Ascertain Fractional Controller at Ascertain responsible for overseeing financial reporting integrity and accounting judgments. Manage outsourced accounting partner and establish accounting policies and cost accounting methodologies.
Responsibilities
As Ascertain’s Fractional Controller, you will own the integrity of our financial reporting and the accounting judgments behind it. You will work directly with our Director of Operations & Finance and direct the work of our outsourced accounting partner.
This is not a bookkeeping role. Our accounting partner handles transaction processing and runs the monthly close. You will set accounting policy, review and sign off on the close, and make sure our financial statements hold up to scrutiny from auditors, investors, and partners.
This is a contract engagement of about two days per week, one of them on site in our Durham office. There is an option to increase the commitment as the company grows.
Accounting Policies & Technical Guidance: Establish and document GAAP-compliant accounting policies covering revenue recognition (ASC 606), cost of revenue, cost allocation, capitalized software, stock-based compensation, and accruals. Prepare technical accounting memos for material or complex accounting decisions.
Monthly Close & Financial Reporting: Oversee the monthly close process performed by our outsourced accounting partner. Review and approve reconciliations, journal entries, revenue schedules, and financial statements, ensuring accurate and timely reporting against an established close calendar.
Outsourced Accounting Oversight: Serve as the technical accounting lead for our outsourced accounting partner, providing guidance on complex transactions, establishing review standards, resolving accounting issues, and ensuring accountability for agreed deliverables.
Cost Accounting & Unit Economics: Develop and maintain a defensible methodology for allocating labor, infrastructure, and other delivery costs. Produce a monthly gross margin analysis by customer and revenue stream, reconciled to the general ledger, to support financial and operational decision-making.
Audit Readiness & Financial Controls: Establish and maintain the accounting documentation, reconciliations, supporting schedules, and internal controls necessary for audit readiness. Coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors on accounting matters, financial reporting, and compliance requirements.
Finance Systems & Scalability: Assess our existing accounting systems and processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop a roadmap for scalable financial infrastructure. Lead accounting requirements and implementation oversight for an ERP or other finance technology as business needs evolve.
Qualification
Active CPA license8+ years of accounting experienceWhat You’ll Bring to the TableTechnical AccountantIndependent Reviewer
Required
Active CPA license
8+ years of accounting experience, beginning in public accounting
Controller or senior technical accounting experience at a venture-backed technology or healthcare company
Hands-on ASC 606 experience with contracts that include implementation fees, pilots, or usage-based pricing
Experience leading companies through financial statement audits and external financial reviews
Experience designing cost allocation and gross margin reporting for software or services businesses
Experience leading a finance systems or ERP implementation, such as NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or a comparable platform
Based in the Research Triangle area and able to work on site in Durham one day per week
Healthcare services or health technology experience, including work under HIPAA, is a big plus
What You’ll Bring to the Table
Technical Accountant: You know GAAP deeply and can write a position that holds up to an auditor’s review.
Independent Reviewer: You tell leadership when the numbers are right, and you say so plainly when they are not.
