Controller

Summary

Join Instacart as a Corporate Controller and lead the accounting operations of this fast-paced public technology marketplace organization. Reporting to the Chief Accounting Officer, you will oversee various accounting functions, including cash, payroll, billing, and more. This critical leadership role requires driving operational excellence, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering continuous process improvement. You will directly impact the scalability and efficiency of accounting operations, playing a pivotal role in the organization’s growth. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who thrives in dynamic environments and excels at solving complex challenges. This role involves leading a high-performing accounting team and partnering with peers across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA certification is required
• 15+ years of progressive accounting leadership experience in a publicly traded company or audit environment
• Expertise in US GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance frameworks (SOX, etc.)
• Strong operational and technical accounting experience, including complex areas such as consolidations, inventory/cost accounting, fixed assets, and cash management
• Proven track record in leading large teams and managing diverse accounting functions
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to work and collaborate across cross-functional teams

Responsibilities

• Oversee mission-critical accounting operations, including Cash, Credit & Collections, AP, Payroll, Billing, Cost Accounting, Fixed Assets, Consolidations, International and General Accounting
• Work directly with cross-functional partners to drive process efficiencies and operational excellence across accounting functions
• Collaborate with the CAO’s Direct Reports, including teams in SEC reporting, SOX compliance, and financial systems, to ensure seamless synergy across accounting and financial processes
• Be a champion of accuracy, operational efficiency, and continual process improvement while ensuring timely and compliant reporting
• Push forward transformation initiatives, including centralizing project management, streamlining processes, scaling operations, and adopting automation
• Ensure the timely and thorough preparation, review, and reconciliation of all balance sheet accounts, maintaining a clean, accurate, and audit-ready balance sheet at all times
• Oversee and enforce robust reconciliation processes, ensuring all accounts are reconciled accurately and discrepancies are investigated and resolved promptly to maintain financial integrity
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring all journal entries, accruals, and adjustments are properly supported and documented
• Conduct detailed fluctuation (flux) analysis of balance sheet and income statement accounts, identifying and explaining significant variances between periods, and proactively addressing underlying causes
• Provide comprehensive, data-driven fluctuation analysis to senior management, supporting informed decision-making and enabling early detection of errors, omissions, or unusual activity
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal controls and best practices for account reconciliations and financial reporting, minimizing risk and ensuring compliance with GAAP and company policies
• Foster a culture of accountability and precision within the accounting team, providing training and guidance on best practices for reconciliations, analysis, and reporting
• Oversee all accounting operations, including Cash, AP, Payroll, Billing, Cost Accounting, Consolidations, International and Fixed Assets
• Ensure timely and accurate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes
• Ensure all accounting functions are compliant with US GAAP, SOX requirements, and other applicable regulatory standards
• Partner with the Senior Director of SOX Compliance to maintain a strong internal control environment
• Work with peers in SEC Reporting, SOX, Revenue, and Financial Systems to create a seamless and fully integrated financial reporting and control environment
• Partner with other organizational leaders to support new product launches, centralize project management, and drive cross-functional initiatives
• Champion a culture of process improvement and innovation by leveraging automation, data analytics, and AI-driven tools
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Financial Systems to prioritize system upgrades and introduce analytical tools to enhance operational efficiency
• Mentor and develop your team, encouraging technical and professional growth
• Create an inclusive and collaborative culture where continuous improvement is prioritized

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or MBA
• Direct experience with public technology or marketplace companies
• Strong knowledge of financial systems such as Oracle, and tools like FloQast, Klarity, Alteryx, and BI platforms
• Experience in finance transformation initiatives, including centralized project management, system overhauls, and implementing automation or AI-powered tools
• Ability to adapt quickly to a fast-paced, constantly changing environment and solve complex problems

Benefits

• Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work
• This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location
• Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role
• Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants
• CA, NY, CT, NJ $261,000 — $290,000 USD
• WA $250,000 — $278,000 USD
• OR, DE, ME, MA, MD, NH, RI, VT, DC, PA, VA, CO, TX, IL, HI $240,000 — $278,000 USD
• All other states $217,000 — $241,000 USD