VP, Accounting/ Controllership

VP Accounting / Controller

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Department: Finance
Location: United States or Canada (Remote / Flexible)

Role Overview

The VP Accounting/ Controller is the senior executive responsible for the integrity, discipline, and scalability of Black Duck’s accounting and financial reporting function in a private‑equity–backed growth environment.

This multinational role ensures that financial results are audit‑ready, lender‑compliant, and decision‑useful, while building the processes, controls, and team required to support continued growth, increasing complexity, and future strategic transactions (including refinancing, add‑on acquisitions, and exit readiness).

Deep, hands‑on expertise in software and SaaS revenue recognition is essential, as this role owns all revenue accounting policy, judgment, and audit support related to customer contracts.

The VP Accounting/ Controller is a hands‑on leader who combines technical accounting excellence with operational rigor and sound judgment, serving as a critical partner to the CFO, executive leadership, private‑equity sponsors, and external stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

Financial Close, Reporting & Discipline (PE Standard)

• Own and continuously improve the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, with a focus on speed, accuracy, and repeatability.

• Deliver high‑confidence financial statements used by management, the Board, lenders, and sponsors.
• Ensure clear reconciliation between GAAP results, management reporting, and debt covenant calculations.
• Establish close calendars, review standards, and accountability consistent with private‑equity expectations.

Technical Accounting & Revenue Recognition

• Serve as the Company’s authority on S. GAAP, with deep ownership of software and SaaS revenue recognition under ASC 606.

• Lead accounting judgments related to multi‑element arrangements, renewals, usage‑based fees, professional services, contract modifications, and variable consideration.
• Research, document, and implement accounting standards and interpretations, including preparation of formal accounting position memos.
• Proactively assess accounting implications of strategic, commercial, and go‑to‑market decisions.

• Lead the administration, optimization, and ongoing enhancement of the NetSuite ERP platform to support accounting, financial reporting, and operational workflows.

• Monitor KPIs and financial metrics using NetSuite analytics tools, providing insights to executive leadership.

Audit, Controls & Lender Readiness

• Lead all external audits, reviews, and agreed‑upon procedures with a goal of clean, predictable outcomes.

• Maintain and enhance internal controls over financial reporting, balancing rigor with operating efficiency.
• Act as the primary accounting interface with external auditors, lenders, and private‑equity sponsor finance teams.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of lender reporting and covenant compliance support.

Balance Sheet, Cash & Working Capital Integrity

• Own balance sheet quality and transparency across cash, accounts receivable, deferred revenue, accruals, reserves, and equity.

• Partner with the CFO on cash forecasting discipline, working capital management, and debt covenant modeling.
• Ensure accounting outputs fully support liquidity management and capital allocation decisions.

Team Leadership & Scalability

• Lead, develop, and retain a high‑performing controllership organization capable of scaling with the business.

• Establish clear roles, review layers, and career development paths to reduce key‑person risk.
• Upgrade processes, systems, and documentation to move from “heroics” to institutional reliability.

Transaction & Exit Readiness

• Ensure accounting records, policies, and controls are continuously diligence‑ready.

• Support M&A, refinancing, and exit processes through quality of earnings support, historical financial clarity, and clean audit trails.
• Anticipate and resolve accounting issues before they become diligence, valuation, or timing risks.

Qualifications & Experience

• CPA required (U.S. CPA or Canadian CPA acceptable).
• 12+ years of progressive accounting and controllership experience, including senior leadership roles in a multinational environment.
• Demonstrated, hands‑on experience leading software and/or SaaS revenue recognition under ASC 606 in a complex contract environment (must have).
• Proven experience in private‑equity–backed, leveraged, or high‑growth environments.
• Strong background managing external audits, lenders, and complex accounting topics.
• Demonstrated ability to scale accounting processes, systems, and teams alongside business growth.

Leadership Profile

• Highly trusted to make and defend sound accounting decisions.

• Comfortable operating in a hands‑on, fast‑moving environment.
• Clear communicator with non‑finance executives, boards, auditors, and sponsors.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Balances technical precision with business pragmatism.