Controller / Finance Operations Lead - 19845

Controller / Finance Operations Lead

Employment Type: Full time, independent contractor

Work Model: Remote

Work Hours: US work hours alignment

Role Summary

We are seeking a commercially sharp, process-driven Controller / Finance Operations Lead to professionalize, streamline, and scale the financial infrastructure of our fast-moving media and e-commerce ecosystem. This is not a rigid, traditional corporate accounting position. We are looking for an entrepreneurial financial operator who can thrive in a high-growth startup environment characterized by rapid experimentation, multiple monetization channels, and fluid operational priorities.

Reporting directly to leadership, you will take full ownership of our financial operations—bridging the gap between day-to-day bookkeeping and high-level strategic forecasting. You will be tasked with cleaning up legacy processes, building robust cash flow models, and deep-diving into cross-channel profitability (merchandise, sponsorships, and digital media) to ensure we scale predictably and remain entirely audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Operations & Accounting Infrastructure
• Month-End Close: Own the end-to-end month-end close process and compile highly accurate financial reporting packages for leadership.
• Systems Architecture: Audit, improve, and scale internal financial systems, automation workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Manage day-to-day accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), and vendor management pipelines, while serving as the primary point of coordination for external accountants and bookkeepers.
• Due Diligence Support: Maintain meticulous financial organization and clean historical records to support investor diligence and strategic capital planning.
• E-Commerce, Media, & Profitability Analysis
• Unit Economics Tracking: Systematically track inventory cycles, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), landed costs, and real-time product margins.
• Multi-Channel Analysis: Perform deep-dive profitability analysis across distinct revenue streams, specifically breaking down performance across e-commerce merchandise, media assets, and brand sponsorships.
• Data Integration: Ensure seamless financial data synchronization across core platform tools (e.g., Shopify, payment gateways, and banking ledgers).
• Forecasting, Budgeting, & Strategic Planning
• Cash Flow Modeling: Build, maintain, and stress-test dynamic rolling cash flow forecasts to manage working capital requirements efficiently.
• Budgetary Guardrails: Partner with executive leadership to develop departmental budgets, monitor variance, and support long-term strategic growth planning.
  
  

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: 4+ years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, or corporate controller roles—ideally within a fast-paced startup or agency setting.
• US Market Fluency: A rigorous understanding of U.S. accounting principles and corporate financial workflows.
• Business Model Context: Direct experience working with e-commerce, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, or digital media/creator companies is highly preferred.
• Technical Stack Mastery: Advanced, hands-on proficiency with modern e-commerce data environments and ERP/accounting systems (e.g., Shopify, QuickBooks Online, Xero, or NetSuite).
• Data Modeling Skills: Elite-level Excel and Google Sheets capabilities (advanced financial modeling, macro logic, formulas, and structured data cleanups).
• Autonomy & Communication: Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills, paired with the ability to operate completely independently with minimal scaffolding.
  
  

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Close Velocity: Significantly reducing the number of days required to close the monthly books while improving reporting accuracy.
• Data Integrity: Establishing absolute visibility over true unit margins, COGS, and blended media profitability loops.
• System Scalability: Successfully transition fragmented, manual spreadsheets into an automated, unified financial operations platform ready for future capital rounds.