operations for live sports and entertainment events. This individual will manage the full financial lifecycle of events—from initial budget creation through post-event reconciliation—while partnering closely with event operations, production, sponsorship, and leadership teams. The ideal candidate understands the financial complexities of ticketed live events, including vendor management, production costs, revenue tracking, and real-time expense monitoring.

• Build and manage comprehensive event budgets for live sports and entertainment productions.
• Track and monitor event-related expenses in real time to ensure alignment with approved financial plans.
• Perform detailed post-event reconciliations including ticket revenue, sponsorship income, production costs, and vendor payments.
• Partner with operations and executive leadership to forecast financial performance across the event calendar.
• Analyze budget variances and provide actionable insights to improve profitability.
• Establish and maintain financial controls for event spending and on-site processes.
• Prepare financial reports, summaries, and executive presentations.
• Support compliance requirements and external or internal audits as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of accounting or finance experience within sports, live events, entertainment, or production environments.
• Proven experience developing and reconciling event budgets from pre-production through final settlement.
• Strong understanding of revenue recognition, accrual accounting, and cost tracking in ticketed event environments.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting/ERP systems.
• Ability to manage multiple events simultaneously in a deadline-driven setting.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate cross-functionally.

If you’re interested in learning more about this opportunity or would like to discuss your qualifications, please apply now.