Assistant Controller

Who we are:

 Sequoia Financial Group is a growing Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), headquartered in Northeast Ohio, offering financial planning and wealth management services. At Sequoia, we exist with a singular purpose: to enrich lives. Our values define how we behave and guide us through the pursuit of our purpose to enrich lives. At Sequoia, our core values are:

• Integrity. We act in the best interests of others by providing an honest, consistent experience for our clients and team. 
• Passion. We pursue our full potential, seeking to continually enhance and evolve our ability to serve our clients and team.
• Teamwork. We subordinate our egos to work together for the benefit of our clients. 

Our promise to team members is that you will grow with us. From experienced advisors to new college grads to transitioning principals, every team member will find Sequoia a place to refine their professional mission, move into new opportunities, go deeper, and lead further. We are built to help you build a career here as a long-term contributor in our work to enrich lives for generations.

Summary of the position

The Assistant Controller is a member of Sequoia's Finance & Accounting team, and reports to the Controller. This role is an experienced, hands-on accounting leader who adds technical depth beneath the Controller and works directly with the accounting team (staff and senior accountants) to execute and oversee the day-to-day accounting operation. The Assistant Controller partners closely with the Controller, FP&A, Advisors, and external audit and tax partners, and serves as a working second-in-command who can both perform and review complex accounting work.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day accounting operations, including leading the month-end and year-end close process and overseeing account reconciliations
•  Prepare and review complex journal entries and technical accounting analyses, including fixed assets, investments, notes payable, leases, and revenue recognition 
•  Research technical accounting matters and document conclusions in memos suitable for external audit review 
• Supervise, mentor, and review the work of accounting team staff, providing technical guidance and building technical depth on the team
• Work with Advisors on the analysis of client contracts, identifying and recording appropriate revenue recognition for client fees
• Serve as a key point of contact for external audit, supporting the Controller in audit readiness, PBC preparation and fieldwork
• Support preparation and review of quarterly bank and shareholder reporting requirements
• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, including identifying and implementing efficiencies
• Support accounting integration workstreams for acquired entities, including process alignment and onboarding
• Help redesign and document team workflows and standard operating procedures to reduce key-person risk and support a scalable, efficient accounting organization
• Serve as a backup to the Controller on technical accounting matters as needed
• Take on other accounting, reporting, and special projects as assigned, and contribute to firm and department initiatives as business needs evolve 

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• CPA license or actively pursuing
• Minimum 8-12 years of progressive accounting experience, including experience supervising or mentoring staff
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP, month-end/year-end close processes, multi-entity consolidations and account reconciliations
• Demonstrated ability to both perform and review technical accounting work at a high level of accuracy
• Comfortable operating in a high-growth, rapidly changing environment
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Experience in the financial services industry
• Experience supporting M&A-related accounting integration
• Experience with ERP implementation and or development
• Experience working with external auditors (financial statement, 401(k), Quality of Earnings)

Competencies

• Hands-on leader who is comfortable both doing the work and overseeing others' work
• Task and deadline oriented, with strong attention to detail
• Self-starter and able to perform job duties with little supervision
• Ability to problem-solve, multi-task, and prioritize based on deadlines
• Works well within a team; builds trust and stability during periods of change
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and business needs

Work Authorization & Sponsorship:
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without requiring employer sponsorship to commence or continue employment at any point in time. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide sponsorship.
EEO Statement:
At Sequoia, we value and respect differences in our workforce. We actively encourage everyone to apply. Sequoia is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Working Conditions:
Frequent minimal physical effort such as sitting, prolonged periods working on a computer, standing and walking is required for this role. Depending on location, occasional moving and lifting light equipment and/or furniture may be required. This role may require occasional travel, including travel to client sites, company offices, or industry events, as needed.

Employer Rights:
This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate your employment at any time for any reason.