Controller

THE OPPORTUNITY: Controller

REPORTS TO: Chief Financial Officer

LOCATION: US - Remote

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with an office in New York, NY, Birdy Grey supports remote work for eligible roles. We ask that all employees travel to either office once a quarter. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. #LI-Hybrid

Birdy Grey is looking for a hands-on, audit-seasoned Controller to own our accounting function end to end. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will lead the company through its first external financial statement audit, build a fast and reliable close, and raise our controls, reporting, and documentation to the standard expected of a company preparing for its next strategic chapter. You bring the rigor of public accounting, the scar tissue of a completed M&A transaction, and a working understanding of how inventory, returns, and e-commerce revenue really flow through the P&L of a DTC apparel brand.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Close & Reporting: Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close; drive to a consistent 5–7 business day close with complete, reviewed balance sheet reconciliations and flux analysis.
• External Audit Leadership: Serve as the primary point of contact for our external auditors; lead the company’s first financial statement audit and every audit thereafter, including PBC planning, audit-ready schedules, and technical memos.
• GAAP & Technical Accounting: Own accounting policies and technical positions under US GAAP, including ASC 606 revenue recognition for e-commerce (returns reserves, gift cards, discounts, swatches), ASC 330 inventory, ASC 842 leases, and equity/stock compensation.
• Inventory Accounting: Own inventory costing and valuation, including landed cost capitalization (freight, duty, tariffs), cost-of-goods accuracy, physical count and cycle count reconciliation, and obsolescence/lower-of-cost reserves.
• Transaction Readiness: Partner with the CFO to prepare the finance function for due diligence and potential strategic transactions—data rooms, quality-of-earnings support, working capital analyses, and clean, defensible historical financials.
• Internal Controls: Design, document, and maintain a scalable internal control environment (segregation of duties, approval workflows, SOX-lite controls) sized for a company of our stage.
• Tax & Compliance: Coordinate with external tax advisors on federal and state income tax, the annual tax provision, multi-state sales tax nexus and remittance, and customs/duty compliance including First Sale.
• Treasury & Cash: Oversee cash management, bank reconciliations, payment controls, and covenant or lender reporting as applicable.
• Systems & Automation: Own the accounting systems stack (QuickBooks Online, Shopify, Fulfil, Bill.com, Brex) and lead close automation and AI-enabled workflows, with a bias toward getting more out of the tools we already have.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team; set clear standards, review work, and build a culture of ownership and accuracy.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with FP&A, Operations, Merchandising, and Supply Chain so that inventory, purchasing, and vendor terms are recorded accurately and on time.
• Special Projects: Support board reporting, lender and investor requests, and other finance initiatives as needed.

THE RIGHT CANDIDATE: QUALIFICATIONS & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree Required 

EXPERIENCE / REQUIREMENTS:

• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in public accounting (audit)
• Direct, hands-on experience leading or supporting a company through an M&A transaction (buy-side or sell-side), including due diligence, quality of earnings, and post-close accounting
• Experience in a direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, or apparel/fashion company, with a strong command of inventory accounting and landed cost
• Proven track record owning the close and serving as the primary liaison for an external financial statement audit
• Deep knowledge of US GAAP, particularly revenue recognition, inventory, and reserves
• Experience building or strengthening internal controls in a growth-stage company
• 3+ years managing and developing accounting staff
• Advanced Excel skills; comfortable working with large datasets and reconciling across multiple systems
• Excited about AI and actively leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, Copilot) to accelerate your own work and identify opportunities to embed AI-driven automation across operations
• Impeccable organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to perform data deep dives to surface actionable insights.
• Proactive problem solver with the ability to troubleshoot and/or escalate issues effectively.
• Hard working and willing to roll sleeves up - no job is too big or too small.
• You have an entrepreneurial spirit. You thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, fluid environment. You are comfortable with ambiguity and take initiative to lead projects.

NICE TO HAVES:

• Start-up experience 
• Interest in bridal and fashion
• Experience leading a company’s first audit or an auditor transition
• Experience with import/customs accounting, tariffs, and First Sale programs
• Hands-on experience with QuickBooks Online, Shopify, Fulfil (or a similar ERP), Bill.com, and Brex
• Experience with close automation tools or using AI to streamline accounting workflows
• Familiarity with SQL, BigQuery, or BI tools such as Looker
• Start-up or PE/VC-backed company experience