Controllers who close clean and keep the company auditable.
We place Controllers and Assistant Controllers at venture-backed scale-ups, operator businesses, and pre-IPO companies. Calibrated against GAAP / IFRS depth, systems fluency, and team-scaling history.
The controller market — the honest version.
Controller is the foundation role in a modern finance org. A strong Controller makes every downstream finance hire (VP Finance, CFO) more productive; a weak Controller sinks the function. Our Controller searches calibrate for the specific operating needs: system (NetSuite, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks Advanced, SAP), scale (under / over $50M revenue), and audit posture (first audit, clean recurring audit, pre-IPO readiness).
What we actually screen for.
Every controller candidate goes through a structured technical screen conducted by an ex-engineer recruiter before you see their profile.
- GAAP / IFRS depth — calibrated to your reporting requirements
- System fluency — NetSuite, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks Advanced, SAP, Oracle
- Close discipline — days-to-close at their last company, what they changed to get there
- Audit posture — first-audit prep, SOX exposure, pre-IPO readiness if relevant
- Team building — accountants and senior accountants they hired and retained
- Cross-functional partnership — how they partnered with FP&A, legal, and ops
How we run a controller search.
Days 0–2
Intake + systems alignment
Clarify system, scale, audit status, and team shape.
Days 2–14
Sourcing + technical screen
Structured conversation on close, audit, and systems — not just resume-review.
Days 14–24
Shortlist
4–6 candidates with written assessments.
Days 24–38
Interviews + offer
Multi-round including CFO (or VP Finance), outside audit partner where relevant.
Real salary bands across our three markets.
- Pakistan (remote int'l)
USD $40K–$120K
- Canada
CAD $130K–$230K + equity
- United States
USD $170K–$300K + equity
Titles we place under this role type.
- Controller
- Senior Controller
- Assistant Controller
- Corporate Controller
- Global Controller
Controller hiring — questions we hear.
Yes — first-audit and IPO-prep Controllers are a specialized subtype. We calibrate for candidates who have led a first Big-4 audit at comparable scale, including the operational prep work (12–18 months of close-ops tightening).
Ready to run this search?
Submit a brief and a senior recruiter will reply within 24 business hours with a proposed timeline, calibrated fee structure, and sample profiles.
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