Controller POST NUMBER: 447454
Location: North County, San Diego
Title: Controller
Salary: $175-250k(DOE) Bonus Equity
Job Description: The Controller will serve as a key financial leader responsible for building and scaling accounting operations while supporting the company’s path toward a public offering. This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with a blend of public accounting and industry experience —someone who thrives in dynamic, growth-oriented environments and is well-versed in financial compliance, internal controls, and IPO readiness.
Responsibilities:
- Financial Reporting & Compliance
- Lead preparation of GAAP-compliant financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow).
- Ensure compliance with SEC and other regulatory reporting requirements, particularly in a pre-IPO environment.
- Manage the external audit process and interface with audit partners.
- Accounting Operations
- Oversee daily accounting functions including GL, AP/AR, payroll, and expense tracking.
- Develop and implement scalable accounting policies and procedures.
- Drive a timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close process.
- Maintain account reconciliations and intercompany activity.
- Internal Controls & Risk Management
- Design and enforce effective internal controls to protect assets and ensure financial integrity.
- Proactively identify and manage financial risks.
- Stay current on accounting regulations and best practices.
- IPO Readiness
- Lead key financial workstreams related to IPO preparation.
- Support SEC filing processes and investor-facing financial presentations.
- Collaborate across legal, finance, and external advisors to meet IPO requirements.
- Team Leadership
- Manage and mentor the accounting team, supporting career development and performance.
- Cultivate a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master’s or CPA preferred.
- 7–10 years of progressive experience in accounting/finance, ideally within healthcare, biotech, or medical devices.
- Prior public company experience and exposure to IPO processes required or highly preferred.
- Strong command of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
- Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
- High integrity and a detail-oriented mindset with a hands-on leadership style.
Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
EEO Notice
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
Privacy Notice
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Pay Transparency Notice
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.