Controller

Controller | Digital Media Company | NYC - 2 Days

A leading global digital media and entertainment company is seeking an experienced Controller to join its Finance leadership team. The company operates a portfolio of highly recognized consumer brands reaching hundreds of millions of readers and social followers globally, with a significant advertising-driven revenue model and operations across the U.S. and Europe.

This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for overseeing the accounting function, strengthening financial controls, improving processes and systems, and developing a high-performing team. The Controller will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders while owning key areas including the close, financial reporting, revenue recognition, audit, AR/AP, lender reporting, and technical accounting.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly close and financial reporting process, driving accuracy and reducing the overall close timeline.
• Oversee preparation of financial statements, reconciliations, journal entries, variance analysis, and supporting documentation.
• Lead the annual financial statement audit and manage relationships with external auditors.
• Oversee accounting for complex and advertising-related revenue arrangements in accordance with GAAP.
• Lead and develop the accounting organization, including Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable.
• Build and implement scalable, best-in-class AR/AP processes and controls.
• Establish and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Lead accounting system implementations, upgrades, and process automation initiatives.
• Support investor reporting and prepare debt compliance packages for lenders.
• Oversee federal and state tax compliance in partnership with external providers.
• Partner with commercial teams around advertising sales reporting and commission tracking.
• Provide technical accounting guidance across revenue recognition, complex transactions, and stock-based compensation.
• Identify opportunities to automate workflows and improve the efficiency and scalability of the finance organization.
• Partner directly with executive leadership on financial and operational initiatives.

Qualifications

• CPA preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Approximately 10–15 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Combination of public accounting and private industry experience strongly preferred.
• Experience within digital media, advertising, technology, entertainment, or another advertising-driven business highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of ASC 606 / revenue recognition and complex customer contracts.
• Experience reviewing multi-element revenue arrangements and vendor contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing accounting teams.
• Hands-on experience overseeing AR and AP functions and improving related processes.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including complex transactions and stock-based compensation.
• Experience leading process improvements, systems implementations, and finance transformation initiatives.
• NetSuite experience is a plus.
• Strong executive communication skills with the ability to partner across both finance and non-finance functions.