The posting
Company Overview:
Everything we do is for educators. We’re partnering with them to advance a bold vision for education that boosts district performance and student success. At Follett Software, we empower educators across roles with technology that streamlines processes and manages information and resources to improve their schools, increase student success, and drive the future of education. We believe that by empowering educators to amplify their impact on students’ lives, we can change the world. Our goal and mission is to drive the future of education. We are inspired by educators to deliver transformative technology. Our innovative, connected solutions simplify challenges and offer a seamless and intuitive experience.
Position Summary:
This is an opportunity to help shape the next chapter of a growing SaaS business. Reporting to the Assistant Controller, you’ll lead the people and processes behind a reliable, scalable global close—bringing hands-on ownership to close execution, reconciliations, consolidation, and financial reporting while developing a team that can deliver with confidence. You’ll be the technical accounting leader for complex questions across U.S. GAAP and IFRS, turning sound judgment into clear, consistent policy and practical guidance for partners across the Company. You’ll strengthen controls and audit readiness, resolve issues at their root, and make the close faster and more dependable through thoughtful standardization, systems improvements, and automation. This role is for a leader who can move comfortably between the detail and the bigger picture: setting clear expectations, coaching people, communicating confidently with stakeholders, and taking ownership until the work is done.
Position Scope:
Financial Close Leadership
- Plan, schedule, and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close calendar across all entities, setting clear deadlines and dependencies for each team member.
- Lead the close process from cutoff through final reporting, identifying bottlenecks and escalating risks to the Assistant Controller before they affect deadlines.
- Coordinate intercompany eliminations, foreign currency translation, and consolidation entries, and confirm that intercompany balances reconcile between entities.
- Prepare and review journal entries, including accruals, deferrals, and adjusting entries, and verify that supporting documentation is complete.
Account Reconciliation Review
- Review and approve balance sheet reconciliations for all general ledger accounts.
- Assess reconciling items for aging, root cause, and appropriateness, and require resolution or documented justification for items that remain open beyond policy thresholds.
- Confirm that reconciliations are performed timely, are complete, and include evidence of preparer and reviewer sign-off.
- Monitor subledger-to-GL tie-outs.
GAAP and IFRS Compliance
- Ensure that accounting policies are applied consistently across entities and that differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS, or between local GAAP and group policy, are identified, documented, and reconciled.
- Maintain accounting policy documentation and technical memos for significant or unusual transactions, including the accounting for leases (ASC 842 / IFRS 16), business combinations, stock-based compensation, and income taxes.
- Support preparation of statutory financial statements and local filings for international subsidiaries in coordination with local teams or external advisors.
Internal Controls and Audit
- Design, document, and test key controls over the close and reconciliation processes.
- Serve as support point of contact for external auditors during interim reviews and the annual audit, providing timely PBC responses and resolving audit inquiries.
- Identify control gaps and segregation-of-duties conflicts and recommend remediation to the Assistant Controller.
Process Improvement and Systems
- Identify opportunities to automate reconciliations, close tasks, and reporting using the ERP, consolidation software, and reconciliation tools including AI.
- Lead or support system implementations and upgrades that affect the close, such as M&A integrations.
- Standardize processes across subsidiaries to reduce close duration and improve data quality.
Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop team members through regular one-on-ones and timely, specific feedback; recognize individual strengths and support career growth through meaningful development and stretch opportunities.
- Lead by example and foster an inclusive, collaborative team environment through open, transparent communication; share organizational updates, act on feedback, remove obstacles, and provide the resources and support people need to succeed.
- Partner with Recruiting to attract talent and retain high performers through recognition and opportunities for advancement.
- Delegate meaningful ownership and decision-making, translate organizational priorities into clear, measurable goals, and hold team members accountable for commitments and results, addressing underperformance promptly and constructively.
- Seek and incorporate differing perspectives, make it safe to raise concerns or mistakes without blame, and help the team align and follow through once decisions are made.
- Lead responsible AI adoption by identifying practical opportunities, helping team members build relevant skills, and modeling critical judgment, protection of sensitive information, and validation of AI-generated output.
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field
- CPA license or CPA eligibility
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience including at least 4 years of supervising staff, preferably in a technology company, or a public accounting firm serving technology clients
- Experience with multi-entity and/or multi-country environments, including hands-on experience managing a multi-entity monthly close, including intercompany accounting, consolidation, and foreign currency translation
- Deep working knowledge of GAAP and practical experience with IFRS, including differences in areas such as revenue, leases, and foreign currency
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with a major ERP system (NetSuite)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high level of attention to detail and accuracy
- Demonstrated ability to build strong cross-functional relationships, communicate clearly, and collaborate across teams to resolve issues and achieve shared goals.
Preferred
- Experience working with international subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions, including local statutory reporting.
- Experience in a company undergoing rapid growth and/or acquisition integration.
Work Environment:
- This role is remote and only open to candidates currently located in the United States and able to work without sponsorship.
- It requires a suitable space that provides a private and quiet workplace.
- Work hours and schedules are set to accommodate the requirements of the position and the needs of the organization and may be adjusted as needed.
EEO
Follett Software provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation in the application process due to a disability, please contact us by email and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Email: [email protected]
CCPA Notice for California Residents: https://follettsoftware.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Notice-to-California-Applicants.pdf
