Controller

Carpe • Durham, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a high-ownership accounting leader who excels in analytical rigor, precision, and problem-solving (i.e., high quantitative intelligence). This role exists to scale and strengthen Carpe’s financial infrastructure across retail, DTC, and Amazon as the business continues to grow rapidly.
While this role carries meaningful ownership and strategic exposure, it is also deeply hands-on. As the primary accounting operator, you will execute core transactional work including accounts payable entry, credit card coding and reconciliation, journal entries, and day-to-day bookkeeping functions. This is a build-and-own role — not a delegation role — and requires comfort operating both at the ground level and at the leadership level simultaneously.
You will work directly with Carpe’s CFO and serve as the primary owner of day-to-day accounting execution. This includes owning the monthly close process, managing financial reporting, maintaining the integrity of our general ledger, supporting retail accounting complexities (deductions, chargebacks, accruals), overseeing inventory and COGS accuracy, and ensuring strong internal controls as we scale. This role carries real ownership over outcomes — not just reconciliation.
Success in this role requires comfort operating at multiple levels simultaneously — from detailed, hands-on execution such as journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and variance analysis, to higher-level financial insight such as improving processes, strengthening controls, supporting audit readiness, optimizing working capital, and building scalable systems.
You will be expected to take full ownership of the numbers, communicate clearly with leadership, proactively identify risks, and continuously improve the accuracy, speed, and sophistication of our financial operations. This role is best suited for someone who thrives on accountability, precision, and building infrastructure in a fast-growing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (CPA preferred but not required).
• 3–7+ years of accounting experience (public accounting, CPG, or high-growth environment preferred).
• High-ownership operator who is gritty, organized, and relentlessly curious, with the drive to build and improve systems hands-on while working directly with senior leaders.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and retail accounting dynamics.
• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills (pivot tables, lookups, formulas).
• Analytical thinker with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Comfortable operating as a department of one (with CFO partnership).
• ALL OF THE ABOVE IS OPTIONAL IF YOU PROVE TO US YOU’RE MORE QUALIFIED VIA OTHER MEANS.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in CPG, ecommerce, or multi-channel retail environments.
• Experience managing inventory accounting and complex COGS structures.
• Background in audit, Big 4, or high-growth startup environments.
• ERP implementation or system migration experience.
• CPA license.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process.
• Maintain accuracy of the general ledger, including journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Reconcile inventory, COGS, and gross margin across retail and ecommerce channels.
• Ensure revenue recognition aligns across DTC, Amazon, and retail partners.
• Manage fixed assets, prepaids, and accrual schedules.
• Partner with the CFO on financial reporting deliverables and board-ready materials.
• Oversee accounting for retailer deductions, chargebacks, and trade spend.
• Reconcile AR aging and partner with Sales/Ops to resolve discrepancies.
• Support inventory accounting across manufacturers and 3PL partners.
• Monitor cash flow and working capital performance.
• Ensure accurate SKU-level margin visibility across channels.
• Strengthen accounting processes, documentation, and internal controls.
• Improve close timelines while maintaining accuracy.
• Support audit readiness and external accountant relationships.
• Evaluate and implement system improvements (ERP, reporting tools, automation).
• Build scalable processes that can support the next stage of growth.
• Partner closely with Operations, Sales, and Marketing to ensure financial clarity.
• Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights.
• Communicate risk, variances, and performance trends proactively.
• Support strategic decision-making with clean, reliable data.

Benefits

• Direct exposure to and mentorship from the CFO.
• Opportunity to build and own the accounting function as the company scales.
• Competitive salary based on experience and level.
• Health, vision, and dental coverage.
• Flexible PTO.
• A front-row seat to the growth of one of the most disruptive brands in body care.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level