Financial Controller

Empathy; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Premium healthcare

401(k) with up to 4% match

Annual retreats

Team lunches at NYC office

Remote employee stipend

Job summary

Empathy, a mission-driven company in New York City, is seeking a seasoned Payroll & Finance Partner to lead US payroll and cross-border compensation initiatives. You will partner with our PEO/EOR, ensure multi-state tax compliance, and drive data-driven insights across Finance, Ops, and Revenue.

Based in NYC, the role combines hands-on payroll work with strategic finance responsibilities and a hybrid office schedule.

Qualifications

• CPA or CPA-track candidate.
• Experience in a startup, high-growth, or SaaS environment.
• Familiarity with expense platforms or close software.
• Experience with international payroll or working with global EOR/PEO partners.
• Comfort with multi-state tax environments and evolving compliance needs.
• This role will be based in NYC and able to work from our Flatiron office 3x per week.

Responsibilities

• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Maintain the general ledger and ensure accuracy of financial data across departments.
• Support the preparation of internal financial reports, forecasting processes, and variance analyses.
• Lead US payroll processing, ensuring timely and accurate payroll runs, in coordination with our PEO and internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with our PEO on all finance-related matters, including benefits reporting, payroll adjustments, and compliance.
• Manage state and local tax filings and registrations where self-service is required.
• Act as a finance partner to our Employer of Record (EOR) and other external providers supporting our global workforce.
• Support the design, administration, and analysis of incentive compensation plans across multiple functions, including Sales, Customer Success, and other GTM teams.
• Partner closely with RevOps and business stakeholders on Salesforce-related processes, data quality, reporting, and operational workflows.
• Collaborate with Marketing to analyze performance metrics, campaign effectiveness, ROI, and key business KPIs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, People, Revenue, RevOps, and Marketing teams to support data-driven decision making and operational excellence.

Skills

Startup experience

International payroll

Global EOR/PEO coordination

Multi-state tax familiarity

Expense platforms experience

Education

CPA or CPA-track candidate

Job description

Empathy is transforming the way families navigate life’s most difficult times - from the loss of a loved one to other major life transitions. By combining technology with compassionate human care, we bring clarity, comfort, and peace of mind when it matters most.

We partner with leading employers, insurers, and financial institutions to deliver meaningful, human‑centric support at scale. Today, Empathy supports over 50 million people across the US, Canada, and the UK.

Backed by top‑tier investors including General Catalyst, Index Ventures, Adams Street, Aleph and Entreé Capital. We've raised over $160 million to date, including a $72 million Series C, to expand our impact and scale our mission worldwide.

About the Team

The Finance team at Empathy ensures smooth financial operations while maintaining compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. The team plays a crucial role in handling payroll, benefits, and all People Ops related financial processes.

By supporting both employees and the business, the Finance team helps drive consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across operations.

In this role you will:

• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close processes, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Maintain the general ledger and ensure accuracy of financial data across departments.
• Support the preparation of internal financial reports, forecasting processes, and variance analyses.
• Lead US payroll processing, ensuring timely and accurate payroll runs, in coordination with our PEO and internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with our PEO on all finance‑related matters, including benefits reporting, payroll adjustments, and compliance.
• Manage state and local tax filings and registrations where self‑service is required.
• Act as a finance partner to our Employer of Record (EOR) and other external providers supporting our global workforce.
• Support the design, administration, and analysis of incentive compensation plans across multiple functions, including Sales, Customer Success, and other GTM teams.
• Partner closely with RevOps and business stakeholders on Salesforce‑related processes, data quality, reporting, and operational workflows.
• Collaborate with Marketing to analyze performance metrics, campaign effectiveness, ROI, and key business KPIs.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Finance, Operations, People, Revenue, RevOps, and Marketing teams to support data‑driven decision making and operational excellence.

Requirements

• CPA or CPA‑track candidate
• Experience in a startup, high‑growth, or SaaS environment
• Familiarity with expense platforms or close software
• Experience with international payroll or working with global EOR/PEO partners
• Comfort with multi‑state tax environments and evolving compliance needs
• This role will need to be based in NYC and able to work from our office in Flatiron 3x per week

The salary for this position ranges between $140,000-$170,000. This is decided based on many factors, including but not limited to: skills, qualifications, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, we are proud to offer stock options in the company and a competitive benefits package.

To support our employees, we offer comprehensive benefits both in and out of the office. These include premium healthcare, comprehensive paid time off, and flexible parental leave. Our bereavement care includes premium access to the Empathy platform and support for employees and their families. We support financial wellness with a company-sponsored 401(k) plan and up to a 4% employer match, along with competitive stock options. With annual retreats, team lunches for our NYC office, and a remote employee stipend, we prioritize spending time together and investing in our people. We hope you will want to join our exceptional team!