Job description

ABOUT WORKWHILE WorkWhile is on a mission to help workers earn a better living and live better lives. More than 80 million Americans work hourly jobs - often with unpredictable schedules, near-minimum wages, and few benefits - leading to real financial instability. We're fixing that by matching enterprise customers across logistics, food production, retail, hospitality, events, and managed services with a quality hourly workforce, while giving workers stable income and unmatched benefits like next-day pay, free telehealth, and financial services. WorkWhile is evolving from a high-growth temporary labor marketplace into a comprehensive workforce platform for enterprises with fintech offerings workers. The result is a multi-business-model company with a genuinely complex, interesting financial landscape. Backed by Khosla Ventures and recognized by the Inc. 5000 for 10x growth, WorkWhile is reshaping the future of work. THE OPPORTUNITY This is not a "maintain the books" Controller role. This is a build-it role. As Corporate Controller, you'll serve as the CFO's right hand in architecting a world-class accounting function from the ground up - one capable of supporting high-volume transaction processing, multi-stream revenue recognition (Marketplace + SaaS + Fintech), and banking-level treasury operations. You'll lead an ERP migration, deploy AI-driven automation, and own the technical accounting for business models that most Controllers never get to work across simultaneously. If you're a technically deep CPA who wants to do more than close the books - someone who wants to shape financial infrastructure at a venture-backed, mission-driven company - this role is built for you. WHAT YOU'LL OWN 1. CORE ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS - Full-cycle accounting ownership: General Ledger (GL), Payroll, Procure-to-Pay (P2P), Order-to-Cash (O2C), and Record-to-Report (R2R) - Data integrity: Partner with Data Science to ensure financial data in the ERP (NetSuite/Intacct) aligns precisely with operational data sources (BigQuery, Metabase) - High-volume payroll: Manage complex weekly and daily payroll runs for a nationally dispersed workforce, with distinct treatment for W2 employees (taxes, benefits, withholdings) and 1099 independent contractors - Month-end & year-end close: Own the close calendar, drive down close cycle times, and ensure a clean, audit-ready general ledger at all times 2. TECHNICAL ACCOUNTING & COMPLIANCE - Revenue Recognition (ASC 606): Author technical accounting memos and policy for multiple evolving revenue streams - including "Principal vs. Agent" gross-to-net calculations for marketplace revenue and subscription revenue recognition for the Newday SaaS product - Fintech & Treasury Accounting: Build accounting workflows for WorkWhile Wallet and W2 Early Pay - including daily liquidity management for payroll funding, high-volume card transaction reconciliation (Marqeta, Stripe), and accounting for potential credit losses on worker advances - Equity & Stock-Based Compensation: Manage equity plan administration and ASC 718 accounting - Multi-jurisdiction Tax Compliance: Oversee federal, state, and local tax filings; manage payroll tax nexus across all states where W2 workers operate; address sales tax implications for SaaS products 3. AUDIT & EXTERNAL REPORTING - Audit leadership: Own the external audit relationship end-to-end - drive the first company financial audit, prepare PBC schedules, manage fieldwork, and deliver audited financial statements on time - Investor & lender reporting: Prepare accurate, well-documented financials for board reporting, debt covenant compliance, and future fundraising due diligence 4. SYSTEMS, AUTOMATION & TEAM LEADERSHIP - ERP migration: Lead the evaluation and implementation of a scalable ERP upgrade, including integration with billing, payroll, and payments systems - AI & automation: Proactively identify and deploy AI agents for reconciliation, invoice processing, and anomaly detection - reducing manual workload and improving accuracy - Collections & DSO optimization: Strengthen billing and collections processes, managing invoicing nuances across Enterprise and SMB client segments - Team development: Manage and mentor the internal accounting team and oversee the offshore BPO team, ensuring seamless collaboration across time zones WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required Qualifications - Active CPA license - non-negotiable - Big 4 accounting firm experience: Minimum 4-6 years in audit at a Big 4 firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG), serving public company or high-growth technology clients - 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years as a Controller or Assistant Controller at a venture-backed technology company - Deep technical accounting expertise in ASC 606 revenue recognition, including multi-element arrangements and gross vs. net revenue treatment - Proven track record of ERP implementation - specifically migrating from QuickBooks to NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or equivalent - Experience managing multi-state payroll tax compliance and nexus analysis for a company with a distributed workforcePreferred / Bonus Qualifications Preferred / Bonus Qualifications - Industry experience in Marketplace, Fintech (lending, ledgering, prepaid cards), or SaaS business models - Hands-on experience with Stripe, Marqeta, or similar payment processors from an accounting and reconciliation standpoint - Experience managing hybrid onshore/offshore accounting teams or BPO relationships - Exposure to SQL, BigQuery, or BI tools (Looker, Metabase) for financial data analysis You'll Thrive Here If You: - Are the kind of person who investigates a variance until it's fully explained - not just deemed immaterial - Can translate complex accounting positions (like Gross vs. Net revenue) clearly for non-finance stakeholders, investors, and lenders - Are energized by ambiguity and want to build, not just maintain - Have a strong bias for action and take pride in operational excellence COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Competitive base salary + equity in a high-growth, venture-backed company - Hybrid work culture with office in SF - In-person company off-sites - Medical, dental & vision coverage - Unlimited PTO - 401(k) - WFH stipend to support your home office setup WorkWhile has a diverse, mission-driven, and supportive culture—we look for people who want to take ownership, are energized by ambiguity, and strive to make a lasting impact. If this resonates with you, we’d love to chat!

Requirements

Must-haves

This is not a "maintain the books" Controller role. This is a build-it role.
If you're a technically deep CPA who wants to do more than close the books - someone who wants to shape financial infrastructure at a venture-backed, mission-driven company - this role is built for you.
Full-cycle accounting ownership: General Ledger (GL), Payroll, Procure-to-Pay (P2P), Order-to-Cash (O2C), and Record-to-Report (R2R)
Data integrity: Partner with Data Science to ensure financial data in the ERP (NetSuite/Intacct) aligns precisely with operational data sources (BigQuery, Metabase)
High-volume payroll: Manage complex weekly and daily payroll runs for a nationally dispersed workforce, with distinct treatment for W2 employees (taxes, benefits, withholdings) and 1099 independent contractors
Month-end & year-end close: Own the close calendar, drive down close cycle times, and ensure a clean, audit-ready general ledger at all times
Equity & Stock-Based Compensation: Manage equity plan administration and ASC 718 accounting
Multi-jurisdiction Tax Compliance: Oversee federal, state, and local tax filings; manage payroll tax nexus across all states where W2 workers operate; address sales tax implications for SaaS products
Audit leadership: Own the external audit relationship end-to-end - drive the first company financial audit, prepare PBC schedules, manage fieldwork, and deliver audited financial statements on time
Investor & lender reporting: Prepare accurate, well-documented financials for board reporting, debt covenant compliance, and future fundraising due diligence
ERP migration: Lead the evaluation and implementation of a scalable ERP upgrade, including integration with billing, payroll, and payments systems
AI & automation: Proactively identify and deploy AI agents for reconciliation, invoice processing, and anomaly detection - reducing manual workload and improving accuracy
Collections & DSO optimization: Strengthen billing and collections processes, managing invoicing nuances across Enterprise and SMB client segments
Team development: Manage and mentor the internal accounting team and oversee the offshore BPO team, ensuring seamless collaboration across time zones
Active CPA license - non-negotiable
Big 4 accounting firm experience: Minimum 4-6 years in audit at a Big 4 firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG), serving public company or high-growth technology clients
10+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years as a Controller or Assistant Controller at a venture-backed technology company
Deep technical accounting expertise in ASC 606 revenue recognition, including multi-element arrangements and gross vs. net revenue treatment
Proven track record of ERP implementation - specifically migrating from QuickBooks to NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or equivalent
Industry experience in Marketplace, Fintech (lending, ledgering, prepaid cards), or SaaS business models
Hands-on experience with Stripe, Marqeta, or similar payment processors from an accounting and reconciliation standpoint
Experience managing hybrid onshore/offshore accounting teams or BPO relationships

Nice-to-haves

Experience managing multi-state payroll tax compliance and nexus analysis for a company with a distributed workforcePreferred / Bonus Qualifications
Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

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Keywords to mirror

aisql

Platform: ashby
Effort: quick

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401(K)

Pto