Global Controller

Since 2011, General Assembly has transformed tens of thousands of careers through pioneering, experiential education in today’s most in-demand skills. As featured in The Economist, Wired, and The New York Times, GA offers training in web development, data, design, business, and more, both online and at campuses around the world. Our global professional community boasts 40,000 alumni — and counting.  In addition to fostering career growth for individuals, GA helps employers cultivate top tech talent and spur innovation by transforming their teams through strategic learning. More than 21,000 employees at elite companies worldwide have honed their digital fluency with our corporate training programs.  Our clients include everyone from many of the Fortune 500 companies, to government agencies, to small- and medium-sized businesses. GA has also been recognized as one of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, and Fast Company has dubbed us leaders in World-Changing Ideas as well as the #1 Most Innovative Company in Education

We are looking for an experienced Global Controller to join our global team. This position is an integral part of the Accounting team, reporting to the SVP, Finance and has responsibility for managing a team of 25+. You’ll work closely with all parts of General Assembly and be the leader for our Accounting Department, which includes responsibility for the internal & external audit management, financial close, revenue recognition, accounts receivable, accounts payable, contract review, and payroll supporting operations in all the countries we operate in including in Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East.  You’ll help develop best practices, improve processes and procedures, and drive efficiencies.  You’ll oversee all operations of the Accounting Department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the Department’s goals and objectives.

Your success in this role is dependent on your leadership, organization/people development, attention to detail, strategic execution, and communication skills. The ideal candidate must possess the ability to work in a dynamic and quick changing, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:

Business and Strategic Initiatives

• Mentor and develop leaders in the Department
• Provide leadership and strategic support
• Serve as a partner to the business and lead major cross-Departmental Company initiatives
• Ensure the Department's consistent and timely execution against the Company's Objectives and Key Results ("OKRs").
• Represent the Department in Senior Leadership discussions.
• Provide project management and leadership for significant process improvement and enhancement initiatives
• Oversee & develop performance dashboard of key Department metrics
• Work closely with FP&A team on reporting efforts related to senior leadership presentations, budgeting, monthly forecasting, and reporting of actuals
• Serve as an expert on the use of accounting systems
• Manage the accounting systems and users for internal compliance and new requirements
• Coordinate and validate reporting to company parent, meeting both internal and external deadlines

Technical Accounting

• Lead subject matter expert on all areas requiring technical accounting expertise and support business units on requests for guidance and direction especially with regards to revenue recognition and US GAAP compliance
• Perform technical accounting research, as needed
• Lead the communication and implementation of new accounting practices, policies, and procedures across GA

Financial-Tax-Management Reporting and Controls

• Provide expertise on financial reporting, tax and compliance matters
• Ensure timely financial and management reporting to external stakeholders, including completeness and accuracy of monthly and quarterly financial packages for parent company books (as well as any ad-hoc reporting requirements)
• Establish and maintain formal accounting policies, practices and procedures to ensure US GAAP compliance
• Implement internal controls; ensuring maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings
• Oversee the audit process by external independent auditors, and internal audit requests by parent

Accounting Operations

• Lead and continue to develop the global accounting capabilities for our fast-paced, rapidly growing company.  This includes billing, accounts payable, payroll, consumer and enterprise billing and collections, cash application functions, and revenue recognition
• Maximize return, and limits risk, on cash by minimizing bank balances; making investments.
• Monitor debt levels, bank account activity and other treasury matters; ensure compliance
• Monitor general and sub-ledger maintenance and ensure a timely close
• Ensure compliance with business service level agreements
• Oversee completeness and accuracy of account reconciliations, accruals, reserves, and intercompany transactions

Requirements/Qualifications:

• 10+ years mixed Big 4 + public accounting and commercial industry experience preferably in a global public company setting
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting
• Actively licensed CPA
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, and the ability to assimilate easily into teams
• Strong technical skills and a working knowledge of S. GAAP, SEC reporting and revenue recognition concepts
• Demonstrated leadership ability, initiative, team management, and interpersonal skills, plus excellent organization skills.
• Eagerness to wear many hats in a fast-paced startup environment; experience in fast-paced, rapidly growing environment preferred. Must have the ability to roll up his/her sleeves and “work hard” attitude, but also enjoy working in a flexible, supportive and energetic environment

Competencies:

• Subject matter expert
• Concise communicator written and oral
• Analytical leader
• Proactive problem solver
• Process oriented
• Teacher and mentor
• Poised professional temperament
• Relationship builder
• Service mindset
• Prioritizes

About You:

• You are hands-on and not afraid to dive into the details.
• You have a strong understanding of US GAAP and adept at researching accounting rules and boiling them down to the impact on the company’s financials.
• You are comfortable with new concepts and complexity; You are described as determined, capable, and agile.
• You possess strong intellectual horsepower and are a quick study.
• You get at the root of the problem and implement fixes so the problem doesn’t recur.
• You establish strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• You summarize complex concepts for non-experts in an easy to understand manner.
• You develop staff by setting clear expectations and providing timeline feedback.
• You manage with empathy; you mentor your team and provide them with opportunities to learn and develop.
  
  

Remote in the following U.S. states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Vermont, Virginia