Controller

Summary 

The Controller is the senior accounting leader responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of the company’s financial reporting and accounting operations. This role owns the general ledger, revenue and payout accounting, close process, internal controls, and audit readiness, ensuring financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements. The Controller plays a critical role in establishing disciplined, scalable accounting processes that support both growth and regulatory compliance, including environments subject to trading and brokerage oversight (e.g., NFA or similar regulatory frameworks).

This is a hands-on leadership role that combines deep technical accounting expertise with strong operational judgment. The Controller partners cross-functionally with leadership and teams across the organization to ensure accounting outcomes accurately reflect economic activity, risks are identified early, and the finance function operates with clarity, consistency, and audit-ready discipline.

Key Responsibilities 

The essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and develop the accounting organization, including revenue, general ledger, and operational accounting functions.
• Establish performance standards, close calendars, review cadences, and workflow prioritization.
• Provide coaching, technical guidance, and decision-making support across the accounting team.
• Evaluate staffing needs and build a scalable team structure aligned with company growth.
• Ensure accountability, consistency, and ownership across accounting deliverables.

Financial Reporting & Regulatory Compliance

• Own the preparation and accuracy of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements, including trading and brokerage-related regulations (e.g., NFA or similar oversight bodies).
• Maintain audit readiness across all financial reporting and supporting schedules.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, and technical accounting memos.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies for revenue, payouts, accruals, close, and internal controls.

General Ledger Oversight

• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, cash, prepaid expenses, accruals, fixed assets, and clearing accounts.
• Resolve complex reconciliation issues, aged items, and system-related discrepancies.
• Own the month-end close calendar, review cadence, and quality standards.
• Ensure all GL accounts are supported, documented, and maintained in an audit-ready state.
• Maintain chart of accounts structure and alignment with reporting and FP&A.

Revenue & Payout Accounting Oversight

• Oversee revenue recognition for subscriptions, resets, promotions, chargebacks, and refunds.
• Ensure consistent application of ASC 606 performance obligations.
• Manage deferred revenue logic, schedules, and release processes.
• Oversee payout accounting and reconciliation across internal systems, processors, and bank data.
• Ensure billing, payout, and accounting records align and accurately reflect economic activity.

Process Improvement & Internal Controls

• Evaluate and redesign accounting processes for scale, accuracy, and efficiency. 
• Implement internal controls, approval workflows, and segregation of duties.
• Document end-to-end accounting procedures across revenue, payouts, and general ledger.
• Lead initiatives to reduce manual work through system enhancements and automation.

Systems & Data Integrity

• Own accounting system configuration, roles, workflows, approvals, and integrations.
• Ensure clean data ingestion from upstream systems impacting billing, revenue, and payouts.
• Partner cross-functionally to resolve data, system, or process gaps affecting accounting accuracy.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner cross-functionally with leadership and teams across the organization to support forecasting, operational decision-making, and reporting accuracy.
• Present accounting findings, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ensure strong alignment between Accounting, FP&A, and Finance Operations.

Required Qualifications and Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 8–12 years of progressive accounting experience, including people management.
• Strong U.S. GAAP and ASC 606 knowledge.
• Experience preparing financial statements in regulated environments.
• Deep experience with ERP systems (NetSuite or similar).
• Proven ability to lead audits, system implementations, and process improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fintech, trading, payments, or subscription-based businesses.
• Experience with multi-processor payout and clearing account reconciliation.
• Background supporting regulatory, compliance, or broker-dealer environments.
• Demonstrated success building scalable accounting teams and processes.

Company Culture & Perks

• Topstep is an engaging working environment which ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration with cameras on during meetings and a robust Slack environment for communication. 
• 10 Company paid Holidays and generous Family Leave. Paid time off is accrued monthly.
• Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance is offered for full time employees 
• Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days. Employee referrals are bonused. Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.

New Hire Base Salary Range

• $150,000-$200,000
• Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
• The compensation offered will take into account internal compensation structure and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Topstep is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees and applicants are valued. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Interested in the role? Apply today with your resume and cover letter!

At this time immigration sponsorship is not available for this position (including H-1B, STEM OPT training plans, etc.).