Crew Accounting LLC Managing Controller & Client Liaison Remote · Full time Company website

Apply for Managing Controller & Client Liaison

Anchored in Santa Monica, California, with crewmates across the U.S., Crew Finance is your beacon in the financial storm.

Our team of seasoned finance and accounting professionals specializes in navigating the complexities of startups and high-growth businesses.

With Crew Finance, you're not just on-board—you're charting a course for success.

The Role

The Managing Controller & Client Liaison is a senior fractional Controller who combines client excellence with accountable people leadership. In addition to managing a portfolio of client relationships, the Managing Controller & Client Liaison leads and develops a small team (“pod”) of Controllers and Accounting Staff. This role ensures high-quality client delivery, strong team performance, sustainable capacity management, and clear accountability within the pod. Managing Controller & Client Liaison are critical to Crew’s operating model. They translate firm standards into consistent client execution while building genuine trust, clarity, and development pathways for their team members.

What You'll Own & Improve

Client Leadership & Delivery 

• Serve as lead Controller for a portfolio of client engagements
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality financial reporting
• Oversee month-end close processes and technical accounting matters
• Partner with founders/CEOs to provide financial insight and clarity
• Identify risks early and escalate appropriately
• Maintain strong client relationships and uphold Crew’s brand standards

People Management 

• Managing Controller & Client Liaison are expected to operate as true people leaders, not simply senior reviewers.
• Work toward genuine connection and trust within the pod
• Lead by example by exemplifying Crew’s values and professional maturity
• Help team members balance workload with meaningful learning opportunities
• Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, and support

Capacity & Staffing Management

Partner with firm leadership to:

• Allocate work across pod members appropriately
• Ensure expertise aligns with client needs (e.g., SaaS vs. CPG vs. services)
• Maintain sustainable utilization levels
• Flag bandwidth risks early
• Advocate for team members when workload or fit concerns arise

Quality Control & Standards

• Review work product from pod members to ensure accuracy and consistency through the internal audit process review
• Maintain adherence to Crew’s accounting and reporting standards
• Identify training needs within the pod
• Ensure onboarding curves are supported appropriately for newer team members

Communication & Escalation

• Act as the first point of escalation for client or team issues within the pod
• Ensure client experience issues on pod-managed accounts are owned and addressed within the pod while providing visibility to firm leadership

What You Bring

• CPA required — this is a non-negotiable for a role built on accounting precision
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience in a client services, outsourced accounting, or professional services environment
• Deep technical knowledge: US GAAP, revenue recognition, COGS, inventory, costing — you're the one colleagues call when they're stuck
• Comfortable with QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Bill.com, Gusto, and Shopify (or willing to learn quickly)
• Experience with startup businesses — you understand the startup accounting lifecycle and how fast things can change
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) experience is required — many of our clients are in this world
• Strong communicator — you can translate accounting complexity into plain language for a founder who didn't go to business school
• Able to manage multiple client engagements simultaneously without dropping the anchor
• High ownership mentality: if something's broken, you fix it; if something's unclear, you clarify it

Why Crew

Working fractionally means you'll never be bored. You'll encounter a wide range of industries, business models, and accounting challenges — and you'll build expertise faster than you would in any single-client role.

We care deeply about doing the work right. That's why this role exists. And we're building the kind of firm where quality isn't just a checkbox — it's the whole point.

If you're ready to bring your accounting expertise to a team that takes the craft seriously, we'd love to talk.