Global Controller

Head of global financial operations including treasury and controls

Role Summary

CAIA is a global professional association with centralized commercial authority in the United States and regional entities operating under service and cost‑plus arrangements. As CAIA advances its Vision 2035 strategy, the organization requires a Global Controller who can operate a lean, disciplined, and internationally credible finance function that both protects the institution and enables risk-aware growth.

The Global Controller will lead global accounting, financial control, intercompany compliance, cash and treasury operations, and finance process design. In the near term, the Controller will also partner closely with the COO on budgeting, forecasting, and planning until a dedicated FP&A capability is established.

This role requires strong technical judgment, global operating experience, and the ability to collaborate constructively with business leaders—helping them solve problems within CAIA’s legal, tax, and governance framework.

Key Outcomes (What Success Looks Like)

• Finance viewed as a trusted partner that enables solutions within constraints
• A scalable finance operating model that supports Vision 2035 without linear headcount growth
• Clear, consistently enforced financial guardrails understood by senior leaders
• Strong liquidity management and cash visibility supporting global operations
• Predictable, high‑confidence close and reporting across all entities
• Effective management of tax and reporting compliance requirements

Core Responsibilities

1. Global Accounting, Close & Reporting
   • Own the monthly/quarterly/year-end close across all entities; establish close calendar, checklist discipline, and quality controls
   • Deliver consolidated financial and management reporting (entity and regional/product views)
   • Ensure consistent accounting policies, documentation, and reconciliations
   • Maintain a clean chart of accounts and reporting structure aligned to strategic needs
     
2. Cash and Treasury Operations
   • Own global cash management, liquidity planning, and visibility across entities
   • Monitor cash balances, timing of intercompany settlements, and funding needs
   • Ensure appropriate controls over banking relationships, signatories, and payments
   • Support and implement decisions on working capital, reserves, and approved investment strategy, in partnership with the COO, CEO, and Board.
   • Partner with COO and CEO on cash implications of strategic initiatives and regional expansion
3. Internal Controls, Governance & Compliance
   • Design and enforce financial controls appropriate for a lean global organization
   • Maintain Delegation of Authority (DoA) and approval workflows; ensure adherence across regions
   • Own revenue recognition discipline and seller-of-record controls in partnership with Legal/Operations
   • Lead audit planning, coordination, and remediation; maintain continuous audit readiness
   • Oversee all tax and payroll compliance coordination and support transfer pricing documentation and intercompany policies
4. Intercompany / Cost-Plus Model Discipline
   • Operate and document intercompany service arrangements (cost allocations, recharges, evidence trails)
   • Establish repeatable processes for cost allocations and regional expense treatment
   • Educate regional leaders on allowable vs restricted activities and escalation pathways
   • Ensure behavior matches agreements—recognizing that auditors/tax authorities test actions
5. Budgeting, Forecasting, and FP&A Partnership (Interim)
   • In the first 12–18 months, the Controller will co‑own planning and analysis with the COO; longer‑term, day‑to‑day FP&A execution will transition to a dedicated role reporting to the Controller with a dotted‑line to the COO
   • Establish foundational annual financial planning / budgeting processes and monthly performance reporting that can scale
   • Support the COO in preparation of senior leadership and board materials
6. Finance Operations & Systems (Lean, Scalable Design)
   • Partner with IT to optimize finance technology capabilities, integrations, and controls. (Currently Sage Intacct, Fonteva NetForum, and Emburse)
   • Select and implement a budgeting/forecasting tool appropriate for CAIA's size and complexity
   • Reduce manual work through workflow redesign, automation, and improved master data discipline
7. Leadership Partnership
   • Serve as finance authority who can work with regional staff and senior leadership to solve business challenges within operating constraints.
   • This role requires the judgment to say ‘no’ when necessary, and the creativity to find compliant, practical solutions when objectives and constraints are in tension.
   • Partner with the COO on strategic finance and operating-model evolution by providing clean facts, scenarios, and constraints
8. Team & Management Scope
   • Leads and develops a lean finance team currently composed of three.
   • Responsible for role redesign and overall capability development  

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years in controllership or global finance operations roles
• CPA or equivalent strongly preferred, experience with IFRS a plus
• Demonstrated multi-entity, international finance experience (US + EMEA/APAC preferred)
• Strong grounding in intercompany accounting, audit readiness, and control frameworks
• Experience managing cash and liquidity in a global context
• Track record of developing and operating lean teams and modernizing finance processes
• Experience presenting to Senior Leadership, Audit, Risk, or Finance Committees preferred.
• Nonprofit / association experience helpful but not required

Critical Competencies (Non-Negotiable)

• Control backbone: Within a risk-aware service mindset, able to determine solutions while also maintaining compliance requirements
• Operational design mindset: eliminates or automates manual workflows whenever possible rather than staffing around it
• Exceptional executive communication: can translate accounting complexity into governance clarity and clear business requirements to support operations
• Capable people leader: Able to hire, develop, motivate, and support a lean accounting team with global responsibilities.
• Global cultural fluency: firm while demonstrating cultural sensitivity
• Pragmatic technologist: improves systems to enable discipline and drive efficiency

CAIA is an equal opportunity employer.

About CAIA Association

The CAIA Association, a global professional body, pioneers a new era in investment management. At the forefront of the shifting of alternative investment asset classes from 'alternative' to mainstream, CAIA embraces diverse expertise and interdisciplinary knowledge essential for responsible capital allocation and client stewardship. A Member-driven organization representing professionals in more than 100 countries, the organization seeks to prepare investors for a dynamic future, disrupting traditions, creating opportunities, and fostering long-term sustainability. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of a professional network that is shaping the future of investing, please visit https://caia.org/.