Vice President, Global Controller

Politico•Arlington, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

POLITICO is seeking an experienced Vice President, Global Controller to lead its global accounting function and serve as a key partner to the CFO and Finance leadership team. Based at POLITICO’s Arlington, Virginia headquarters, this role reports to the CFO and leads the Global Accounting Team across the US and Europe. The position is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and scalability of financial operations across POLITICO’s growing global organization. The successful candidate will bring deep technical accounting expertise, sound business judgment, and a modern approach to finance. They will strengthen controls and processes, develop a high-performing global team, and build financial infrastructure that supports the company’s continued growth. This strategic finance leader will advise senior leadership, translate complex accounting matters into clear recommendations, balance day-to-day execution with process transformation, and partner across entities, markets, and regulatory environments.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive accounting experience at an international group, including several years as a regional or global Controller.
A professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) and a degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Strong understanding of accounting principles under both IFRS and US GAAP.
Experience consolidating a multi-entity, multi-currency group into a large corporate parent, in industry or in an audit practice.
Proven ownership of an internal control framework over financial reporting and of external audits.
Strong revenue recognition experience (IFRS 15 and ASC 606).
Working knowledge of transfer pricing and international tax sufficient to shape structure and challenge advisers; tax-specialist expertise is not required.
Experience leading finance teams across countries and time zones, including regular early-morning overlap with the Brussels hub.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with acquisitions, disposals, or carve-outs, including purchase accounting and discontinued operations.
Workday Financials and Salesforce experience, and a record of automating close and reporting.
Familiarity with Belgian GAAP.
Additional European languages.
Revenue recognition experience involving subscription, advertising, or events revenue.

Responsibilities

Lead the global close and IFRS consolidation for group reporting, with operational accounting delivered through regional Controllers.
Set accounting policy and make final decisions on complex accounting judgments, including subscription revenue recognition.
Lead statutory reporting and filings in every jurisdiction where POLITICO operates, in partnership with external accountants.
Own the financial governance and internal control framework over financial reporting (ICFR), and serve as the main contact for external auditors and Internal Audit.
Oversee tax accounting, transfer pricing, and indirect tax compliance with external tax advisers.
Partner with tax and legal teams on international structure, entity set-up, and the financial unwinding, liquidation, or roll-up of legacy and redundant entities.
Support acquisitions from financial due diligence and quality of earnings through post-deal integration.
Lead purchase accounting, including purchase price allocation, valuation of identifiable intangibles, and annual goodwill impairment testing.
Lead accounting for disposals and restructurings, including carve-out financials and discontinued operations.
Drive automation of finance processes in Workday and the order-to-cash flow from Salesforce through to the ledger.
Build and develop the global accounting team, set clear accountabilities, and define how the function’s success is measured.