Controller

The Role

We are hiring a Controller to lead Afresh's accounting function, reporting directly to the VP of Strategy & Finance. This is a player-coach role: you will own the integrity of our books and financial reporting while building and mentoring a small accounting team. You will be responsible for accounting operations, month-end close, financial reporting, audit readiness, and compliance.

Just as importantly, you will be the leader who reimagines how modern accounting gets done. We are looking for someone who actively uses AI and automation to compress our close timeline, streamline AP/AR and expense workflows, and free the team from manual, repetitive work so they can focus on analysis and controls. You should be as comfortable designing a scalable close process as you are evaluating and deploying the tools that make it faster, more accurate, and more auditable.

What You'll Do

• Lead accounting operations and the team. Own day-to-day accounting operations and build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of 1–3 accounting professionals. Develop and enforce accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls that improve operations and reduce risk as we scale. Serve as the organization's subject-matter expert on technical accounting.
• Own a fast, reliable month-end close — and make it faster with AI. Drive an accurate, scalable, and increasingly automated monthly, quarterly, and year-end close that meets deadlines every period. Use AI and modern tooling to automate reconciliations, flux/variance analysis, journal entry preparation, and close checklists — measurably shortening the close while strengthening accuracy and audit trails. Ensure monthly financials comply with U.S. GAAP and are audit-ready.
• Modernize AP, AR, and expense workflows. Own accounts payable, accounts receivable, and expense management end-to-end. Introduce AI-enabled automation for invoice capture and coding, collections, expense review, and anomaly/exception detection — reducing manual touchpoints, improving cash cycle times, and improving the employee experience. Continuously evaluate whether current systems are adequate to build scalable, sustainable processes.
• Deliver financial reporting and insight. Lead the preparation and analysis of financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) and the monthly reporting package. Provide clear, timely insight to leadership to support strategic decision-making.
• Own revenue recognition and technical accounting. Own all activities related to revenue recognition (ASC 606), including policy, technical memos, and execution. Research and document accounting positions for new and complex transactions.
• Lead audit readiness. Build trust-based relationships with external audit partners. Establish and maintain the technical memos, accounting policies, and internal controls needed to execute a successful audit, and manage the audit process end-to-end.
• Manage payroll, tax, treasury, and compliance. Partner with People to execute timely and accurate payroll. Coordinate with third-party providers on preparation and filing of federal, state, payroll, and sales tax returns. Oversee treasury and cash management — monitoring balances, forecasting cash needs, and optimizing cash utilization. Own the company's insurance programs and renewals.
• Partner across the business. Work closely with Finance/FP&A, People, Legal, and functional leaders to ensure contracts and transactions align with budgets and to guide decisions with sound financial data.

What You Bring

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, ideally including a high-growth SaaS or technology company.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field; CPA strongly preferred (MBA a plus).
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, revenue recognition (ASC 606), financial reporting, audit, and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience owning or leading a full audit.
• A track record of using AI, automation, and modern accounting tools to drive efficiency — e.g., automating close tasks, reconciliations, AP/AR, or expense processes. You're genuinely curious about where technology can replace manual work, and you've done it.
• Experience selecting, implementing, and managing accounting systems and integrations.
• Strong people leadership: you've built, coached, or mentored accountants and set a high bar.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills, with the ability to translate the numbers for non-finance partners.
• A hands-on, self-directed operator who thrives in a fast-paced environment and sweats the details.

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling an accounting function through rapid growth or a first audit.
• Familiarity with treasury/cash management and budget review.
• Exposure to fresh food, retail, supply chain, or marketplace business models.

The salary band for this role is $199,000 - $270,000 per year + meaningful early-stage equity + benefits