Controller

B. Riley Securities•Los Angeles, CA

5d•Remote

About The Position

B. Riley Securities Holdings, Inc. (BRSH) is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer holding company and subsidiary of BRC Group Holdings (RILY). We are looking for a technically sharp, operationally minded Controller to serve as the cornerstone of our accounting function. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for a senior accounting professional who thrives in a fast-moving environment and wants to be part of building something — not just maintaining it. Reporting directly to the CFO, the Controller owns the general ledger, the monthly close, all internal and regulatory financial reporting, and the development of a growing accounting team. This role sits at the intersection of technical accounting, broker-dealer regulation, and cross-functional partnership. As the firm continues to evaluate its organizational structure and affiliated business lines, the Controller will be well-positioned to grow with the firm and take on expanded responsibilities over time. This role requires someone who can operate with precision, exercise sound judgment, and communicate clearly across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
CPA preferred; active license strongly valued
7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in a broker-dealer, investment bank, or financial services firm
Demonstrated hands-on experience with FINRA FOCUS Report preparation and filing
Working knowledge of SEC Rules 15c3-1 (net capital) and 15c3-3 (customer protection); familiarity with FINRA reporting requirements
Proficiency with NetSuite or equivalent ERP system
Strong command of GAAP, including ASC 606, ASC 718, ASC 820, ASC 840/842, and ASC 326
Demonstrated ability to manage a full monthly close cycle and deliver on-time results in a fast-paced environment
High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, reconciliation modeling)
Proficiency with Claude and other AI tools required; B. Riley is an AI-focused firm and candidates who are not yet proficient must demonstrate the ability and drive to get there fast
Precision & Accountability — Produces consistently accurate work product; takes ownership of errors and drives rapid resolution
Broker-Dealer Technical Depth — Understands the regulatory and accounting nuances unique to a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, including net capital, FOCUS reporting, and clearing firm reconciliations
Close Management — Can execute a compressed monthly close, prioritize competing deadlines, and keep the team on schedule without sacrificing accuracy
Judgment & Escalation — Knows when to escalate issues to the CFO; proactively identifies accounting risks and internal control gaps
Communication — Communicates clearly with non-finance stakeholders (Capital Markets, IB, Compliance) and with external auditors
Team Development — Grows staff capability; delegates effectively and fosters a culture of accuracy and accountability

Nice To Haves

Experience in a carve-out, newly public, or standalone broker-dealer entity
Familiarity with Xtiva commission management system
Prior public accounting experience (Big 4 or national firm) with a broker-dealer or financial services practice
Experience coordinating with external auditors on annual audits and quarterly reviews for a public registrant
Familiarity with NFS (Fidelity) and Pershing clearing platforms

Responsibilities

Own the monthly close calendar from Day 1 through sign-off; manage close task lists and milestone tracking across the team
Confirm reversal of prior month accruals; approve and post all recurring and non-recurring journal entries in NetSuite
Prepare and review the accrued expense analysis; book vendor, legal, payroll, and AP accruals at period-end
Reconcile and maintain the prepaid expense schedule; reclassify prepaid amortization monthly
Record intangible asset amortization; update amortization schedules and tie to the general ledger
Maintain the deferred revenue schedule; monitor deal status updates and approve revenue recognition entries as milestones are achieved
Record deferred rent and right-of-use asset entries; maintain supporting lease schedules
Monitor and clear the intercompany script account (890010); ensure zero balance at period close
Manage intercompany allocations, wires, and entries with parent and affiliated entities (BRSH, BRS, BRC)
Review and approve all AP invoice entries; manage AP period open/close cycle and confirm reclassifications are complete
Run and tie out the AP trial balance; resolve outstanding items with the accounts payable function
Create and maintain deal sheets for each IB underwriting transaction based on prospectus, engagement letters, closing documents, and NFS syndicate account activity
Record IB revenue and related receivables in NetSuite; obtain business unit sign-off on revenue recognition timing
Manage the IB accounts receivable schedule; track retainer fee invoices, deferred revenue, and collection status
Process co-manager OOP expense settlements: gather invoices, obtain approval, record in NetSuite, and initiate AP payment
Prepare and distribute settlement letters; send to co-managers and manage 90-day payment deadlines
Record ATM program revenues and payables; reconcile ATM activity reports monthly
Track M&A and advisory deal revenues; record G/L entries upon confirmation of closing documentation
Monitor deferred deal expenses; reclassify to recognized expense as associated revenue is booked
Calculate net capital requirements for IB underwriting transactions; report haircut impacts to CFO
Maintain the IB revenue deal sheet tied to NetSuite; distribute monthly revenue summary to CFO and CEO
Reconcile secondary commission revenue to Xtiva replication files and NFS clearing statements each month
Run commission reports (primary and secondary), trade-date analysis, and as-of-trade adjustments; resolve discrepancies promptly
Manage the CSA (Commission Sharing Agreement) schedule: receive final CSA amounts, approve fund transfers, monitor bank activity, and approve CSA payments to counterparties
Reconcile NFS accounts (syndicate, cash, and investment accounts); create roll-forward reconciliations and post NetSuite entries
Process ATM commission reductions; update related schedules and notify business leads
Manage commission rebate invoices for introducing broker relationships; send invoices to counterparties and obtain approval before payment processing
Maintain the manual commission receivable schedule; review and route to business unit heads for approval
Process regular salary and commission payroll runs; analyze all payroll lines for accuracy, completeness, and proper GL coding
Export the payroll general ledger report; build a pivot summary and reconcile to the payroll bank account
Upload finalized payroll journal entries to NetSuite; reconcile the payroll bank reconciliation
Prepare the payroll accrual at period-end based on the most recent payroll run; create the reversing accrual for the following period
Maintain accrued bonus and commission schedules; update for payments processed and reconcile balances to NetSuite
Book primary and secondary compensation accruals; obtain accrual inputs from business unit heads and reconcile to approved compensation pools
Prepare commission detail by person and type for each commission payroll run; distribute to relevant parties for review
Track and record employee loans: monitor interest accrual, record payments, and maintain employee receivable schedule
Review and approve all bank reconciliations monthly: BONY operating, BONY CSA, BONY DTCC, BONY payroll, and other custodian accounts
Monitor daily bank activity; approve daily cash receipt entries from accounting staff
Reconcile the NFS main account and all sub-accounts; create roll-forward reconciliations and post NetSuite entries for positions, P&L, transfers, and as-of trades
Review and approve the Pershing sundry account reconciliation and corresponding entries
Reconcile DTCC participant fund balance; obtain and process DTCC billing invoices
Obtain and approve reconciliations for other clearing accounts; review activity and post corresponding entries
Confirm all cash receipts are entered; reclassify negative NFS balances to the AP payable account
Review outstanding checks for void and reissue as warranted
Prepare and file the monthly FOCUS Report (FINRA Form X-17A-5) for BRS on the FINRA Gateway by business day 17
Update FOCUS income statement and balance sheet summary schedules; calculate security haircuts for net capital compliance under SEC Rule 15c3-1
Obtain CFO approval on the FOCUS Report prior to FINRA filing; distribute to compliance and designated counterparties
Prepare and file the monthly leverage report; review with CFO and file on FINRA Gateway
Maintain FOCUS Report packages with supporting reconciliations; ensure consistency with the NetSuite trial balance
Monitor the market blockage report: update positions, buy volume, total trade volume, and calculate haircut charges per clearing firm data
Review contractual commitments at month-end; track open underwriting positions and associated regulatory capital obligations
Review the fixed asset clearing account monthly; create or update fixed asset records in NetSuite for new additions
Process monthly depreciation; maintain and review the fixed asset roll-forward schedule; obtain sign-off
Prepare stock compensation journal entries: RSA and RSU vesting (net-of-tax), stock expense accruals, and ESPP entries on applicable cycles
Coordinate with HR and valuation advisors (e.g., Stout) for current fair value inputs under ASC 718 on vesting events
Maintain the bad debt allowance schedule; review receivable aging, prepare allowance entries, and obtain CFO approval
Record note interest accruals for applicable investment positions; maintain supporting interest schedules
Update the ASC 820 fair value schedule for Level 3 private securities; obtain pricing from approved valuation sources
Manage sublease rental invoices: issue to subtenants, track receipt, and record in NetSuite
Process 401(k) match true-up entries; manage ESPP stock expense accrual semi-annually
Obtain Bloomberg terminal user lists and expense data monthly; calculate cost allocation by user and department
Create monthly Bloomberg accrual and reversing entry; post the final allocation journal entry to NetSuite
Distribute allocated Bloomberg expense detail to business unit heads for review and confirmation
Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for Crowe LLP on the annual audit and quarterly reviews; manage the audit request list and deliverable schedule
Prepare and maintain IPE-compliant financial reporting packages (YTD and QTD) for all audit workpaper areas
Periodic financial reports and disclosure packages
Maintain SOX-aligned documentation for key controls across revenue recognition, payroll, bank reconciliations, and regulatory reporting
Coordinate with BDO (external auditor for parent company BRC Group Holdings) on consolidated audit requests, intercompany reconciliations, and shared-service accounting matters as required
Manage and develop a team currently comprising a Sr. Accountant and Assistant Controller; assign daily work, provide technical guidance, and sign off on all reconciliations prior to CFO submission
Maintain and update the monthly close checklist; provide close status updates to CFO throughout the cycle
Drive continuous improvement in close efficiency; identify automation and process enhancement opportunities within NetSuite
Establish and maintain documented accounting policies and procedures consistent with GAAP and broker-dealer regulatory requirements