Controller

SafeLease•New York, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

SafeLease is hiring a Controller to lead all accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls across the organization — with full ownership spanning our Managing General Agent (MGA) operations and our surplus lines insurance carrier. The role owns dual-track reporting: U.S. GAAP financial statements for SafeLease and its consolidated entities, and statutory financial statements filed with state insurance regulators under NAIC Statutory Accounting Principles. The ideal candidate combines a Big Four audit foundation with hands-on accounting experience inside an insurance carrier, and a track record of building and scaling finance functions in a high-growth environment. This is a high-visibility leadership role reporting to the CEO with direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.

Requirements

Insurance carrier experience required, with responsibility spanning an MGA and a surplus lines (Excess & Surplus / E&S) or admitted carrier.
Statutory accounting (SAP) and NAIC reporting experience required — including preparation or direct oversight of the NAIC Annual Statement and quarterly statements.
Big Four background required — audit or assurance experience at Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG.
CPA designation required; Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
Minimum 7 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
Deep expertise in both U.S. GAAP and SAP, the differences between the two frameworks, and the bridging entries required to reconcile them.
Demonstrated experience managing accounting functions across multiple legal entities and lines of business.
Strong technical accounting skills including consolidations, intercompany eliminations, premium accounting (written / earned / unearned), loss reserve accounting, and reinsurance accounting (ceded and assumed).
Hands-on familiarity with NAIC Schedules F, P, and D, and Risk-Based Capital reporting.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, MBA, or a related advanced degree.
Experience inside a high-growth insurtech, specialty insurer, or scale-up environment.
Prior responsibility for state-by-state premium tax filings and surplus lines tax compliance.
Experience operating inside an insurance holding structure (HoldCo + carrier + MGA).
Familiarity with investment accounting under SSAP No. 26R, SSAP No. 30R, and SSAP No. 43R (bonds, equities, structured securities).
Proficiency with insurance-specific statutory reporting and ERP platforms (Workiva, EagleEye, SunGard EAS, SAP Insurance, or similar) and modern financial planning tools.
SOX or SOX-style internal controls implementation experience.

Responsibilities

Own and oversee all accounting operations across the MGA and the surplus lines carrier, including general ledger management, month-end / quarter-end / year-end close, and intercompany accounting between the producer and the underwriter.
Prepare and deliver timely, accurate financial statements in accordance with both U.S. GAAP and Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP), including the NAIC P&C Annual Statement, quarterly statements, and audited statutory financial statements.
Manage statutory reporting and regulatory filings: NAIC Schedules F (reinsurance), P (loss reserves), D (investments), and T (premium by state); Risk-Based Capital (RBC) calculations; IRIS ratios; and domiciliary and non-admitted / surplus lines state filings.
Oversee MGA accounting under the NAIC Managing General Agents Act (Model #225), including premium trust / fiduciary accounts, the MGA-to-carrier reporting cycle, and quarterly accounting packages submitted to the carrier in a form usable for completion of the Annual Statement.
Design, implement, and maintain robust internal controls and financial policies that scale with organizational growth (SOX-style frameworks preferred).
Lead the annual statutory and GAAP audits and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors, tax advisors, state insurance examiners, and the engaged actuary.
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team; establish best-in-class processes and a culture of continuous improvement.
Manage consolidated financial reporting across SafeLease entities, including intercompany transactions and eliminations between the MGA and the carrier.
Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to provide financial insights, variance analysis, and strategic recommendations.
Own premium and claims accounting cycles, ceded and assumed reinsurance accounting, deferred acquisition cost (DAC) treatment, and loss reserve accounting.
Oversee cash management, treasury functions, investment accounting (including NAIC SVO-rated portfolios), and capital allocation reporting.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax requirements, including premium tax filings and surplus lines tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Evaluate and enhance financial systems, tools, and technology infrastructure to support scalability and operational efficiency.
Support fundraising, investor reporting, and due diligence processes as needed.