Controller

Chowbus•Chicago, IL

13d•$120,000 - $140,000

About The Position

About Chowbus Chowbus is a leading Asian restaurant technology SaaS platform, with deep roots in the North American market for years. Currently, we stand as a pioneering enterprise in the North American Asian Restaurant SaaS sector. Driven by precise market positioning and efficient product services, our business has achieved doubled growth annually, covering over 30 core states and 100 key cities across the U.S., and partnering with more than 10,000 Asian restaurants. We build tech ecosystems that help restaurants grow, serve with heart, and uplift their communities ， our vision is to creat a world where culturally rooted food entrepreneurs thrive everywhere. The Company: Join Our Pre-IPO Journey Chowbus is on a clear path to IPO. After a successful pivot to a restaurant POS SaaS platform and a recent Series E raise, we are building the financial infrastructure that will carry us from high-growth startup to public company — and we need a Controller who wants to be at the center of that transformation. This is a rare opportunity to build something that matters, with direct impact on the company's trajectory. The Ideal Candidate You are a technically sharp, highly accountable accounting leader who is energized by complexity and committed to getting things right. You don't just close the books — you make the books better. As our pre-IPO Controller, you will drive the structure, discipline, and AI-enabled processes that define how Chowbus operates as a public entity. You bring deep GAAP expertise, a bias for action, and the leadership instincts to elevate everyone around you. You thrive in ambiguity, collaborate across the business, and take full ownership of outcomes. What You'll Focus On Responsible for driving the month-end close process. This includes the preparation of journal entries, review and approval of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, and ad-hoc GAAP guidance, all while adhering to a tight five business day close deadline. Responsible as the lead liaison with external audit. This includes assigning audit requests to different team members and gathering pertinent information and document support to provide to auditors to ensure final financial statements are accurately prepared to present both internally and externally. Responsible for overseeing proper tax reporting and research. This includes working with external tax services regarding state and federal income taxes and marketplace facilitator taxes for state sales taxes and researching tax treatments of company transactions. Responsible for technical accounting knowledge and compliance within the company, including proper accounting treatment of new company policies to ensure accounting accuracy. Lead, develop, and performance manage direct reports and develop a highly productive and high performing accounting team. Perform ad-hoc accounting projects and analysis that may become standard company processes.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive experience in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
CPA or CFA license required.
Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, PCAOB standards, and SOX/internal controls required.
Direct experience working with external auditors — ideally from the audit side — highly preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field highly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Public company or public accounting experience.
S-1 or IPO-readiness experience is highly desirable.
10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, or other public filing experience.
Mandarin language proficiency (read/write/speak).

Responsibilities

Responsible for driving the month-end close process. This includes the preparation of journal entries, review and approval of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, and ad-hoc GAAP guidance, all while adhering to a tight five business day close deadline.
Responsible as the lead liaison with external audit. This includes assigning audit requests to different team members and gathering pertinent information and document support to provide to auditors to ensure final financial statements are accurately prepared to present both internally and externally.
Responsible for overseeing proper tax reporting and research. This includes working with external tax services regarding state and federal income taxes and marketplace facilitator taxes for state sales taxes and researching tax treatments of company transactions.
Responsible for technical accounting knowledge and compliance within the company, including proper accounting treatment of new company policies to ensure accounting accuracy.
Lead, develop, and performance manage direct reports and develop a highly productive and high performing accounting team.
Perform ad-hoc accounting projects and analysis that may become standard company processes.

Benefits

A fair compensation package
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k)
100% employer-paid Short-Term Disability (STD)
100% employer-paid Life Insurance and option for additional employee-paid Life Insurance
100% employer-paid Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance and option for additional employee-paid AD&D Insurance
Company holidays
Birthday off
Paid Parental Leave
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)