Financial Controller (Part Time)

We are worker owned creative collective, innovating on everything from brands and IRL communities to IoT devices and cross platform apps. We share profit, open source everything, spin out new businesses, and invest in exciting ideas through financial and/or in-kind contributions.

Our client roster includes Google, Stripe, Figma, Hinge, Black Socialists in America, ACLU, Pratt, Parsons, Mozilla, The Nobel Prize, MIT, Gnosis, Etsy & Gagosian. We’re the software team behind innovative products like The Light Phone & Mill, and we a global, decentralized community space collective called Index Space.

We think of our garden3d as collective for creative people, prioritizing a happy, talented, and diverse studio culture. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and progressive policies. We work on projects that bring value to our world, and we balance deep care for the work we do with a genuine curiosity about life outside of our jobs. (And, yes, we can back all of that up!)

The Financial Controller role

As garden3d’s Financial Controller, you’ll oversee the financial operations of our 30-person, ~$6MM/year collective of creative businesses, which specializes in software design and development, and associated businesses.

You will play a critical role in ensuring our financial health, compliance, and growth. This role is ideal for individuals who are strategic thinkers, detail-oriented, and experienced in managing finances for dynamic, non-conventional organizations. In addition to high-level financial oversight, you’ll be responsible for maintaining accurate accounting records, producing financial reports, and implementing robust financial controls to mitigate risk. You'll also play a key role in guiding the company toward audit-level compliance while providing hands-on financial management leadership to both internal teams and external partners.

You’ll collaborate closely with our Founder/CEO and General Manager, and other company leaders, to ensure our financial strategies align with business goals.

Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy

Partner with the General Manager to create and implement financial strategies that align with company objectives, including revenue growth, profitability, and cost management.

Budgeting & Forecasting

Own the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling financial forecasts to support decision-making. Provide regular updates on performance against budget.

Accounting Oversight

Oversee all accounting operations, including accounts payable/receivable, payroll, expense tracking, general ledger, cost accounting, inventory accounting, and revenue recognition.

Ensure quality control over financial transactions and reporting.

Lead the transition from cash basis to GAAP accounting, ensuring systems and processes are updated accordingly.

Prepare and publish timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with GAAP.

Cash Flow & Financial Management

Oversee cash flow planning and ensure sufficient funds are available for operational needs.

Collaborate with the Director of Business Development to ensure accurate pricing, client billing, and profitability analysis for projects. Monitor accounts receivable and ensure timely collections.

Build and maintain relationships with external financial partners such as auditors, tax advisors, and financial institutions.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with all applicable tax laws, regulations, and company policies. Work with external auditors and tax advisors to manage audits and filings.

Develop and execute an audit readiness plan to meet audit-level compliance within 3 - 5 years.

Coordinate with external auditors to ensure successful audit results and regulatory compliance.

Advise on, and possibly implement and monitor risk management policies and procedures to safeguard company assets.

Stay updated on industry trends, regulations, and best practices to ensure compliance and optimize financial performance.

Process Improvement

Develop and document financial processes, accounting policies, and internal controls to maintain and strengthen financial operations.

Refine financial systems and tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and reporting capabilities.

Lead change management efforts, including training staff on updated accounting practices and financial procedures.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

Partner with other leaders, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment aligned with company culture.

Support department leads in understanding financial performance, costs, and budgets. Provide training as needed to ensure financial literacy across teams.

Set objectives and goals for the finance team, monitor performance, and provide ongoing feedback.

Collaborate cross-functionally to support overall company goals and objectives.

Culture

Foster a culture of financial accountability, transparency, and strategic decision-making throughout the organization.

Qualifications

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to make a significant impact in a growing, dynamic company. You’ll be a key partner in shaping our financial future while ensuring we remain a sustainable and thriving organization.

Based on the responsibilities of this role, we think the right candidate has at least 5+ years in a similar role, sporting the following experience and skills:

Must have:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. CPA or equivalent qualification strongly preferred.

At least 5 years of experience in a financial management role, preferably within a professional services or client-focused organization.

Strong understanding of GAAP, financial reporting, and audit processes. Proven experience transitioning from cash basis to GAAP accounting and preparing for external audits

Proficiency with modern accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks Online, Xero) and advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills. Experience with ERP systems is a plus.

Fluency and deep understanding Tax Efficiency best practices.

Proven ability to create and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial models.

Exceptional analytical skills with attention to detail and accuracy.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Demonstrated project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities among fast-moving work streams.

Located between Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) and Central European Time (UTC+2).

Nice-to-have:

Experience directly filing taxes on behalf of businesses, and conducting day-to-day book keeping.

Experience calculating EBIDTA & making business valuations.

Experience with Perpetual Purpose Trusts, EOSPs, Phantom Equity, etc.

Experience working with co-ops, worker ownership, profit sharing and other such structures.

Experience in a software development, design consultancy or other creative industry.

Experience working with or at a Big Four or large public accounting firm.

Familiarity with project-based accounting and financial metrics such as utilization and profitability.

Experience implementing or optimizing financial systems and tools.

Knowledge of international financial practices for companies operating across multiple regions.

Previous experience working with outside legal counsel on financial aspects of contracts (e.g., NDAs, MSAs).

A passion for working in a collaborative, creative environment.

Who you are

The person we’re looking for is happy, relaxed and easy to get along with and appreciates a commitment to a culture of transparency, non-dictatorial leadership styles, and alternative methodologies. They’re flexible on anything except conceits that will lower their usually outstanding work quality. They work “smart” by carefully managing their workflow and team.

How we interview

After you submit your application, a member of our team will reach out. Our interview process starts with an intro call to answer any questions you have about the role and to learn a bit more about your experience and interests.

From there, we’ll follow up with a panel interview call where you get to meet a few members of our team, to openly discuss some of our challenges and ensure your skills and interests align with where we’re going as a business.

For qualified candidates, the process wraps with a reference call, and an offer to follow.

Compensation

Initially, this is a part time role, paid hourly. We’re expecting that this role would have capacity for 16 — 24 hours per week, at a rate ranging between $75 — $120 per hour, pending this individual’s experience and qualifications.

In the future, there is capacity for this to grow into a full time role.

How we work:

We believe that there’s a better balance between the poles of freelancing & full time, and for that reason Sanctuary works differently to most shops:

Freedom Fridays: In the spirit of Yvon Chouinard’s “Let My People Go Surfing”, the last Friday of every month is a day off. We think that well rested, calm and thoughtful team members make far better decisions, and 12 extra long weekends each year helps everyone stay focused.

Transparency & Ownership: We release out Profit & Loss statements to the community each year, open source our best ideas, and talk business & money with everyone in the company. We’re proud to run our business with integrity, and for that reason we share everything with our team & community.

150% Carbon Negative: Our studio offsets 150% of the carbon we use to do business each year, dated back to our founding in 2015. We turn down work that is not in-line with our morals, and we encourage our peers to do the same. We were certified climate neutral earlier this year.

Strong Morals: Since our founding, we've turned down somewhere between $1mm - $2mm of work that didn't meet our moral standards. (Most of that was DTC brands that can't show a valid sustainability initiative).

Async & Decentralized: We use tools optimized for calm, thoughtful communication, and opt for async whenever possible. We fight hard to maintain our focus time.

Remote Friendly: Our company is fluent in remote work, making our workplace more decentralized, and democratized in the process.

Ideas & Products: In our spare studio time, we work to build our own open source or internal products to diversify & bolster our income. We create amazing technology products for our clients, so why not for the studio?

→ Read more on our Substack, over here, or our Medium, over there.

How to apply

We’re excited to hear from you! Please apply by telling us a bit more about your interest in the role: Accounting Manager/ Controller

XXIX turns X.

ALT

Values & Collective Vibes

We write a lot and are generally not satisfied with the status quo! Work with us to make things better.

Managing is a Maker’s Skill

How we built a better creative studio by becoming our own project managers.

https://garden3d.substack.com/p/managing-is-a-makers-skill

We're not a Traditional Agency™

We like to say that Sanctuary Computer is a hospitality company, first and foremost. That is still true - but in the early business decisions we made, we felt that it was important to setup contracts and projects in a way that made the client feel as financially safe as possible to win the business.

https://sanctucompu.substack.com/p/were-not-a-traditional-agency

Our open source 2021 Profit & Loss

Our meaningful action in DEI, sustainability, charitable giving, and decentralization

https://garden3d.substack.com/p/our-open-source-2021-profit-and-loss

Studio Carbon Negative * Sanctuary Computer

Sanctuary Computer is a team of thoughtful individuals; and we're agreed. It's no longer good enough to make yet another nice thing. We understand that if our company is going to continue to exist, we owe it to our community to justify our existence.

https://negative.sanctuary.computer/

The garden3d company retreat in Puerto Rico 2022.