Director, Accounting and Controller

Hawkes Learning LLC

Charleston (SC)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 190,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Hawkes Learning LLC, a PE-backed EdTech company delivering mastery-based curriculum software to higher education, seeks a Controller to lead all accounting and financial operations and drive ERP implementation to scale with growth.

You will oversee general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, revenue recognition, audits, and internal controls while mentoring a three-person accounting team and partnering with executives to ensure timely, insightful financial reporting.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
7+ years of progressive accounting experience.
3+ years of accounting leadership or management experience.
Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
Experience leading month-end close and annual audit processes.
Experience implementing or upgrading accounting systems.
Strong proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively across departments and communicate with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Oversee all accounting operations, including general ledger and close.
Lead the selection, implementation, and optimization of a new accounting/ERP system.
Manage a team of three accounting professionals.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
Communicate with executive leadership and the Board on financial decisions.
Develop reporting and dashboard capabilities for meaningful insights.
Maintain internal controls and accounting policies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Excel proficiency

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA (preferred)

Tools

Accounting software

ERP systems

BI tools

Job description

Description

Reports To: CEO
Direct Reports: 3 Accounting Team Members (1 Full-Time, 2 Part-Time)

We are a growing PE backed EdTech company with $20 million and growing in annual revenue, serving the higher education market through innovative curriculum-based software solutions and selected print products. We are the fasting growing company in the space leveraging our learning approach, industry knowledge and extremely strong culture.

Since acquiring the business 3 year ago we have been investing in the business and showing consistent growth as we take share away from the legacy competitors. Combined with our leading Mastery Learning platform, our use of AI throughout the business and products has given us a unique competitive advantage. Our business has experienced consistent annual growth of $10-15%, and we are entering an exciting phase of operational transformation. We are modernizing our financial systems, improving business processes, and building the infrastructure necessary to support continued growth and need a leader to help drive these changes.

The Controller will be a key member of the executive team with responsible for leading all accounting and financial operations while helping build the systems, processes, and team needed to support a growing business. This role combines hands-on accounting leadership with strategic process improvement and technology implementation.

A successful candidate will oversee all accounting functions, manage a small accounting team, lead the implementation of a new accounting platform, modernize expense management and corporate credit card processes, and provide accurate and timely financial information to support decision-making.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate who enjoys both operational excellence and organizational growth and wants to make a meaningful impact in a PE backed growing company.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Accounting Operations

Oversee all accounting operations, including:

General ledger

Accounts payable & receivable

Payroll oversight

Revenue recognition

Inventory accounting

Month-end and year-end close processes

Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable financial regulations.

Manage annual audits and coordinate with external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners.

Maintain and strengthen internal controls and accounting policies.

Business Systems & Process Improvement

Lead the selection, implementation, and optimization of a new accounting/ERP system.

Redesign and improve accounting workflows and business expense policies to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Identify opportunities for automation and process improvements across finance, expense management, and accounting functions.

Oversee policy adjustments for credit cards, check requests, and approval processes.

Develop reporting and dashboard capabilities that provide meaningful business insights.

Team Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop a team of three accounting professionals.

Evaluate organizational structure and process improvements to reduce manual work through automation and system enhancements.

Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented culture.

Financial Planning & Business Partnership

Support executive team with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.

This role will be expected to communicate regularly not only with the executive team, but also with the Board as key strategic decisions are being made.