Controller

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Life is short. Work somewhere awesome.

Flare is a breakout cybersecurity Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company with a mission to empower organizations to take control of their data and protect their customers, employees and brand by shedding light on external threats. We enable cybersecurity teams to proactively detect high-risk external exposure across the dark and clear web, before threat actors have a chance to leverage it. We unify the core functionalities of cyber threat intelligence and external attack surface management into a single, intuitive platform.

About the role

As the Controller, you'll play a pivotal role in scaling our accounting operations and financial reporting as we grow. We've built a strong foundation for our core financial processes and established a clear trajectory, and are now entering a phase of significant complexity. We need a Controller who is a "builder-operator" - someone who possesses the technical depth to own the details today, and has the architectural vision for the systems that will support our growth.

As the second member of the finance leadership team, you will partner closely with the Head of Finance and broader leadership to evolve Flare's financial foundation into a high-velocity operation capable of supporting our rapid growth and future capital events.

The reality of this role

Most Controller roles are about maintaining a status quo.
This is not one of those roles.
Flare is in a high-growth phase. Our data and systems are evolving and our pace is relentless. We are looking for the expert, not the delegator.

What makes this role unique:

• Presence in the work:
  At Flare, leadership is presence, not absence. You won't manage from a distance. You will be expected to be deeply involved in the details of our GL, revenue recognition, tax nexus, and audit readiness. If you are looking to hire a large team immediately and spend your days delegating, you will be miserable here.
• Engineering for maturity:
  We're evolving processes that are no longer scaling with us, and upgrading the rest You will automate, solidify, and scale our processes to handle exponential volume.
• Building while flying:
  Growth is chaotic. You will have to build processes from scratch where none exist, often with limited resources and tight deadlines. You are the stabilizing force that ensures our financial integrity stays ahead of our sales velocity.

If you want to run an accounting function with autonomy, influence foundational decisions, and shape the infrastructure that enables us to achieve long-term goals,
this is the role for you.

Your purpose and impact

We're looking for a hands-on, detail-oriented, strategic
Controller
to evolve our accounting operations. You'll take charge of everything from monthly closes, technical memos, revenue recognition and process workflows, and will transition Flare from outsourced processes to a sophisticated, in-house function. We're focused on leveraging automation and using technology to make things smarter and more efficient. This is a unique opportunity to set up best-in-class accounting processes at a hypergrowth startup and scale them alongside the business. Reporting directly to the Head of Finance, you will be the technical anchor of the finance team.

What you'll do:

• Own all accounting operations and financial reporting:
  You will own all elements of day-to-day accounting operations and the accounting cycle, including general ledger, billing, AP/AR, payroll, financial close and reporting, tax (e.g., sales tax filings, SR&ED documentation), and compliance. You will be responsible for the integrity of our financial records and delivering compliant financial statements and analyses, including support for board-level reporting.
• Establish and optimize accounting systems and internal controls:
  You will establish well-documented, scalable accounting policies, internal controls, and procedures, and lead systems modernization (ERP upgrades, billing systems, AI-driven tools) to improve efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
• Technical accounting:
  Research and implement guidance around revenue recognition (ASPE 3400), stock-based compensation (ASPE 3870), and other complex areas.
• Coordinate audits, tax, and compliance:
  You will be responsible for Flare's tax, audit, and regulatory compliance and reporting to ensure ongoing readiness for external audit, fundraising, and diligence processes.
• Support strategic finance initiatives:
  You will collaborate cross-functionally to analyze financial results, automate processes, and help inform business decisions as a trusted business partner.

You'll be a perfect fit if you have:

• CPA with deep Canadian GAAP (ASPE) expertise.
• +6-8 years of progressive finance/accounting operations experience.
• Fluency with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Campfire, NetSuite, or similar), Excel/Sheets, and modern SaaS tools.

Experience with:

• Owning and scaling the end-to-end accounting function, including driving process and system implementation and evolution (e.g., workflow automation, tool deployment, etc.).
• International business considerations (e.g., multi-entity, multi-currency, consolidations, global payroll, global tax compliance, including sales taxes and transfer pricing).
• Collaborating cross-functionally, and providing actionable insights to non-finance leaders.
• Managing audit and due diligence requirements, including working directly with external auditors.

Other qualities:

• You enjoy rolling up your sleeves and creating structure in ambiguous, fast-moving environments. You are comfortable initially being a team of one and hands-on in the details while overseeing external resources as we build out the function internally.
• You are comfortable operating with limited oversight and enjoy tackling problems with unclear solutions. You're comfortable flexing outside of the bounds of accounting, and contributing to the company more broadly.
• You thrive in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment where curiosity, precision, and collaboration are valued as much as technical expertise, and we leverage modern tools to streamline and automate processes and enhance financial insights.
• You are fanatically ethical, and trustworthy with confidentiality, risk and compliance; you have the backbone to challenge something that will not serve the long-term needs of the business or doesn't meet our standard for financial integrity.
• Montreal-based and proficient in both French and English to collaborate with internal and external partners.

Ideally you have:

• A mix of Big Four public accounting and startup or high-growth tech company experience. Prior experience as an Accounting Manager or Senior Accountant in a startup environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience building an accounting function or leading the transition from outsourced to in-house accounting, ensuring no loss of data integrity or momentum.
• Experience personally implementing or re-architecting a financial system, able to explain the "why" behind every configuration choice, with defensible opinions on the best fintech stack for scaling.
• Experience working in a B2B environment, supporting both sales-led growth (SLG) and product-led growth (PLG) operations.

What it's like to be part of Flare:

You will find a people-first company where work-life balance is valued. You'll receive:

• Competitive salary
• Bonus structure with uncapped sales commissions
• Stock options
• Health coverage/insurance
• Flexible, work from anywhere
• Unlimited vacation
• Fun company events; "Flamping", curling, rock climbing and many others

You will join a high-growth, innovative start up where you'll see your impact immediately and be empowered to take on challenges for your personal and professional growth

You will work with an inspiring and award-winning team who are passionate about what they do and the clients we serve, whose work has been referenced in leading academic journals and international media

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Flare we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.