Controller - Swayable

Swayable is in office 3x a week out of our Williamsburg, NY location

About Swayable:

Swayable is a fast-growing AI and automated data science platform that measures public opinion and the impact of messages and advertising content on it. We are a 40-person team backed by top technology and social impact investors, including Y Combinator. Founded in 2018 by physics PhDs, it is led by the former Executive Director for Digital Strategy at the New York Times. Clients include major consumer-facing brands (American Express, Airbnb, Paramount Pictures), technology companies (Anthropic, Meta, Amazon), academic researchers (MIT, Yale, Stanford) and mission-aligned civic advocacy campaigns (e.g. on climate, human rights and elections).

Joining Swayable means being on a team whose work changes the course of history. The technology we develop is at the leading edge of transforming some of the world’s most important campaign organizations and enterprises: combatting disinformation, protecting democracy, and supporting the sustainable growth of consumer-facing brands.

About The Role:

We’re hiring a Controller to own the financial operations of a 50-person, venture-backed SaaS company. You’ll be responsible for the integrity of our books, the accuracy of our financial reporting, and the day-to-day execution of our accounting function.

This role reports to the Head of Finance. We work with an external accounting team that handles AR/AP, sales tax, and portions of month-end close - your role is to own and review their output, prepare adjusting entries and accruals, and ensure everything closes accurately and on time. 

This is a hands-on role with real ownership and responsibilities. You’ll be directly responsible for the numbers and continuously building processes to help scale. The right candidate is technically strong, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating with the independence that comes with being the owner of the accounting function.

What You’ll Do:

• Review and oversee the external accounting team (e.g., AR/AP and month-end close functions) - ensuring accuracy and accountability to timelines and quality
• Prepare and post all adjusting journal entries, accruals, and non-routine entries that fall outside the external team’s scope; own general ledger and chart of accounts
• Own the full month-end close process - coordinating with the external team, completing internal entries, and ensuring books are closed accurately and on time
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and deliver clean reporting packages to leadership
• Maintain SaaS and ARR reporting - tracking subscription revenue, churn, and recurring revenue metrics in line with ASC 606 revenue recognition standards
• Own payroll processing and reconciliation - ensuring timely and accurate payroll runs and proper recording of payroll liabilities
• Manage banking relationships, cash positioning, and daily treasury operations
• Lead the annual audit and tax preparation process, serving as the primary liaison with external auditors and tax advisors
• Own our accounting systems (QuickBooks and integrated tools) - ensuring data integrity, clean integrations, and a well-maintained tech stack
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen controls and increase efficiency across the accounting function

Who You Are:

• CPA required
• 5–8 years of accounting experience; a combination of public accounting (Big 4 or mid-size firm) and/or industry experience is a strong plus
• Deep technical accounting knowledge: GL management, accruals, adjusting entries, reconciliations, payroll, and financial statement preparation
• Experience at a high-growth startup or SaaS company, with direct exposure to subscription revenue, ARR/MRR reporting, and ASC 606 is a plus
• Proficiency in QuickBooks (Online or Enterprise); experience optimizing or migrating accounting systems is a bonus
• High attention to detail and strong ownership instincts - you find problems before they surface, and you build the process to prevent them from recurring
• Able to operate independently in a lean environment with support from external accounting vendors / teams
• Clear communicator who can translate financial detail for non-finance stakeholders

Benefits:

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Plans - no employee contribution required
• Generous PTO
• Equity Options
• 401k plan, FSA
• Ongoing professional development investments
• Salary: $140-170K, dependent on experience

Swayable is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to promote an organizational environment that values diversity and fosters growth. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other basis prohibited by law. The team especially encourages applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.