Controller

About Odyssey:

K-12 education is one of the most consequential determinants of a child’s future — and many families have had limited ability to shape how and where their child learns. Education Savings Account (ESA) programs are changing that. One of the fastest-growing public education initiatives in the U.S., they give states the ability to put education funding directly in the hands of families, who can then choose the learning experiences that best fit their child — from schools and tutors to therapy, curriculum, and technology.

But once these policies are signed into law, states face an enormous operational challenge. They must stand up entirely new programs, manage the secure and compliant flow of public funds, approve and monitor thousands of vendors, support families at scale, and prevent fraud — all while delivering a high-quality user experience.

That’s where Odyssey comes in.

We partner with state agencies to design, launch, and operate ESA and grant programs on their behalf. We provide the technology, program operations, vendor ecosystem, and family experience that make these programs actually work in the real world. Today, we operate across 6 states, and our platform powers programs serving 200,000+ students and over $1B in education funding — and we’re just getting started.

Most recently, we launched the Texas Education Savings Account (EFA) program — the biggest day-one ESA launch in the country — which has already received nearly 200,000 applications. It’s the kind of moment that captures exactly what we’re building toward: programs that work at scale, from day one, when it matters most.

We’re backed by respected investors, including a16z and Tusk Venture Partners, and we’re building the team that will take us to the next stage.

Odyssey sits at the intersection of GovTech, EdTech, and FinTech. We are a public-sector operator, a technology company, and a program delivery partner all at once. The work we do is civic infrastructure — it determines whether families can access life-changing educational opportunities.

We’re in the weeds with state partners, internally with our product teams, and turning ambiguous policy into real systems that families depend on. This means building a platform that meets each state’s configuration needs while being flexible enough to support all customers. We are not building be-spoke software!

If you want a highly structured environment, this will feel uncomfortable. If you want ownership, speed, and problems that actually matter, you’ll feel right at home.

We're looking for a Controller to own and scale the accounting function as the business grows. This role is well-suited for someone who has built a strong foundation in public accounting and has worked at a high-growth company.

We expect you to have a genuine curiosity about the business, not just the numbers. Accounting is the foundation that decisions get made on — and you can't do it well without understanding how the business actually operates. You'll report directly to the CFO and serve as the financial backbone of the organization — responsible for the integrity of the books, the close process, GAAP compliance, audit readiness, and the systems and controls that keep pace with our growth.

This Isn't Your Typical Controller Role

This role sits close to the core of the business — working across state partners, program operations, and a payments infrastructure that moves over $1.5 billion annually. Accounting is tightly connected to how funds move through the platform, and the level of complexity and scrutiny is meaningfully higher than in a typical startup environment.

The stakes are real. The systems you help build and operate determine whether funds are tracked, allocated, and used correctly — and whether programs function as intended for the families who rely on them.

If you’re looking for a highly structured environment with well-defined processes, this likely won’t be a fit. If you’re energized by ownership, speed, and solving real operational problems in a complex system — this is an environment you’ll thrive in.

What You'll Do

Close & Reporting

• Own the end-to-end monthly, quarterly, and annual close process — driving accuracy and timeliness

• Prepare and review GAAP-compliant financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement

• Build reporting infrastructure that provides leadership with clear and timely visibility into the business

Audit Readiness

• Lead the company through audits — managing the relationship with external auditors and ensuring the organization is consistently audit-ready

• Establish and maintain accounting policies and procedures that are well-documented and scalable

• Design and implement internal controls that strengthen financial integrity as the business grows

Funds Flow & Operational Accounting

• Own accounting for how funds move through the platform, including reconciliation across payment systems and internal records

• Partner with payments operations to help build scalable processes around high-volume transactions and multi-state program activity

Financial Systems & Infrastructure

• Design and improve the accounting systems and data infrastructure that support the business

• Reduce manual processes and improve the reliability and speed of financial reporting

• Lead ERP evaluation and implementation as the company scales

Technical Accounting & GAAP Compliance

• Ensure GAAP compliance across relevant standards — including ASC 606 (revenue recognition) and ASC 718 (equity compensation)

• Manage equity compensation accounting and cap table-to-ledger reconciliations in coordination with legal and HR

Accounting Operations

• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, payroll accounting, and reconciliations

• Oversee 1099 reporting and other compliance filings in coordination with external advisors

• Manage relationships with external accounting partners

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the CFO on board reporting, investor materials, and fundraising readiness

• Work closely with FP&A to ensure alignment between actuals and forecast

• Collaborate across program operations, legal, and HR on accounting-adjacent workflows — including state compliance and vendor onboarding

About You

Must Have

• CPA required

• 7–12 years of progressive accounting experience, with meaningful time at a Big 4 accounting firm and at a high-growth, venture-backed company

• Experience building and formalizing accounting processes and controls in a scaling environment

• Deep command of US GAAP, including revenue recognition and equity compensation

• Ability to operate independently while also partnering closely with leadership on more complex or evolving areas

• Comfortable working in environments where systems and processes are still being built and refined

Nice to Have

• Experience at a SaaS, FinTech, or GovTech company — or at a company that has scaled through a similar compliance-heavy environment

• Familiarity with trust account structures, public funds, or other regulated fund environments

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

• We believe that everyone at Odyssey should be compensated fairly. We set our salary bands based on compensation data from hundreds of companies at our stage. The salary range for this role is $185,000 - $225,000 depending on qualifications, skills, and experience.

• Odyssey benefits include Medical/Dental/Vision plan(s), health services, short-term disability, unlimited PTO, and more.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity Employment:

Odyssey is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.