Controller

Ultimate Knowledge • Phoenix, AZ

12d

About The Position

Ultimate Knowledge Institute is a high-growth cybersecurity workforce readiness company that delivers and manages workforce development and readiness, custom content development solutions, and training for national security agencies, government contractors, state governments, and commercial enterprises. We are a private equity-backed company in an exciting phase of growth — integrating recent acquisitions, scaling our operations, and building the financial infrastructure to support what comes next. We are looking for a Controller who is ready to lead from the front and make an immediate impact.
This is not a maintenance role. You will lead and continuously improve the accounting function, drive a critical ERP migration, manage our first external audits as a PE-owned entity, and serve as a key partner to the CFO and ownership group. If you are energized by complexity, thrive in fast-moving environments, and want to build something meaningful, this role is for you.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA required
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 4 years in a Controller or Assistant Controller capacity
• Demonstrated experience owning or significantly contributing to an ERP implementation or migration
• Strong technical U.S. GAAP knowledge across standards highly relevant to a SaaS business, including: ASC 606 — Revenue Recognition: multi-element arrangements, SSP determination, contract modifications, and recognition of subscription, professional services, and usage-based revenue ASC 340-40 — Capitalized Contract Costs: proper treatment of sales commissions and contract acquisition costs ASC 350-40 — Internal-Use Software: capitalization criteria and amortization of software development costs ASC 805 — Business Combinations: purchase price allocation, fair value assessments, and goodwill/intangible recognition in acquisitions
• Hands-on experience managing external audits, including preparation of workpapers and direct coordination with audit teams
• Experience with acquisition accounting and opening balance sheet preparation
• Excellent Excel skills; comfort with financial reporting and consolidation tools

Nice To Haves

• Public accounting background (Big 4 or large regional firm), ideally with audit or transaction advisory experience
• Prior experience in a private equity-backed company or supporting PE-owned portfolio companies
• Experience supporting a buy-and-build acquisition strategy with multiple simultaneous transactions
• Experience with board-level financial communication
• Experience in high-growth SaaS / Technology is a plus but not required

Responsibilities

• Own the full accounting cycle including general ledger, month-end and year-end close, and preparation of accurate U.S. GAAP financial statements
• Lead, mentor, and grow the accounting team — setting clear expectations, building scalable processes, and fostering a culture of accuracy and accountability
• Deliver timely monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages to management and the PE sponsor, including variance analyses and KPI dashboards
• Maintain a strong internal control environment; design and enforce accounting policies and procedures appropriate for a growing PE-backed business
• Oversee AP, AR, payroll accounting, fixed assets, treasury, and cash management functions
• Partner with external tax advisors to manage federal, state, and local tax compliance, including income tax and sales/use tax
• Coordinate with FP&A on the annual budget and rolling forecast, providing historical context and actuals
• Support lender reporting, debt covenant compliance, and any related accounting matters
• Lead preparation for the opening balance sheet audit, including purchase price allocation schedules, fair value documentation, and audit-ready workpaper packages
• Manage the first-year audit end-to-end — from planning through issuance — serving as the primary liaison with external auditors
• Prepare and review all audit schedules, flux analyses, and supporting documentation to ensure a clean, efficient process
• Proactively identify and remediate control gaps or accounting deficiencies ahead of audit fieldwork
• Coordinate across legal, operations, and the PE sponsor to ensure timely delivery of all requested materials
• Serve as the internal project owner for the company’s migration from its current accounting platform to a new ERP system, from planning through post-go-live stabilization
• Drive the chart of accounts redesign, data mapping, and historical data migration to ensure completeness, accuracy, and continuity of financial records
• Define and document new accounting workflows, approval hierarchies, and system configurations in partnership with implementation consultants
• Manage the parallel run period, validate system output, and resolve discrepancies prior to cutover
• Develop and deliver user training; serve as the ongoing internal subject matter expert post-implementation
• Support due diligence and financial integration for original investment and any future acquisitions, including financial statement normalization and working capital analysis
• Lead acquisition accounting under ASC 805, including purchase price allocation, fair value assessments, and recognition of goodwill and identifiable intangibles
• Coordinate with valuation specialists and legal counsel to gather inputs for purchase price allocations and opening balance sheet preparation
• Integrate acquired entities into the consolidated reporting structure and ensure continuity of financial controls post-close
• Account for deal-specific items including contingent consideration, earnouts, and transaction costs

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Optional supplementary life insurance policy available
• UKI will cover 100% of your individual premium for medical, dental, vision, disability, and basic life.
• 401k plan with basic safe harbor matching (up to 4% match with 5% contribution)
• 15 days of PTO annually for either vacation or sick days
• 12 company holidays (same as 11 federal holidays) plus Christmas Eve
• Professional Training and Certification Support

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees