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Controller at Smartcat

Senior Posted about 3 hours ago RemoteFirstJobs Product
Finance

AI summary: Owns and scales global accounting, tax, and payroll operations across multiple entities while building automated finance infrastructure and leading a team of 3.

Description

About Smartcat

Smartcat is building the future of work, where human expertise meets digital teammates to drive 10x to 1000x productivity gains for the world’s leading enterprises.

We’re on the frontier of an entirely new category: Agentic AI. We enable enterprises to build high-performing hybrid workforces made up of both humans and AI agents. These AI agents aren’t generic copilots. They’re fully trained digital teammates that learn from your best people, your content, and your business strategy—ready to get to work from day one.

Our platform combines generative AI, human-in-the-loop workflows, and a living Enterprise Skill Graph that continuously learns and improves. Whether you’re launching a product globally, onboarding new hires, translating learning content, or aligning legal teams across regions, Smartcat turns knowledge into action and action into scale.

Over 1,000 companies, including 20% of the Fortune 500, rely on Smartcat to bring their business to the world—instantly, accurately, and in every language. As a Series C company with consistently high year-over-year growth, we’re scaling fast and investing in people who want to shape the future of work with us.

Join us in unlocking global potential, one human and agent team at a time.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

You’ll join Smartcat at a key scaling stage. Our accounting foundation is in place, and we are now building a robust, scalable finance function to support continued global growth.

This is a high-impact, build-and-scale role, not a maintenance Controller position. You will take ownership of a complex, multi-entity global environment and transform it into a streamlined, automated, and audit-ready finance infrastructure. You will have end-to-end ownership of accounting, tax, and payroll operations across all entities, including systems, policies, and external partner management.

You’ll work in a finance team that values clarity, speed, and practical solutions —combining hands-on execution with the opportunity to shape systems and processes across the company.

MISSION

  • Own and scale Smartcat’s global accounting, tax, and payroll operations — ensuring accurate, compliant, and efficient financial processes across all entities, while building a modern, automation-driven finance infrastructure that supports decision-making and global expansion.
  • You will report to the VP of Finance and lead a team of 3, working closely with external partners (audit, tax, local payroll accountants).
  • Smartcat operates across 6 legal entities (US, UK, Netherlands, Armenia, Cyprus), with 230+ team members  in 35+ countries and 20+ US states, creating a highly complex global compliance and reporting environment.
  • You will partner closely with FP&A, FinOps, and PeopleOps to ensure finance is a reliable business partner.

OUTCOMES

  • Deliver a timely and accurate close (target: 5-day close) with reliable consolidation and audit-ready financials
  • Ensure full GAAP compliance, strong internal controls, and predictable external audits across all entities
  • Build a scalable ASC 606 framework supporting SaaS and marketplace revenue streams
  • Lead the evolution of our NetSuite environment into a highly automated, AI-enabled finance system that accelerates close, improves accuracy, and scales with the business
  • Reduce manual accounting work by at least 50% through automation and process optimization
  • Establish fully compliant global tax and payroll operations, with clear visibility into risks and obligations

HOW YOU’LL RAMP

By Day 30:

  • Develop a clear understanding of current accounting processes, NetSuite setup, and entity structure
  • Conduct a full diagnostic of accounting processes, systems, and risks across entities
  • Identify key bottlenecks in close, compliance, and reporting
  • Align with leadership on priorities and define a 60–90 day execution plan, priorities and improvements
  • Build working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners

By Day 60:

  • Take ownership of the monthly close, including consolidation and intercompany processes
  • Assess tax and payroll operations; identify risks and improvement opportunities
  • Begin formalizing core processes (accounting policies, close procedures, compliance calendar)

By Day 90:

  • Fully own accounting, consolidation, tax, and payroll operations
  • Deliver initial process improvements (automation, controls, or close efficiency)
  • Define a 12-month roadmap for scaling accounting systems and processes

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED:

  • Built or scaled accounting functions in international, multi-entity environments, ideally in AI, SaaS, and/or marketplace businesses
  • Developed strong expertise in US GAAP, with working knowledge of IFRS and local statutory requirements
  • Owned group consolidation, financial reporting, and external audits
  • Implemented or improved revenue recognition (ASC 606) in complex business models
  • Led or optimized ERP systems (NetSuite preferred) in multi-entity setups
  • Established internal controls and scalable accounting processes in growing organizations
  • Managed tax compliance and global payroll operations across multiple jurisdictions
  • Led and developed accounting teams, while remaining hands-on
  • Delivered measurable improvements through automation and tooling, including implementation of  AI-driven solutions
  • Operated effectively in high-growth environments, building structure where needed
  • Acted as a strategic partner to Leadership, translating accounting into actionable business insights

Why joining Smartcat might be your best move so far

  • A global, connected team We’re a team of 200+ people across 30+ countries, working together through a hub-and-spoke model anchored in eight key locations: New York, London, Lisbon, Costa Rica, Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, and Spain.  Most of our roles are remote-friendly, giving you the flexibility to do your best work from where you thrive. For customer-facing teams, we prioritize proximity to our customers, ensuring we stay deeply connected to their needs and deliver an exceptional experience.  No matter where you’re based, you’ll be part of a highly collaborative, globally-distributed team that values ownership, speed, and meaningful impact.
  • Be part of an AI Native Organization We are highly innovative, using AI across all areas of the organization to accelerate decision-making and free people to focus on strategy and high-impact work. We embrace new ideas and encourage all Smartcaters, regardless of level or department, to manage their own AI Agents. At Smartcat you’ll shape how AI transforms the workplace and play an integral role in ensuring Smartcat remains a leader in AI innovation.
  • Innovating a $100 Billion industry Smartcat is reshaping the $100B multilingual content industry with an AI-powered platform that makes it easy for companies to create, translate, and localize global content at scale. Our platform enables enterprise teams to move away from slow,  traditional outsourcing methods, and achieve fast, high-quality results, at a fraction of the cost.
  • Join the rocketship to scale-up 10x and beyond together We are looking for someone to become an integral part of our team and play a crucial role in the most exciting part of our journey: transitioning from a post-Series C startup to a company exceeding $100M in ARR and $1B in valuation. Our journey isn’t for the faint of heart. We are growing at 130% YoY, thanks to our strong product-market fit and high-performing team, and plan to accelerate from here.
  • Smartcat Culture Code: Where Diversity Meets High Performance At Smartcat, we are committed to building a culture that highlights respect and appreciation for each individual’s unique background and perspective, while maintaining a strong focus on results and engagement. We believe in welcoming everyone and fostering an inclusive environment where team members can be their authentic selves at work. Our commitment to inclusion is steadfast, and we stand firmly against discrimination and harassment.