Controller

The Network 101

$230K — $270K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • CPA required
  • 7-12 years of progressive accounting experience
  • Strong background in manufacturing, hardware, or inventory-heavy environments
  • Prior experience with ERP implementation or system selection
  • Deep knowledge of cost accounting, inventory accounting, and U.S. GAAP
  • Comfortable as a senior individual contributor who is hands-on, with growth potential to lead a larger finance team
  • Must be onsite in Scotts Valley (relocation support available)

Responsibilities

  • Lead selection and implementation of a new ERP system
  • Build inventory and cost accounting systems to support manufacturing and product COGS
  • Establish and own the month-end close process, including reconciliations and journal entries
  • Bring outsourced accounting functions in-house and prepare for the company's first audit
  • Ensure full U.S. GAAP compliance as the company scales into production
  • Hire, manage, and develop a junior accountant
  • Partner closely with engineering, operations, and leadership as products move toward production

Benefits

  • Relocation support provided
  • Working onsite 4-5 days a week
  • Opportunity for significant ownership across systems and processes
  • Direct impact on building the financial foundation of a scaling company
  • Strong equity upside in a company addressing a vital infrastructure problem
Full Job Description
Controller (Hands-On Build Role | Hardware / Manufacturing)

Location: Scotts Valley, CA (Onsite 4-5 days/week)
Relocation support provided
Salary: $230,000 - $270,000 base + meaningful equity

This is a rare opportunity to join at the ground floor of a company with significant customer demand, deep technical leadership, and the backing of experienced operators from world-class engineering organizations.
What You'll Do

You will act as both a hands-on operator and a builder of scalable finance infrastructure:
  • Lead selection and implementation of a new ERP system (transitioning off QuickBooks)
  • Build inventory and cost accounting systems to support manufacturing and product COGS
  • Establish and own the month-end close process, including reconciliations and journal entries
  • Bring outsourced accounting functions in-house and prepare the company for its first audit
  • Ensure full U.S. GAAP compliance as the company scales into production
  • Hire, manage, and develop a junior accountant (already approved)
  • Partner closely with engineering, operations, and leadership as products move toward production
What We're Looking For
  • CPA required
  • 7-12 years of progressive accounting experience
  • Strong background in manufacturing, hardware, or inventory-heavy environments
  • Prior experience with ERP implementation or system selection
  • Deep knowledge of cost accounting, inventory accounting, and U.S. GAAP
  • Comfortable as a senior individual contributor who is still hands-on today, with a path to building and leading a larger finance team
  • Must be onsite in Scotts Valley (relocation support available)
Why This Role
  • First dedicated Controller in a rapidly scaling hardware company
  • Direct impact on building the financial foundation of a future manufacturing business
  • Work alongside leadership with deep experience scaling complex engineering organizations
  • Significant ownership across systems, processes, and team build-out
  • Strong equity upside in a company solving a critical infrastructure problem
Ideal Background

Candidates often come from:
  • High-growth hardware or manufacturing companies
  • Aerospace, EV, robotics, semiconductor, or industrial tech environments
  • Controller / Assistant Controller / Senior Finance Manager roles with ERP + cost accounting exposure
Interview Process
  1. Hiring Manager Interview (technical + cultural fit)
  2. Take-home technical case study (3-5 hours)
  3. On-site panel interview (Scotts Valley office)
  4. Final interview with executive leadership team

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