Controller

Job Description

WE HAVE CREATED A WORLD WHERE ART AND SCIENCE ARE BEST FRIENDS

Known is a modern marketing company engineered for the unprecedented opportunities and challenges facing marketers today. We are about 200+ people strong, pairing PhD data scientists with award-winning creatives, strategists, engineers and expert research teams to produce some of the most innovative and cutting-edge creative work in culture. We believe that when creative truly collaborates with science, strategy, and technology, amazing things can happen.

Ad Age touted that “Known may be the ultimate example of a full-service agency,” and honored us with two prestigious recognitions this year: #3 on The A-List as one of the top agencies in the world, and Ad Age’s Data & Insights Agency of the year for the second year in a row. Without our incredible partnerships with our clients, spanning across the leading brands in finance, technology, entertainment, media, CPG, real estate, and many other categories, honors like this could not be possible, and also have helped us earn additional awards and recognitions over the years like: Emmys, Clios Entertainment and Sports Awards, Effies, Cannes Lions Awards, ProMax Agency of the Year, and Digiday’s Most Innovative Media Agency to name a few.

We couldn’t create this award-winning work without seeking out and hiring the best talent. What does it mean to be a Knowner? We are curious innovators, knowledge-hunters who are constantly challenging ourselves to do better and be better for our clients, for our team and for our world at large. Our offices around the U.S. are open and while most of our people work in a hybrid setting, we are a distributed workforce with a number of Knowners working remotely.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU

The Controller leads the agency’s accounting function, with responsibility for financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance with U.S. GAAP. Reporting to the SVP, Accounting & Finance, this role ensures the accuracy and timeliness of financial information and supports operational decision-making through clear and reliable reporting.

This role is intended for a candidate who views accounting as a tool to support the business, not an end in itself. The Controller is expected to translate financial results into insights that help leadership understand performance and identify issues early. Financial reporting should not only explain what happened, but also highlight the drivers of performance and where attention is needed going forward. The Controller serves as a trusted financial leader to senior leadership, building credibility through the accuracy, integrity, and consistency of financial reporting and accounting operations.

The Controller will also drive improvements in the close process, accounting workflows, and systems to increase efficiency, reduce manual work, and support the agency’s continued growth.

This role requires sound judgment in prioritizing issues, improving processes, and focusing the accounting team on the areas of greatest business impact.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Accounting Operations

• Lead all core accounting activities, including general ledger, revenue accounting, cost accounting, and the monthly close
• Maintain and enforce accounting policies in accordance with U.S. GAAP
• Ensure financial processes are scalable and aligned with the agency’s growth and evolving service offerings

Close & Reporting

• Own the monthly and quarterly close process, including timelines, deliverables, and review procedures
• Ensure balance sheet integrity through rigorous review of reconciliations and account analyses
• Deliver accurate and timely financial statements and management reports
• Present financial results to senior leadership and other financial stakeholders

Revenue & Cost Accounting

• Oversee revenue recognition in accordance with ASC 606, including principal vs. agent considerations
• Ensure accurate accounting for media and production costs, including accruals, true-ups, rebates, credits, and vendor incentives
• Partner with Media and Operations teams to deliver clear reporting on client and project profitability, including margin analysis and resource utilization

Treasury & Cash Management

• Oversee day-to-day cash management, including cash positioning, liquidity planning, and bank relationships
• Maintain effective working relationships with banking partners and other external stakeholders as needed
• Manage debt obligations, including borrowings, repayments, and compliance with all loan covenants, ensuring accurate and timely debt reporting, including covenant calculations and lender reporting requirements
• Partner with the SVP, Accounting & Finance and Head of FP&A on cash forecasting and liquidity planning

Controls & Compliance

• Establish and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and lead the audit process
• Ensure compliance with all applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements

Systems & Process Improvement

• Improve the speed, consistency, and accuracy of the financial close
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce manual work and increase efficiency
• Partner with finance and technology teams on ERP, billing, and media system enhancements to ensure data accuracy and consistency across platforms

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop the accounting team, including setting clear responsibilities and performance expectations
• Foster a disciplined and accountable team environment focused on accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement
• Build trust and credibility within the team, across the organization and among executive leadership through consistent execution and clear communication

WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU HAVE

• Experience: 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership responsibility. Prior experience in a media, marketing, or advertising environment is required
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required
• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and ASC 606; experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and industry platforms (e.g., Mediaocean/Prisma, Bill.com); awareness of the growing role of AI in financial operations and best practices for its use
• Execution: Demonstrated ability to improve close processes, strengthen controls, and implement more efficient accounting workflows
• Mindset: Approaches accounting as a tool to support business performance; able to connect financial results to operational drivers and communicate implications clearly
• Communication: Ability to explain financial results and issues clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Partnership: Track record of building strong working relationships with senior leadership and across the organization

SOME OF OUR PERKS

• Unlimited paid time off
• 401k with company matching and no vesting period
• Annual bonuses
• Generous medical plan
• Paid parental leave

ONE LAST THING TO ASK YOURSELF

All this might sound great, but you’re probably still wondering, “Would I be a good fit for Known?” or “Would Known be a good fit for me?” Our culture is propped up by four values that we aspire to every day: We are one team. We see the good. We never stop learning. There’s always a better way. At Known we are setting out to build something more than just a company. We are building a legacy filled with exceptionally talented people with a kaleidoscope of backgrounds, experiences, and origin stories who feel encouraged and empowered to bring their whole selves to work, and to partner with us in molding and shaping our culture through our values.

Known is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or locally protected class.

The base salary for this position is $175k-$200k

This range is posted in compliance with state and municipal Pay Transparency laws. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible to receive additional Known benefits.

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