Controller - Finance

Arketa is building the operating system for modern fitness and wellness, empowering studios and wellness entrepreneurs to grow beyond in-person classes. Their platform manages schedules, bookings, payments, video libraries, retreats, marketing, and branded apps/websites. With $15M in Series A funding, they are rapidly scaling and seeking a Controller to lead their in-house accounting function.

About the Role

As the first in-house accounting hire, you will take full ownership of bookkeeping, month-end close, financial reporting, tax, and audit processes. This role requires hands-on work in the books, running reconciliations, and building a foundation for leadership decisions. You will start as an individual contributor for 6 to 12 months, with a clear path to becoming a Senior Controller leading a small team as the function grows.

About the Team

You will join the Finance team, working directly with the VP of Finance. Accounting has been outsourced until now, and you will build the function from the ground up. You will have high visibility with leadership and collaborate closely with external auditors and tax advisors. Future hires will be organized by P&L line (revenue and expenses).

What You'll Do:

• Month-end close & financial reporting: Drive a timely, accurate close and produce monthly financial statements that leadership can trust and act on.

• Audit leadership: Serve as the primary liaison to the external audit firm, prepare schedules, respond to PBC requests, and manage the audit timeline.

• Internal controls & GL structure: Design and maintain the control environment, including correct account and department mapping, clean categorization rules, and documentation for audit scrutiny.

• Tax compliance & coordination: Manage tax filings and coordination with external tax partners, including credits (e.g., R&D) and multi-state considerations.

• Payables & receivables: Manage the full AP/AR cycle, including vendor bill pay, employee reimbursements, invoicing, and collections, ensuring nothing sits stale or miscategorized.

• Bookkeeping & accounting operations: Own day-to-day bookkeeping alongside higher-level accounting: transaction categorization, journal entries, and general ledger maintenance across banking, payroll, payments, and accounting systems. Use AI to speed up repetitive tasks while ensuring accuracy.

What Success Looks Like:

• First 30 days: Take ownership of the books from the outsourced partner, learn systems (banking, payroll, Stripe, Brex, accounting), run your first month-end close, and have audit prep underway for the December kickoff.

• First 60 days: Serve as the day-to-day lead with auditors through fieldwork, delivering schedules and PBC requests on time, while tightening GL mapping and categorization rules.

• First 90 days: Deliver a consistent and reliable monthly close, have core internal controls documented, and aim for 99% bookkeeping accuracy.

What We're Looking For:

• Typically 5+ years of progressive accounting experience. Candidates with 3 to 4 years doing this work are also encouraged to apply.

• Big 4 (public accounting) training or experience in the accounting function of a large company, ideally followed by a move into a high-ownership, early-stage environment.

• Deep command of core accounting: month-end close, financial reporting, internal controls, payables and receivables, and tax.

• A high-ownership mindset and genuine enjoyment of hands-on work.

• Comfort with ambiguity and building processes where none exist.

• Best-in-class attention to detail and unwavering commitment to accuracy.

• Experience using AI to speed up repetitive tasks while exercising judgment.

• Authorization to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.

Bonus:

• CPA

• Prior audit experience, ideally from the company side (preparing schedules, responding to PBC requests, managing the audit timeline).

• Familiarity with Stripe and Brex (or similar tools) and experience managing books across multiple systems without a unified ERP.

You Should Apply If:

• You're smart, a little bored in your current role, and hungry for a bigger challenge.

• You want to build a finance function from scratch with real visibility and ownership.

• You trained in public accounting or a large company and are ready to own the whole picture at an early-stage company.

• You want to be hands-on today with a clear path to Senior Controller and a team.

• You're mission-driven and excited about wellness becoming more accessible.

You May Not Want to Apply If:

• You prefer the structure and defined scope of a large, slower-moving environment.

• You'd rather manage the work than do it yourself.

• You need fully built-out processes to be effective.

• You want a slower pace or a more established later-stage environment.

What We Offer:

• Ownership and Opportunity for Advancement

• Competitive Salary and Stock Options

• Unlimited PTO

• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance

• Fitness Class Reimbursement

• Parental Leave Policy