SVP, Legal Entity Controller

Atlas Search; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Atlas Search is seeking an SVP/VP, Legal Entity Controller in New York. The role reports to Financial Controller and spans a complex portfolio of regulated and corporate entities. You will lead controllership, close processes, and external reporting services.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in accounting within financial services, strong U.S. GAAP knowledge, SEC experience, and a CPA. A hybrid work setup in New York is offered with broad stakeholder interaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• CPA certification required.
• 10+ years of accounting and financial reporting experience in financial services.
• Strong background in legal entity accounting, controllership, U.S. GAAP, reporting, and close.
• Experience with broker-dealers, investment banking, capital markets or regulated finance.
• Experience with SEC reporting and public filings strongly preferred.
• Big Four public accounting background preferred.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge for complex transactions.
• Advanced Excel, analytics, and project management skills.
• Ability to operate across multiple entities and senior stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication in a high-performance environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal entity controllership and financial reporting across multiple entities under U.S. GAAP.
• Oversee month-end and quarter-end close, journal entries, consolidations, intercompany activity, accruals, and taxes.
• Review quarterly and annual financial statements for external reporting.
• Manage balance sheet substantiation and risk of accruals; escalate significant matters.
• Review monthly/quarterly analytical reporting including variance commentary.
• Provide accounting and advisory support for new transactions and entity changes.
• Support reporting for special purpose entities and SEC filings.
• Collaborate with SEC Reporting, Corporate Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, and other finance teams.
• Identify process improvements and partner with technology for automation.
• Coach and develop accounting staff; support senior leadership on strategic initiatives.

Skills

U.S. GAAP

SEC reporting

Financial reporting

Advanced Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA certification

Tools

Excel

Job description

SVP/VP, Legal Entity Controller | Hybrid New York, NY | Financial Services / Capital Markets

The Opportunity

A leading global financial services firm is seeking an experienced SVP/VP, Legal Entity Controller to join its New York finance organization. This is a senior, highly visible position reporting directly to the Financial Controller and working across a complex portfolio of regulated and corporate entities.

This is an opportunity to join a sophisticated financial services platform where the Controller function has significant exposure to both the firm's day-to-day financial operations and new transactions and entity structures.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead legal entity controllership and financial reporting activities across multiple financial services entities under U.S. GAAP, including regulated entities and special purpose structures.
• Oversee the month-end and quarter-end close, including review of journal entries related to investing and financing activities, consolidations, intercompany transactions, expense accruals, and income taxes.
• Oversee and review quarterly and annual financial statements for external reporting.
• Manage monthly balance sheet substantiation, evaluate the adequacy of accruals, resolve accounting issues, and escalte significant matters to senior management.
• Review monthly and quarterly analytical reporting, including balance sheet and P&L variance analysis and commentary.
• Provide accounting and advisory support around new transactions, investments, financing activities, and legal entity structure changes.
• Support financial reporting requirements for special purpose entities, including preparation and review of quarterly financial statements.
• Review applicable SEC filings, including Forms S-1, S-4, 8-K, 10-Q, and 10-K.
• Partner extensively with SEC Reporting, Corporate Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, Product Control, Tax, Technical Accounting, Treasury, Cash Management, and other finance functions.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls, automate reporting, and partner with technology teams on systems enhancements.
• Coach and develop junior and experienced members of the accounting organization.
• Support senior finance and business leadership on special projects and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• CPA required.
• 10+ years of relevant accounting and financial reporting experience, ideally within a financial services organization.
• Strong background in legal entity accounting, controllership, U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and month-end close.
• Experience with broker-dealers, investment banking, capital markets, or other regulated financial services businesses is highly desirable.
• Experience with SEC reporting and public-company filings is strongly preferred.
• Big Four public accounting experience is preferred.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and ability to evaluate complex or non-routine transactions.
• Advanced Excel, analytical, project management, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to operate across multiple entities, priorities, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to operate effectively in a high-performance environment.