Financial Controller

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER THE ROLE Gaia is looking for an experienced, highly technical Controller to own and strengthen our core accounting and financial operations as we continue to scale as a US-based company. This is a critical leadership role for someone who is hands-on, detail-oriented, and brings strong technical accounting judgment in a fast-paced startup environment. The Controller will report to the CFO and will be responsible for the integrity of our financials, the monthly close process, audit readiness, and building scalable accounting processes across the business. This role will partner closely with cross-functional leaders and play a key role in supporting investor reporting, decision-making, and compliance as we grow. This is a US-based role. WHO YOU ARE You are a CPA with deep technical accounting expertise and high standards for accuracy and quality. You take ownership of your work end to end and are comfortable rolling up your sleeves in a lean environment. You are thoughtful about process, understand the “why” behind accounting decisions, and can balance technical rigor with business pragmatism. You thrive in ambiguity, enjoy building and improving systems, and are confident pushing back when something is not right. You are organized, deadline-driven, and comfortable working closely with leadership in a high-growth company. WHAT YOU WILL DO - Own the monthly close process end to end, ensuring timely, accurate financial statements - Maintain the integrity of the general ledger, including reconciliations, journal entries, and accounting policies - Lead preparation for annual audits and manage relationships with external auditors and tax advisors - Ensure compliance with US GAAP and maintain strong internal controls - Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, and expense management - Review and analyze monthly operating expenses and budget variances, identifying trends, risks, and areas for improvement - Partner with Finance leadership on financial reporting, including monthly and quarterly investor reporting - Own intercompany accounting and reconciliations, as applicable - Support tax compliance and filings in partnership with external advisors - Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Product, Tech, People, and other teams to ensure financial accuracy and alignment - Identify, design, and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability - Help transition and stabilize accounting operations from existing contractors and legacy processes WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR - Active CPA required - 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including Controller or Assistant Controller experience - Deep technical accounting expertise and strong knowledge of US GAAP - Proven experience owning the close process and audit management - High attention to detail with a strong sense of accountability - Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a startup or high-growth environment - Strong analytical skills with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly - Experience working with modern accounting systems (Xero experience a plus) - Experience with multi-entity or group accounting and consolidations - Exposure to fintech, lending, insurance, or regulated financial products is a strong plus COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The base salary range for this role is $140,000–$180,000, depending on experience and alignment with the role. At Gaia, our people are the foundation of our success. We are committed to supporting our team’s wellbeing, growth, and long-term potential. In addition to a competitive, market-benchmarked salary, we offer: - Comprehensive healthcare coverage - Fertility and family-building support - A home office or setup budget for new hires - An annual personal development budget - Ongoing work on reward and recognition programs to ensure exceptional performance is meaningfully acknowledged Gaia is an equal opportunity employer…