Controller

About Alta Advisors

Alta Advisors is a San Francisco-based strategic finance and accounting firm serving frontier technology startups. We act as embedded partners to visionary founders building technically complex, capital-intensive companies, providing fractional CFO leadership, capital raising, and operational finance.

We have helped our clients raise over $500M and support companies representing more than $2B in enterprise value, backed by leading venture capital firms.

Our clients operate across frontier technology sectors, including AI, robotics, defense, climate, hardware, and enterprise software. We help these companies navigate complex financial operations, evolving business models, and investor-grade reporting requirements.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced, client-facing Controller to own accounting delivery and financial reporting for a portfolio of U.S.-based startup clients.

You will serve as the primary accounting point of contact for your assigned clients, ensuring accurate financial reporting, proactive communication, and dependable accounting delivery.

You will collaborate closely with our Director of Operational Accounting and Accounting Manager. The Accounting Manager leads month-end close execution and coordinates the accounting team, while you focus on client relationships, financial review, technical accounting matters, and overall delivery quality.

This is a senior, hands-on role requiring strong accounting judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple client relationships in dynamic environments.

We are also building an AI-driven accounting operation. We are looking for someone who already uses AI tools professionally, is curious about emerging technologies, and is excited to help shape more efficient, scalable accounting workflows.

What You'll Do

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary accounting contact for assigned clients, including founders, finance leaders, and other key stakeholders.

• Present and explain financial results, accounting issues, and recommendations in clear, practical terms.

• Proactively manage client expectations, reporting deadlines, requests, and escalations.

• Build trusted relationships through responsiveness, sound judgment, and consistent delivery.

Financial Reporting & Quality Control

• Oversee the quality and timely delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reporting packages.

• Review financial statements, reconciliations, workpapers, and accounting deliverables prepared by the team.

• Identify accounting errors, unusual balances, documentation gaps, and areas requiring investigation.

• Collaborate with the Accounting Manager to resolve issues, maintain reporting standards, and ensure reliable close processes.

• Maintain financial reporting and supporting documentation in an audit-ready condition.

Technical Accounting

• Apply US GAAP principles across areas including revenue recognition, accruals, deferred revenue, leases, inventory, fixed assets, multi-entity structures, and multi-currency accounting.

• Independently resolve routine and moderately complex accounting matters, collaborating on complex issues and escalating unusual or high-risk judgments when appropriate.

• Support clients through financial audits, investor and lender due diligence, and accounting-related tax requests.

• Help address accounting challenges arising from evolving business models, systems, and operational requirements.

Systems & Process Management

• Identify system gaps, data inconsistencies, integration issues, and workflow inefficiencies affecting reporting quality.

• Improve accounting processes, internal controls, and documentation to support accurate, scalable financial operations.

• Collaborate with the accounting team to optimize workflows across general ledger systems and related platforms, including AP, payroll, billing, and expense management.

AI & Automation

• Actively leverage AI tools and automation to improve accounting workflows, financial reviews, reconciliations, reporting, and documentation.

• Identify, develop, and implement AI-driven solutions that reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and increase operational efficiency.

• Continuously explore and experiment with emerging AI technologies, identifying practical applications across Alta's accounting operations.

• Champion AI adoption within the accounting team by sharing knowledge, introducing new workflows, and helping others integrate AI into their daily work.

• Help build an AI-native accounting practice where automation, technology, and continuous improvement are central to how services are delivered.

• Experiment with emerging AI capabilities and help establish modern, scalable accounting practices.

Operational Excellence & Team Collaboration

• Coordinate with the Accounting Manager on client onboarding, accounting takeovers, historical cleanups, and close-readiness initiatives.

• Manage competing priorities across multiple client engagements while maintaining quality and deadlines.

• Provide clear, actionable review feedback to improve accounting deliverables.

• Contribute to process improvements, standardization, and operational scalability as Alta grows.

What Success Looks Like

• Reliable Delivery: Clients consistently receive accurate, timely financial statements and reporting packages, supported by smooth close processes and minimal errors.

• Trusted Client Relationships: Founders and finance leaders view you as a proactive, dependable accounting partner who anticipates issues and communicates clearly.

• High Accounting Standards: Financial reporting is accurate, well-documented, and audit-ready, with technical issues appropriately resolved or escalated.

• Operational Efficiency: You collaborate effectively with the Accounting Manager and accounting team to strengthen controls, streamline workflows, and improve delivery.

• AI-Driven Improvement: You actively leverage AI and automation to reduce manual work, improve reporting quality, and help build a more scalable accounting operation.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Significant progressive accounting experience, including ownership of accounting operations, month-end close, financial reporting, and related controls.

• Prior multi-client accounting experience in an accounting firm, outsourced accounting provider, fractional finance firm, or similar professional services environment.

• Direct professional accounting experience with U.S.-based companies.

• Hands-on experience with venture-backed startups, high-growth businesses, or similarly dynamic operating environments.

• Experience serving as the primary accounting contact for clients, founders, executives, or finance leaders.

• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP, including accrual accounting, revenue recognition, deferred revenue, leases, inventory, fixed assets, multi-entity structures, and multi-currency accounting.

• Experience reviewing financial statements, reconciliations, and accounting work prepared by other accountants.

• Strong proficiency with QuickBooks Online or another major general ledger, Microsoft Excel, and Google Sheets.

• Familiarity with related financial systems, such as AP, payroll, billing, spend management, and reporting platforms.

• Practical experience using AI tools in professional workflows, with a proactive interest in adopting AI, automation, and modern accounting technologies.

• Professional written and spoken English, with the ability to lead discussions with U.S.-based clients.

• Based in Mexico and able to work under an independent contractor arrangement.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, Contador Público Certificado, or equivalent accounting certification.

• Background in public accounting, Big 4, audit, accounting advisory, or outsourced operational accounting.

• Experience serving deeptech, hardtech, applied AI, robotics, defense, climate, manufacturing, R&D-intensive, or other technically complex businesses.

• Familiarity with SaaS, usage-based revenue, hardware sales, project accounting, services revenue, or other complex business models.

• Experience with government contracts, grants, reimbursable cost programs, or project cost tracking.

• Experience with accounting system implementations, complex client transitions, historical cleanups, or workflow automation.

Why Join Alta Advisors?

• Work with innovative founders: Support companies building frontier technologies across AI, robotics, climate, hardware, and other advanced industries.

• Meaningful client ownership: Build direct relationships with founders and finance leaders and have a visible impact on their businesses.

• Help shape an AI-driven accounting practice: Apply modern technology and automation to improve how accounting services are delivered.

• High-impact work: Help startups establish reliable accounting infrastructure and navigate increasingly complex financial requirements.

• Room to grow: Join a collaborative, high-ownership team with opportunities to expand your responsibilities as Alta continues to scale.

Engagement Details

• Engagement: Full-time independent contractor.

• Location: Remote, based in Mexico.

• Availability: Ability to coordinate with U.S.-based clients and Alta's team during mutually agreed meeting and collaboration windows.

• Primary Contact: Director of Operational Accounting.

• Compensation: Monthly contractor fee in USD, based on experience and qualifications.

• Travel: Occasional travel may be required.

Selection Process

Our selection process includes an initial application review, online skills assessments, structured interviews, and a practical accounting assessment for finalists.

Please submit your CV in English and indicate your expected monthly contractor fee in USD.

Alta Advisors considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.