Director of Accounting and Controller

Hawkes Learning, LLC; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Hawkes Learning, LLC is seeking a Controller to lead all accounting and financial operations for a PE-backed EdTech company with strong growth. You will build and align systems, processes, and a three-person accounting team to support scalable growth and robust financial reporting.

You will oversee GAAP-compliant close processes, audits, and financial planning while partnering with executives to drive strategic decisions.

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 significantly 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 effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounting operations, including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, revenue recognition, inventory accounting, and close processes.
• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure GAAP compliance and coordinate audits with external advisors and banks.
• Lead the selection, implementation, and optimization of a new accounting/ERP system.
• Redesign accounting workflows and expense policies to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Develop reporting dashboards to provide meaningful business insights.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of three accounting professionals.
• Collaborate with leadership across departments on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Monitor profitability and operating performance to support growth initiatives.
• Oversee inventory accounting for print products and warehouse management.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Excel proficiency

communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Accounting systems

ERP systems

Job description

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.
• 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.
• Provide financial analysis to support strategic decisions.
• Partner with leadership across sales, operations, product, fulfillment, and customer success.
• Monitor key business metrics, profitability, and operating performance.
• Support growth initiatives and operational scaling efforts.

Inventory & Operations Support

• Oversee accounting processes related to print products and warehouse inventory.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation and controls.
• Partner with operations to improve inventory reporting and management.

Qualifications

Required

• 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 significantly 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 effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience in software, SaaS, EdTech, publishing, or technology-enabled businesses.
• Experience with inventory and warehouse accounting.
• Experience scaling financial operations in growing companies ranging from $10M-$50M in revenue.
• Experience with business intelligence and reporting tools.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12-18 Months

• Successfully lead the implementation of a modern accounting system.
• Improve financial reporting timeliness and accuracy.
• Streamline accounting workflows through automation and process improvement.
• Increase organizational visibility into financial and operational performance.
• Build a scalable finance and accounting function capable of supporting continued double-digit growth.

Compensation

Competitive salary plus benefits, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Equity will also be part of the compensation package.