Controller

The Brand Guild • Washington, DC

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Brand Guild is an award-winning, mid-sized integrated communications agency with offices in Washington D.C. and NYC. We are looking for an energetic, organized, and proactive individual to join our team as a Part-time Controller in our DC office. We're looking for an experienced, hands-on Part-Time Controller to own our financial reporting, controls, and cash management, and to directly oversee our part-time bookkeeper. This is a part-time, fractional engagement requiring 60 hours of support a month (weekly hour requirement may vary based on time of month). This is a hybrid position with some in office days required (~2-3 times/month).

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including prior Controller-level responsibility
• Experience managing or reviewing the work of a bookkeeper or staff accountant
• Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks (Online)
• Experience with services-agency financials: retainer billing, project-based revenue, or professional-services revenue recognition
• Demonstrated experience owning a monthly close process independently
• CPA license or CPA-track background (a plus, not required)
• Prior experience in a PR, marketing, advertising, or events agency
• Comfortable being the final reviewer on the books, not just an input provider
• Enjoys building and tightening process, especially around close, controls, and reporting
• Can operate independently with minimal oversight while keeping leadership informed
• Comfortable managing a bookkeeper's day-to-day work and holding that work to a high standard
• Comfortable upskilling and supporting bookkeeper to their full potential
• Communicates clearly with finance and non-finance stakeholders including department heads, the SVP of Operations, fraction CFO, and Co-CEOs.
• Discreet and trustworthy with sensitive financial and payroll information

Nice To Haves

• CPA license or CPA-track background
• Prior experience in a PR, marketing, advertising, or events agency

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly close process; review and approve journal entries prepared or entered by the bookkeeper
• Prepare monthly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) for leadership
• Maintain and review department-level P&Ls across TBG's eight service departments
• Monitor weekly cash position and rolling cash flow forecasts
• Review and approve AP disbursements and payroll funding prepared by the bookkeeper
• Establish and maintain internal controls over billing, collections, and vendor payments
• Review client billing accuracy and support collections escalations on overdue accounts
• Oversight of retainer, project, and client reimbursable expenses invoicing
• Manage and directly supervise the part-time bookkeeper's day-to-day transactional work (AP/AR entry, bank reconciliations, data entry)
• Review reconciliations and transactional entries for accuracy before close
• Set priorities and cadence for the bookkeeper's weekly workload
• Coordinate with The Brand Guild's external CPA/tax preparer on timely tax filings (sales tax, payroll tax)
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support any external audit or review
• Help ensure compliance with multi-jurisdiction payroll and tax requirements as applicable
• Maintain and improve accounting system architecture (Quickbooks and Sage Expense Management) and ensure tools and technology supports scaling company needs.
• Recommend process improvements to reduce close time and reporting errors

Benefits

• People-first culture: A supportive, high-energy team that values creativity, collaboration, and balance
• Professional development: Annual stipend, training programs, and mentorship opportunities
• Hybrid flexibility that fosters connection and creativity
• Exciting clients: Work with best-in-class brands in our F&B portfolio

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed