Director, Assistant Controller

Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 183 million registered learners as of June 30, 2025. Coursera partners with over 350 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations enable instructors to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning experiences to their learners. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp.

We’re a global platform aiming to transform lives through learning by offering transformative courses, certificates, and degrees that empower learners worldwide to advance their careers through skill mastery. We’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners eager to shape the future of education. If you’re ready to build the global programs and tools that fuel the power of online learning, join Team Coursera.

At Coursera, we are committed to building a globally diverse team and are thrilled to extend employment opportunities to individuals in any country where we have a legal entity. We require candidates to possess eligible working rights and have a compatible timezone overlap with their team to facilitate seamless collaboration. 

Coursera has a commitment to enabling flexibility and workspace choices for employees. Our interviews and onboarding are entirely virtual, providing a smooth and efficient experience for our candidates. As an employee, we enable you to select your main way of working, whether it's from home, one of our offices or hubs, or a co-working space near you.

Job Overview

Financial management is critical to the performance and success of any company, and the Coursera Finance team plays a key role in driving growth and achieving our mission. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director, Assistant Controller to support the Controller in managing accounting operations and ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, while helping transform and elevate our accounting function.

The position will have direct oversight of the technical accounting, corporate accounting, SEC reporting, and transformation teams, and will play a key role in maintaining compliance with U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations, preparing accurate financial statements, and driving strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring a balance of leadership and technical expertise, and demonstrate the ability to navigate complex financial issues and communicate effectively with stakeholders across the organization.

This individual will lead strategic transformation initiatives aimed at streamlining processes, leveraging technology, and enhancing operational efficiency to support the company's growth. This is an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking accounting professional to make a significant impact on a growing global company by fostering operational excellence and building a best-in-class accounting function.

Responsibilities

• Accounting Close: Oversee all aspects of the close process, including general ledger activities and preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements. Ensure timely and accurate reporting across all entities.
• Technical Accounting: Lead the development of accounting policies for new guidance and complex or emerging transactions. Maintain and update existing policies to ensure continued applicability. Ensure proper and consistent application of U.S. GAAP and internal policies across the organization.
• SEC Reporting: Oversee the preparation and filing of SEC reports, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Audit Coordination: Oversee audit readiness and coordination for both external and internal audits. Ensure timely and accurate preparation of audit schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to audit inquiries. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate audit processes, address findings, and implement recommendations. Maintain a strong control environment and ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, SOX requirements, and internal policies.
• Strategic Initiatives: Provide accounting leadership for critical business initiatives such as international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic projects. Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders and other members of the accounting leadership team.
• Business Insights: Leverage data and analytics to deliver actionable financial insights to business partners. Support strategic planning and decision-making, and ensure alignment and consistency in reporting across the accounting team.
• Transformation Projects: Lead initiatives to automate and optimize accounting processes, including system implementations, process redesign, control enhancements, and use of AI technologies.
• Team Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering professional growth and development. Build a high-performing and collaborative team culture.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• Active CPA designation
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in corporate and/or public accounting, including experience in a public company environment
• Deep working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting requirements, with the ability to effectively communicate technical accounting concepts to non-financial stakeholders
• Hands-on experience managing controls within a SOX framework
• Proven experience managing teams and collaborating with cross-functional partners to achieve organizational goals
• Demonstrated success in leading or supporting transformational projects and initiatives, with a focus on driving process improvements, enhancing operational efficiency, and achieving measurable results
• Experience implementing process automation tools and technologies to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and reduce manual effort

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the technology industry or other high-growth, fast-paced environments
• Advanced knowledge of NetSuite or other major ERP systems, with the ability to optimize functionality to support and streamline accounting processes
• Familiarity with accounting for global operations, including international subsidiaries, foreign exchange, and cross-border transactions

If this opportunity interests you, you might like these courses on Coursera:

Essentials of Corporate Finance

Financial Management Specialization

Leading Transformations: Manage Change

Digital Transformation for Agile Organizations

Effective Leadership: Master Management Styles 

Compensation

US Zone 1 - San Francisco Metro, New York City Metro or Seattle Metro

This role is not available in Zone 1

US Zone 2 - CA (outside of SF Bay Area), CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, MA, MD, NY/NJ (other than NYC), OR, RI, TX, VA, WA (other than Seattle)

$155,975 - $183,500 USD

US Zone 3 - all other locations not listed in Zone 1 or 2

$147,050 - $173,000 USD

The range listed above is the expected annual base salary for this role, subject to change.

Salary is just one component of Coursera’s total rewards package. All regular employees are also eligible for a bonus program and equity in the form of RSUs.

A number of factors are taken into account when determining pay, which includes: job level, location, training/education, business need, skill set, and internal equity. 

#LI-JC2