Controller

Perplexity is looking for an experienced Controller to join our small team revolutionizing the way people search and interact with the internet. You will be responsible for building finance team and structure.

Responsibilities

• Financial Oversight
  • Manage support staff handling accounting, Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), and month-end close processes.
  • Generate timely and accurate financial statements for US and international business entities, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
  • Track revenue and cost for various revenue streams.
  • Assist in validating fundraising wire transactions, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal controls.
  • Collaborate with the management team to ensure accurate recording of fundraising activities.
  • Identify and implement systems to manage billing and AP for various partnership types
  • Identify root causes for billing issues and coordinate with engineering teams to implement solutions.
  • Prepare comprehensive reports for the board on financial performance, including strategic insights.
  • Prepare for and facilitate annual accounting audits.
• Tax Management:
  • Manage sales taxes and VAT compliance.
  • Oversee R&D tax credit filings, requiring collaboration to gather detailed information on employee contributions.
  • Manage income tax filings, potentially collaborating with an external accounting firm for expertise.
  • Develop processes to collect and remit taxes efficiently.
• Process & System Implementation:
  • Develop, implement, and maintain robust financial processes to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Establish internal controls related to expenses, including approval processes, tracking, and expense policies.
  • Implement treasury controls that align with security measures to safeguard company assets.
  • Identify, implement, and manage financial systems for accounting, revenue tracking and expense management.
• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and mentor the accounting team, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
  • Provide training and support to team members on financial processes and best practices.
• Support Strategic Transactions:
  • Support Head of Finance with analyzing financial data to provide insights that inform strategic decision-making.
  • Assist in developing long-term financial strategies aligned with company goals.
  • Develop management reporting function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or equivalent certification preferred.
• Experience at a rapidly growing startup
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in accounting roles, with at least 3 years in a managerial capacity. Experience from a public accounting firm a plus.
• Proven track record in managing AP, AR, payroll, month-end close processes, and financial reporting within a startup, fast-paced environment.
• Prior experience leading a financial audit in partnership with external auditors.
• Proficiency in accounting software and financial management systems; familiarity with cloud-based solutions is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Strategic thinker who can balance day-to-day operations with long-term planning.
• Nice to have: Expertise with Stripe, Ramp, Avalara, Ad sales, Shopify, and 3rd party marketplaces.

The cash compensation range for this role is $190,000 - $270,000.

At Perplexity, we've experienced tremendous growth and adoption since publicly launching the world's first fully functional conversational answer engine just over a year ago. Our AI-powered search assistant has amassed 10 million monthly active users as of early 2024, with our mobile apps installed over 1 million times across iOS and Android devices. In 2023 alone, we served over 500 million queries from users around the globe.

To support our rapid expansion, we've raised significant funding from some of the most respected investors in technology. In January 2024, we raised $73.6 million in a Series B round led by IVP, with participation from NVIDIA, Jeff Bezos' investment fund, NEA, Databricks, and other prominent firms. We followed that up with a $62.7 million Series B1 round in April 2024 led by Daniel Gross, valuing Perplexity at over $1 billion.
Our prominent investor base includes IVP, NEA, Jeff Bezos, NVIDIA, Databricks, Bessemer Venture Partners, Elad Gil, Nat Friedman, Naval Ravikant, Tobi Lutke, and many other visionary individuals.
 
Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including, experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
 
Equity: In addition to the base salary, equity is part of the total compensation package.
Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents. Includes a 401(k) plan.