Controller

R.D. Barnett PLLC•Seattle, WA

1d•$110,000 - $135,000•Remote

About The Position

Accurate books. Clear answers. Better decisions. You enjoy getting the numbers right. You also want to understand what they mean, what needs attention, and how the business can run better because of them. We’re looking for a Controller who can own our internal finances, bring useful insight to leadership, and improve the systems behind the work. Someone who is equally comfortable reconciling an account, building a cash-flow forecast, and explaining why a trend deserves attention. If your idea of a satisfying day includes solving a financial puzzle and retiring an unnecessarily complicated spreadsheet, we should talk. A little about us R.D. Barnett PLLC is a growing tax, accounting, and advisory firm serving entrepreneurs and privately held businesses. PracticeDen, our veterinary-focused brand, helps independent veterinary practice owners navigate the financial side of ownership from startup through succession. Relationships matter here. So does clear communication, thoughtful work, and follow through. We take our responsibilities seriously, keep our personalities intact, and continually look for better ways to serve our clients and support our team. We’re technology-forward and comfortable questioning how things have always been done. We want people who bring ideas, exercise judgment, and help turn a good suggestion into a working process. The role As Controller, you’ll own the firm’s day-to-day finance work and provide the analysis and recommendations that help leadership make informed decisions. This is a hands-on role. You’ll personally manage accounting, billing, receivables, payables, payroll, and close activities while building stronger reporting, forecasts, controls, and workflows. You’ll also oversee benefits administration and selected operational projects connected to finance, employees, vendors, insurance, and systems. Working directly with our Finance Operations Manager, you’ll have meaningful responsibility and room to improve how the work gets done. Success means dependable financial operations, fewer surprises, and leadership that can act on the numbers with confidence.

Requirements

Strong accounting experience. You’ve owned a full accounting cycle, including month-end close, reconciliations, financial statements, and supporting schedules.
Financial judgment. You can build forecasts, interpret results, identify risks, and make recommendations that go beyond reporting the totals.
Hands-on ownership. You’re comfortable completing the recurring work yourself and building a more efficient process around it.
Payroll and operational fluency. You have experience with payroll, billing, receivables, payables, and the coordination required to keep them running reliably.
Strong Excel and systems skills. You can organize data, build useful analyses, troubleshoot discrepancies, and learn new platforms quickly.
Clear communication. You explain financial information in plain language and share updates before someone has to ask.
Sound discretion. You handle financial, payroll, benefits, and employee information carefully.
Curiosity with follow-through. You question inefficient processes, test improvements, and document what works.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a CPA firm or another professional-services business is especially helpful.
A CPA or CMA credential, benefits administration experience, and familiarity with our systems are welcome advantages.

Responsibilities

Maintain accurate books and records for R.D. Barnett PLLC and PracticeDen.
Complete and review reconciliations, journal entries, schedules, and month-end close work.
Own accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Maintain a weekly cadence for invoices, payments, A/R reconciliation, collections, and outstanding balances.
Apply and reconcile payments across QuickBooks, Practice CS, Anchor, CPACharge, Ignition, and other systems.
Resolve billing discrepancies, unapplied payments, credits, and unusual transactions.
Prepare excise-tax filings and related recurring compliance work.
Maintain complete supporting documentation and a reliable financial close calendar.
Coordinate with outside accounting, tax, banking, legal, insurance, and benefit partners.
Escalate material matters to the Managing Member when leadership approval is required.
Perform a higher-level review of the firm’s financial activity and records.
Prepare budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow projections.
Produce budget-to-actual and financial-performance reporting.
Analyze revenue, expenses, margins, staffing costs, cash flow, and operational trends.
Identify financial risks, unusual activity, and opportunities for improvement.
Translate financial results into clear recommendations for leadership.
Support hiring, compensation, pricing, investment, and growth decisions with financial analysis.
Help leadership understand what happened, why it happened, and what should happen next.
Own payroll preparation, verification, processing, and records.
Manage routine benefit enrollments, changes, terminations, and employee communication.
Review expense reimbursements within established policies and approval limits.
Coordinate finance-related onboarding and offboarding.
Evaluate benefit and insurance options and manage renewals with leadership and outside partners.
Establish practical financial controls, approval paths, and documented procedures.
Manage finance-related vendor relationships and selected operational projects.
Keep recurring commitments, deadlines, and responsibilities visible.
Improve workflows across QuickBooks, Practice CS, Ignition, Anchor, Double, Missive, Excel, and related tools.
Use automation and AI intentionally, with appropriate confidentiality, verification, and human review.

Benefits

Salary: $110,000-$135,000, based on experience and demonstrated capability.
Remote work: Within approved U.S. work locations, with dependable availability for Pacific Time collaboration and scheduled meetings.
Equipment: The firm provides the computer and standard technology equipment needed for the role, including monitors, keyboard, mouse, headset, and related accessories.
Medical, dental, and vision: The firm currently pays 100% of the employee premium for its medical plan (BCBS PPO) and dental and vision plans (Delta Dental PPO). Coverage begins on the first day of the month following the employee's start date. Dependents may be added at the employee's cost. Benefits remain subject to plan terms.
401(k): The firm currently matches employee contributions up to 3% of eligible pay. Eligibility begins on the employee's start date, subject to plan terms and the applicable vesting schedule.
Paid holidays: Ten in total: Six firm holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day - plus four floating holidays.
Vacation: 22 vacation days per calendar year, prorated based on the official start date. Vacation is subject to the firm calendar and busy-season blackout periods.
Paid sick and safe time: Accrual begins on the first day of employment. The firm uses Seattle's paid sick and safe time requirements as its minimum standard and applies any more protective law required by the employee's work location.
Volunteer time: Two paid volunteer days.
Professional development: Continuing education and growth opportunities, including reimbursement for approved certification, licensing, professional membership, and destination CPE expenses within firm policy.
Optional cell-phone coverage: Participation in the firm's Verizon plan is available under the current cell-phone policy. The firm does not subsidize or reimburse the purchase of the device.
Personal tax support: Employees may use firm software to prepare their personal income tax returns and may request reasonable tax guidance from the firm's principals at no charge, subject to firm policy.