Controller

About Us

At Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel. Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, Saildrone has been included on Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, earned an Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, won Best Tech For Good from the Timmy Awards, and was recognized by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism 50 list of the Top 50 Companies Kickstarting American Renewal. Our first-annual Atlantic hurricane mission with NOAA was included as one of The New York Times’ 21 Things That Happened for the First Time in 2021 and Popular Science's 100 Greatest Innovations of 2021.

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate our missions worldwide. Saildrone is backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.

This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be an integral part of a high-performing multi-disciplinary delivering high impact for humanity and future generations.

The Role

As a rapidly growing company, Saildrone relies heavily on the Accounting and Controllership function to manage day to day Finance Operations, coordinate month- end, quarterly and annual close, support the maturation of Internal Controls under SOX framework, Own Annual External Audit and balance and contribute to initiatives across multiple departments, that may require functional analysis and guidance in relation to different systems or modules integrating into the NetSuite environment. Reporting to the VP of Finance, in Alameda, CA, the Controller serves as a pivotal role in general accounting, controllership and cross-functional processes, with Production, R&D and People Ops.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
• Own and guide the monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycle including all relevant journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, variance analysis, and associated reporting requirements.
• Guide and support the external annual audit process.
• In conjunction with the VP of Finance, establish financial and operating benchmarks, program monitoring, and reporting standards on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Implement consistent accounting policies, practices, and procedures across all programs, entities, and reporting periods.
• Develop and enforce internal controls to maximize protection of company assets, policies, procedures, and workflow.
• Oversee and support General Accounting, Fixed Assets and Payroll teams with dynamic leadership creating an environment of trust, high performance and productivity.
• Support periodic financial updates to senior management as well as selected external parties (including investors, banks, selected vendor partners, and US government required reporting)
• Develop internal control guidelines, policies and procedures for maintaining the company’s SOX control infrastructure on an annual basis, including narratives, risk control matrixes, walkthroughs and testing.
• Support and guide Cross-Functional Systems Implementation integrated into the NetSuite environment.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Accounting, or related field.
• CPA and/or Professional accounting certification, e.g CMA, CGA, or CA highly desirable.
• 10+ years’ experience as a senior-level accounting or finance manager, with 5 years as a People Manager.
• Proven financial management and reporting experience, with a focus on streamlining accounting processes. Public accounting experience a plus.
• Strong understanding of GAAP rules and applications.
• Advance computer skills, specifically in Excel.
• Experience in managing GL_SL workflows and subprocesses in a manufacturing environment.
• NetSuite knowledge as a “super User”, is a must, with experience in customizations and modules implementations as well.

Additional Qualifications

Superior strategic thinking and financial analysis skills; well-developed problem- solving skills with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to communicate effectively with senior executives.
• Must be motivated, goal-oriented and self-starter, willing to learn and grow with the organization. A clear attitude for helping to solve problems and pushing the conversation forward.
• Comfortable with a fast-paced, demanding environment. Must manage multiple tasks and juggle several urgent demands at any given point, while adapting to changing priorities.
• Extremely detail oriented, with a high level of ethics and integrity.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.
  
  

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA (Hybrid - onsite 3 days per week minimum). Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda. Even our walls have good karma, our offices mix software development with a hardware production line in the former airplane hangar used to film 'The Matrix'.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.
• Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents
• Enhanced Parental Leave Programs
• Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan
  
  

Catch up on the latest news about us:

The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea – The New York Times
Alameda's Saildrones collect hurricane data - KTVU Fox 2
Record Setting: Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 Entered into Guinness Book
Saildrone Takes the Wraps Off its Voyager Autonomous Research Vehicle – TechCrunch
An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle
The Quest for CO2: You Can’t Capture What You Can’t Find – Inside Unmanned Systems
Hacking the Anthropocene with Survivalist Robots [VIDEO] – Freethink
Here’s What Hurricane Fiona’s Surf Looked Like, from Atop a 50-foot Wave – The Washington Post
An Unprecedented View Inside a Hurricane – EOS
They Sailed Into a Hurricane, Now These Unmanned Saildrones are Seeking Data on Our Carbon Uptake – CNN
Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

At Saildrone, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team leads to innovation and better problem-solving. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, disabilities, and backgrounds.

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

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