Avalara is scaling into a multi-billion-dollar global SaaS company, and the Assistant Controller plays a critical leadership role in building a high-performing, globally consistent, and automation-enabled accounting organization. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across the global close, consolidations, technical accounting execution, internal controls, and financial systems transformation.
We are looking for a strategic and operationally minded leader who brings deep US GAAP expertise, experience in SaaS or technology environments, and a proven ability to modernize accounting operations through automation, systems optimization, and global process redesign. The Assistant Controller partners closely with Finance, Operations, IT, and international teams to deliver a unified, scalable accounting model that meets the needs of a global enterprise.
What Your Responsibilities Will Be
Key Responsibilities
Financial Close & Reporting
Lead Avalara’s global monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance with US GAAP, and operational scalability.
Reduce close timelines from a 7-day cycle to public-company benchmarks through automation, improved analytical review, and consistent global workflows.
Oversee preparation of GAAP-compliant reporting packages and deliver high-quality, decision-ready financial results.
Accounting Operations Leadership
Manage end-to-end accounting operations, including payroll accounting, fixed assets, capitalized software, cloud computing, prepaid and expense accounting, and consolidations.
Drive the shift from region-specific processes to a unified, global accounting model with strong documentation and clear ownership.
Optimize shared services in India to improve quality, timeliness, efficiency, and scalability.
Systems, Automation & Process Transformation
Lead the rollout and adoption of new accounting and AI-enabled tools; assess and support implementation of a future-state GL and related subledgers.
Identify and eliminate manual accounting steps by implementing scalable, automated workflows.
Partner with IT, Finance Systems, and global teams to enhance ERP functionality, improve data structure, and strengthen system integrity across multiple entities.
Technical Accounting & Policy Leadership
Serve as a subject-matter expert on US GAAP, including ASC 340-40 (commissions), ASC 842 (leases), capitalized software, cloud computing, stock-based compensation, impairment evaluations, currency matters, and consolidation.
Ensure accounting policies are current, practical, and consistently applied worldwide.
Support complex accounting assessments related to global expansion, new products, new commission structures, equity and debt instruments, and partner arrangements.
Internal Controls, SOX Compliance & Risk Management
Strengthen Avalara’s internal control environment with scalable policies, documentation, and review procedures.
Partner with Internal Audit to monitor and enhance SOX compliance, remediate deficiencies, and improve testing and documentation standards.
Establish global workflows that ensure audit readiness and consistent compliance across entities.
Analytical Procedures & Accounting Analysis
Build and institutionalize robust analytical review procedures, including predictive analytics, across major financial statement areas.
Improve variance analysis quality and align financial review processes with business drivers and KPIs.
Drive continuous improvement in data quality, insights, and close rigor.
Cross-Functional & Strategic Partnership
Partner with FP&A, Revenue Accounting, Revenue Operations, Billing, Legal, Tax, HR, and Global Operations to ensure alignment on new initiatives and emerging financial implications.
Support M&A due diligence, Day-1 readiness, and integration activities.
Provide accounting leadership for global expansion, including legal entity setup, statutory alignment, tax considerations, and operational readiness.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, mentor, and inspire a global accounting team across onshore and offshore locations.
Establish clear ownership, strong documentation standards, and ongoing training to elevate global team performance.
Foster a culture rooted in Avalara’s OPAH FOCUS values—Ownership, Passion, Adaptability, Humility, and operational principles including Curiosity, Urgency, Simplicity, Optimism, and Fun.
What You'll Need to be Successful
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related discipline required. A Master’s in Accounting, Finance, or an MBA is preferred. CPA strongly preferred.
15+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership roles in high-growth or large public-company environments.
Strong command of US GAAP, including technical areas relevant to global SaaS operations.
Demonstrated success scaling accounting operations and improving close timelines through automation and process redesign.
Hands-on experience implementing or upgrading ERP/GL systems and leveraging AI-enabled tools in accounting workflows.
Experience leading global accounting organizations, including establishing or managing centers of excellence.
Proven ability to build analytical review procedures and enhance close rigor.
Experience supporting global expansion, multi-entity operations, and multi-currency consolidation.
Prior experience in public-company environments and SOX maturity.
Preferred
Experience with M&A integration, international statutory compliance, and complex consolidation environments.
Background in SaaS or subscription-based technology companies.
Big 4 public accounting experience combined with industry operational leadership.
Avalara is an AI-first Company
AI is embedded in our workflows, decision-making, and products. Success here requires embracing AI as an essential capability.
You’ll bring experience using AI and AI-related technologies, ready to thrive here.
You’ll apply AI every day to business challenges - improving efficiency, contributing solutions, and driving results for your team, our company, and our customers.
You’ll grow with AI by staying curious about new trends and best practices, and by sharing what you learn so others can benefit too.
How We'll Take Care of You
Total Rewards
In addition to a great compensation package, paid time off, and paid parental leave, many Avalara employees are eligible for bonuses.
Health & Wellness
Benefits vary by location but generally include private medical, life, and disability insurance.
Inclusive culture and diversity
Avalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to integrating them into our business practices and our organizational culture. We also have a total of 8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and exec sponsorship.
What You Need To Know About Avalara
We’re defining the relationship between tax and tech.
We’ve already built an industry-leading cloud compliance platform, processing over 54 billion customer API calls and over 6.6 million tax returns a year. Our growth is real - we're a billion dollar business - and we’re not slowing down until we’ve achieved our mission - to be part of every transaction in the world.
We’re bright, innovative, and disruptive, like the orange we love to wear. It captures our quirky spirit and optimistic mindset. It shows off the culture we’ve designed, that empowers our people to win. We’ve been different from day one. Join us, and your career will be too.
We’re An Equal Opportunity Employer
Supporting diversity and inclusion is a cornerstone of our company — we don’t want people to fit into our culture, but to enrich it. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, national orientation, disability, sexual orientation, US Veteran status, or any other factor protected by law. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.