8 to 10+ years of relevant experience, ideally from a Big 4 or national firm
Builder mindset with a passion for establishing accounting functions
Deep expertise in US GAAP and ASC 606 revenue recognition
Experience with ERP and billing systems, especially in selection or implementation
Proficient in integrating AI into workflows
Strong communication skills, able to simplify complex concepts
High integrity and discretion required
Responsibilities
Own the monthly close process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency
Design and document accounting policies and internal controls
Apply GAAP judgment to complex revenue recognition scenarios
Manage the order-to-cash cycle, ensuring accuracy and timely collections
Prepare for the first audit by building audit-ready workpapers
Lead the selection and implementation of ERP and finance systems
Identify and adopt AI finance tools to enhance processes
Build and manage an in-house accounting team over time
Benefits
Opportunity to shape the accounting function from the ground up
Direct reporting to the CFO, providing high visibility
Hands-on role with significant impact on company growth
Potential for team leadership as the company scales
Engagement with innovative AI finance tools
Collaborative environment with cross-functional teams
Full Job Description
Sparrow is hiring its first Controller, reporting directly to the CFO. This is a foundational hire: today, all accounting work is handled by an outsourced provider with no dedicated internal owner. You'll take direct oversight of our outsourced accounting function, fix real process gaps that exist today, and build the accounting infrastructure, controls, and team that will take us through an eventual audit and beyond. This role is highly hands-on to start, with the expectation that you'll build and lead an in-house team over time as we transition functions off our outsourced provider.
Here's What You'll Do:
Own close: Run the monthly close end-to-end, journal entries, reconciliations, financial statements, with accuracy and improving speed over time. Establish a close calendar and repeatable processes that get tighter every month.
Build the accounting foundation: Design and document accounting policies, internal controls, and workflows from the ground up.
Own revenue recognition: Apply GAAP judgment to our prepay, usage-based, and pay-as-you-go contract mix, an area that doesn't fit a standard per-seat SaaS model and requires real thinking, not just following a template.
Lead order-to-cash: Own the full cycle from invoicing through collections, including reconciliation of usage-based billing against contracted commitments, working cross-functionally to ensure accuracy, reduce time-to-payment, and flag issues early.
Prepare us for our first audit: Own audit readiness end-to-end, building audit-ready workpapers, managing the relationship with external auditors, and ensuring we can move through our first audit efficiently and cleanly.
Drive ERP and system selection and implementation: Evaluate our current tools and lead the process of selecting and implementing the right ERP and other systems for where we're going. Bring a systems-thinking mindset.
Identify and adopt the right AI finance tools, including our own.
Build the team: Hire and manage an in-house accounting team over time as we transition functions off our outsourced provider.
About You:
CPA preferred but not required.
8 to 10+ years of relevant experience: Big 4 or national firm experience. Experience at a high-growth startup is a plus but not required.
Builder mindset above all else: You're energized by the work of building an accounting function from the ground up, setting up systems, writing the first version of a policy, figuring out the right process when no playbook exists.
Deep US GAAP expertise, with real ASC 606 revenue recognition experience. You can write the policy and defend it to an auditor.
Systems fluency: You've worked with ERP systems and billing systems. Bonus if you've been through an ERP or other systems selection or implementation before.
You've integrated AI meaningfully into how you work, and you build new workflows AI-first. You can speak specifically to where it works, where it doesn't, and how you've developed judgment about when to trust the output.
Clear communicator: You can explain accounting concepts without jargon. You're comfortable pushing back when something doesn't make financial sense.
Integrity and discretion: We need someone we trust completely.
Compensation
This is a full-time, salaried position with compensation of $160,000 to $225,000 depending on experience and location.
