Global Controller - US GAAP / SOX

We are looking for a Global Controller to join our Group Finance organisation, based in Paris or London .

Originally built as a VC-backed technology scale-up, WeMaintain is now majority-owned by a global US-listed industry leader. This new chapter requires WeMaintain to preserve the agility and ownership culture of a scale-up while progressively adopting the accounting, reporting and internal control standards expected in a listed-company environment.

We are therefore strengthening our Group Finance organisation with a senior Global Controller.

Reporting directly to David, the Group CFO, you will lead WeMaintain’s controllership function and be responsible for the integrity, quality and control of the Group’s financial reporting.

You will supervise the Group Accounting function and provide accounting and reporting leadership across WeMaintain’s international entities.

You will ensure that monthly and quarterly closes, financial reporting, accounting judgments, balance sheet reconciliations and revenue recognition processes meet appropriate standards of completeness, accuracy, documentation and review.

The role will also lead WeMaintain’s readiness for US GAAP reporting, SOX / internal control over financial reporting requirements and quarterly public-company certification processes.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced Controller who combines strong technical accounting expertise with the ability to build practical processes in a fast-growing international business.

As our Global Controller, you will:

Lead group controllership and accounting quality

Lead the Group controllership framework and supervise the Group Head of Accounting

Establish clear accounting policies, close procedures, review standards and escalation rules across all entities

Own the governance of the monthly and quarterly financial close

Review and challenge significant accounting entries, accruals, reserves, revenue schedules, estimates and accounting judgments

Ensure key balance sheet accounts are reconciled, reviewed and appropriately supported

Monitor accounting quality across countries and drive timely remediation of identified issues

Develop the Accounting organisation and raise technical accounting and reporting capabilities across the Finance team

Lead financial reporting and quarterly certification

Lead the preparation and quality review of WeMaintain financial information submitted for Group monthly and quarterly reporting

Ensure financial reporting is complete, accurate, appropriately documented and supported by effective review controls

Coordinate Finance inputs supporting quarterly CEO / CFO and business-unit certification processes

Maintain visibility over significant accounting matters, reporting exceptions, control deficiencies and remediation actions

Ensure appropriate escalation of significant transactions, unusual items, contingencies and post-close events

Lead US GAAP and technical accounting

Lead the identification, assessment and documentation of differences between local accounting standards and US GAAP

Establish accounting positions and supporting documentation for significant or judgmental transactions, with support from Group Controllership and external advisors where appropriate

Oversee key technical accounting topics including revenue recognition, contract accounting, leases, provisions, intercompany matters and consolidation

Ensure accounting policies are consistently applied across jurisdictions

Strengthen internal control over financial reporting / SOX

Develop a pragmatic internal control framework adapted to WeMaintain’s size and maturity

Ensure key controls over financial reporting are clearly defined, assigned, documented and evidenced

Oversee remediation of identified control deficiencies

Coordinate SOX readiness and testing activities with the relevant Group functions; the role does not replace Internal Audit

Provide senior oversight of revenue recognition and financial review

Provide senior oversight of revenue recognition across Maintenance, Repair and Modernisation activities

Establish appropriate review standards for contract support, revenue schedules, backlog / remaining performance obligations and related accounting entries

Ensure reconciliation between operational systems, Salesforce and accounting records where relevant

Challenge significant or unusual revenue recognition matters before reporting

Review, challenge and approve underlying schedules and supporting documentation according to defined thresholds, while Accounting teams and Country Finance Managers remain responsible for their preparation

Oversee consolidation, intercompany and tax-related accounting

Oversee the design and implementation of WeMaintain subgroup consolidation and intercompany reconciliation processes

Ensure consolidation entries and elimination processes are complete, controlled and auditable

Partner with Group Tax on the accounting implementation and control of transfer-pricing and intercompany charging mechanisms

Support the development of reliable systems-based reporting flows from local entities through WeMaintain Group reporting

Lead audit and support finance transformation

Lead the relationship with external auditors on Group accounting and financial reporting matters

Ensure Accounting teams prepare complete and audit-ready supporting files and that audit findings are addressed

Identify opportunities to improve and automate close, accounting and reporting processes

Support the development of scalable financial systems, data ownership, reconciliation and reporting controls

You’re a great fit if you:

Have significant experience in controllership, accounting, audit and/or financial reporting

Hold, or are progressing towards, a recognised professional accounting qualification such as CPA, ACA, ACCA or DEC

Have previous experience in a listed-company or similarly demanding reporting environment

Have strong knowledge of US GAAP and practical experience with SOX / internal controls over financial reporting

Have a strong understanding of monthly and quarterly close, balance-sheet controls, revenue recognition and technical accounting

Have experience leading or supervising accounting teams

Have worked in an international, multi-entity and multi-currency environment

Have exposure to consolidation and intercompany processes

Are senior, credible and able to challenge constructively

Combine strong technical accounting judgement with a pragmatic, hands-on approach

Are fluent in English

You have a Big Four background

You have previously worked within a US-listed company environment

You have experience in B2B services, recurring-revenue models, field services or an industrial environment

You have worked with NetSuite, HFM or comparable ERP / Group reporting systems

You speak French

Monthly and quarterly financial reporting is complete, accurate, appropriately documented and supported by effective review controls

Accounting policies, close procedures and review standards are clear and consistently applied across entities

Significant accounting matters, reporting exceptions and control deficiencies are identified, escalated and remediated appropriately

WeMaintain continues to strengthen its readiness for US GAAP reporting, SOX and quarterly public-company certification requirements

Consolidation, intercompany and revenue recognition processes are controlled, reliable and auditable

Accounting and reporting capabilities continue to develop across the Finance organisation

An initial conversation with our Recruitment team - 30 mins 👉 To understand your background, motivations and expectations

An interview with David, our Group CFO - 60 mins 👉 A deeper discussion around the role, your technical expertise and the Finance organisation

A conversation with a Finance leader from our majority shareholder - 45 mins 👉 To explore listed-company reporting, US GAAP / SOX exposure and the wider Group environment

A peer interview - 45 mins 👉 To understand how you collaborate, challenge and operate within a Finance organisation

A final conversation with one of our Co-Founders - 30 mins 👉 To confirm alignment on the role, culture and the next stage of WeMaintain’s journey

Welcome to the team! 🎉