Global Financial Controller (Head of Accounting)

Position Overview

Korn Ferry is exclusively conducting Global Financial Controller (Head of Accounting & Tax) search for our client – a Private Equity backed leading SaaS platform that is experiencing significant growth. They have an award-winning product offering in the fintech space that is used by millions of professionals globally.

As a strategic partner to the CFO, the Global Financial Controller will serve as a core member of the leadership team and play a pivotal role in leading a globally matrixed team in full-cycle accounting, financial reporting, balance sheet analysis, tax strategy, and shared services. This role involves preparing analytics for senior management, overseeing global tax strategy and compliance, and ensuring best practices and compliance with technical accounting standards.

Collaborating with all business and functional groups, this finance leader will ensure accurate accounting, robust financial reporting, a sound internal control environment, and provide guidance for operational finance and tax leadership across the organization.

Location: New York City (hybrid role)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Management:

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement to ensure department processes and procedures are reviewed regularly for efficiency and effectiveness, developing metrics to measure improvements. Foster proactive process reviews and improvements by staff.
• Lead an accounting team for all general ledger accounting activities, month-end close, complex technical accounting issues, consolidated financial statement preparation, including reporting.
• Collaborate and liaison with FP&A, Treasury, Systems, Sourcing, and International Controllership to assist in all aspects of financial reporting including sales reporting, financial review, processes assistance, etc.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, and other third-party service providers.
• Lead and support financial due diligence and integration for M&A activity.
• Support growth and development of a global accounting team including performance reviews, development planning, training, and succession planning.
• Partner with CFO to enhance the financial performance of the company by analyzing and interpreting financial data and reporting to senior management.
• Work closely with senior management and advisors to develop the company’s global tax strategy, especially as it relates to international tax planning.
• Direct the planning, development, and implementation of global tax policies, programs, and practices which include strategic tax planning and preparation of tax analyses supporting quarterly tax provisions.

Financial Reporting and Analysis:

• Responsible for corporate financial reporting and accounting which includes the accuracy of the Company's general ledger and its compliance with GAAP. Prepare internal and external financial reports, and ensure that they are timely, accurate, and in compliance with GAAP and SEC requirements.
• Manage communication to the Accounting Director and SVP of Finance to ensure all regulatory requirements are met, emerging accounting literature is understood, and properly implemented.
• Provide operational and technical accounting expertise for the organization to ensure compliance with GAAP, IFRS, Statutory requirements, and Company policies, rules, regulations, and laws.
• Summarize findings on the monthly, quarterly, and annual reports in partnership with FP&A on reported results to senior management, external auditors, and BOD.
• Partner with the Finance organization in budget preparations and monthly budget/actual reporting analyses.
• Identify and resolve financial reporting issues.

Process and Control Environment:

• Ownership of the internal control environment. Ability to understand and document process flows, process narratives, and risk-based results.
• Maintaining best practice documentation of accounting policy and papers for material transaction and revenue recognition.
• Develop, implement, and maintain processes and procedures for accurate and timely analysis of financial data, ensuring best practices.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and improve accounting processes, operation, and systems.
• Manage the audit process in partnership with our external auditors regarding accounting and reporting issues.
• Support various Finance & Controllership special projects as required or deemed necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements, including but not limited to, tax laws, SEC regulations, and other industry-specific standards.
• In collaboration with the Employee Experience team, ensure connectivity and professional growth across the entire employee lifecycle to create a meaningful employee growth and development experience.
• Oversee transfer pricing and due diligence in tax compliance of potential new acquisitions.
• Manage and have overall responsibility for the tax accounting disclosures on all SEC filings and lead the evaluation and convergence with IFRS, as necessary.
• Manage the Company’s global tax accounting policies and internal controls and oversee the domestic income tax compliance process – both US Federal Domestic, Multi-State, and International.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 12+ years of progressive accounting and audit experience.
• 5+ years of US and international tax experience.
• 7+ years of supervisory experience with a global footprint in a multiple legal entity environment.
• Global experience in a relevant business (Software or IT Services with a recurring revenue/subscription model) as a Controller, Group Controller, or Assistant Controller.
• Experience working in PE-backed environments is a strong asset.

Financial Reporting:

• GAAP, IFRS, Statutory.
• Ability to anticipate accounting, reporting, and operational issues and proactively develop solutions.
• Advanced analytical and financial reporting skills, attention to detail, and process discipline.
• Ability to evaluate financial information and prioritize executive reporting.
• Proficient accounting & tax knowledge and ability to collaborate with varying levels of the organization to drive sound business decisions.
• Strong project management experience, including the ability to coordinate and enable new initiatives or processes.

Leadership:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong business acumen and commercial awareness.
• Ability to appropriately raise issues and challenge assumptions.
• Proven ability to see the big picture, yet understand the details.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Possess a high degree of business judgment to address routine and complex financial and accounting issues.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and retain top financial talent and build high-performing teams.
• Considerable skill in conflict resolution, mediation, negotiating issues, and resolving problems.

International Accounting & Tax:

• Policies and procedures.
• Revenue recognition & foreign currency.
• Multiple legal entities operation.

Preferred Experience

• Post-merger integration experience for new acquisitions.
• Experience with Cloud-based ERPs, Adaptive, and other financial tools.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

SE# 510661221