Vice President, Controller
Description
Become an everyday champion — and build a career where your impact fuels financial progress.
What We Do
CardWorks Financial Group is a diversified financial services platform building ethical solutions across credit, lending, and the full customer lifecycle. Through our family of companies, CardWorks Financial Group tackles the complex challenges that larger financial institutions leave behind. We’re embedded throughout the credit card ecosystem as a lender, servicer, and merchant acquirer.
Who We Are
- Merrick Bank: The bank that builds
- CardWorks Servicing: One partner, total performance
- Carson Smithfield: Resolution with respect
With nearly 40 years of operating history, our track record is solid: disciplined in downturns and built to accelerate in recovery. The CardWorks Financial Group companies take precise approach in complex markets, as a top three non-prime focused general purpose card issuer and a top fifteen U.S. merchant acquirer.
Our team tackles the industry’s most complex credit and payment challenges. And we believe that excellent work starts with a team that feels supported, respected, and empowered to grow.
CardWorks Servicing, LLC provides end-to end operational servicing functions for credit cards, secured cards, and installment loans. We service consumer and small business loans across the credit spectrum and offers backup servicing and due diligence services to capital providers and trustees.
Founded in 1997, Merrick Bank is an FDIC®-insured financial institution headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, with over $10 billion in assets. A wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks Financial Group, Merrick Bank serves roughly five million cardmembers and more than 100,000 merchant customers, offering credit cards, recreational loans, deposit accounts, merchant services and bank sponsorships to consumers and businesses.
Carson Smithfield, LLC provides a variety of post-charge-off debt recovery services, including digital self-service, IVR, live agent, and external agency management.
Position Summary and Role Impact:
The VP, Controller, Head of Financial Reporting and Consolidation, is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial reporting, financial consolidation, technical accounting, equity and compensation accounting. This role ensures the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial statements and external disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable requirements.
The position oversees monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting, including financial consolidation, equity-based compensation, payroll and benefits accounting and external audits. The role also maintains effective accounting policies, internal controls and financial reporting systems. Working closely with Accounting, FP&A, HR, Legal, SOX, Internal Audit, and external auditors, this individual will strengthen financial reporting controls, drive operational excellence and continuously improve the company’s accounting and reporting processes.
Essential Functions:
SEC and External Financial Reporting
- Lead the preparation, review, and timely delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and external deliverables.
- Oversee U.S. GAAP financial statements, footnotes, and supporting financial disclosures, including SEC filings where applicable.
- Manage quarterly external reviews and annual financial statement audits, coordinating deliverables and resolving audit matters.
- Ensure the accuracy, completeness and consistency of financial statements and external financial communications.
- Manage reporting calendars, disclosure checklists, filing documentation, and cross-functional review processes.
- Coordinate with Legal, external auditors, and internal stakeholders on financial reporting requirements and disclosures.
Financial Consolidation and Corporate Accounting
- Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial consolidation processes, including intercompany eliminations and consolidated financial statement preparation.
- Ensure accurate recording of transactions and consolidation adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
- Review account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules for significant and complex accounting areas.
- Establish and maintain effective financial close and consolidation procedures.
- Drive improvements in close/ consolidation timelines, reporting accuracy and process scalability.
Payroll, Benefits, and Incentive Compensation Accounting
- Oversee accounting and financial reporting for payroll, employee benefits, bonuses and other incentive compensation programs.
- Ensure appropriate recognition, accrual, classification, and disclosure of compensation-related expenses and liabilities under U.S. GAAP.
- Maintain effective controls over compensation accounting, including completeness and accuracy of related financial information.
Equity and Equity Compensation Accounting, Reporting, and Administration
- Oversee accounting and disclosure for equity-based compensation programs and ensure compliance with applicable U.S. GAAP requirements, including ASC 718.
- Manage equity compensation expense calculations, valuation inputs, expense recognition, and related reconciliations.
- Oversee equity award activity, vesting schedules, forfeitures, modifications, settlements, and related accounting records.
- Partner with HR, Legal, stock plan administrators, and external service providers on equity plan administration and reporting.
- Oversee shareholder’s equity accounting, roll forwards, transactions and related financial statement disclosures.
Technical Accounting and Accounting Policy
- Develop, maintain, and communicate accounting policies, procedures, and technical accounting guidance.
- Prepare and review technical accounting memo for significant transactions, complex estimates, and accounting judgments under U.S. GAAP.
- Monitor new accounting standards and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the company.
- Coordinate with external auditors on significant accounting conclusions and disclosure matters.
Financial Reporting Systems Management
- Oversee the administration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of financial reporting and consolidation systems, including Oracle, Workiva, FCCS, and Smart View.
- Manage system configurations, reporting structures, consolidation rules, chart-of-accounts mappings, and financial reporting workflows, as applicable.
- Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of financial data across source systems, consolidation platforms, and external reporting tools.
- Lead system enhancements, upgrades, automation initiatives, and process improvements to strengthen reporting efficiency and accuracy.
- Establish appropriate access controls, change management procedures, system documentation, and controls over financial reporting systems.
- Partner with IT, system administrators, and external vendors to resolve system issues and implement reporting solutions.
Audit, Internal Controls, and Compliance
- Maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and support compliance with applicable SOX requirements.
- Coordinate quarterly reviews and annual audits, including preparation of supporting documentation and resolution of audit requests.
- Partner with internal audit and external auditors on control testing, audit findings, and remediation activities.
- Identify reporting risks, strengthen control procedures, and implement process improvements.
- Support management and Audit Committee reporting on significant accounting matters, financial reporting risks, and internal control effectiveness, as applicable.
Leadership and Process Improvement
- Lead and develop accounting and financial reporting personnel, fostering accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Establish reporting deadlines, review procedures, and quality standards across the accounting function.
- Collaborate with senior finance leadership on reporting priorities, accounting judgments, and operational improvements.
- Drive standardization and automation of accounting, consolidation, and reporting processes.
- Support strategic transactions and other corporate initiatives requiring technical accounting, equity analysis, or external reporting expertise.
Requirements for Success:
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; Active CPA
- 15+ years of progressive accounting and financial reporting experience, including significant experience in a public company environment or public accounting.
- Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, and financial statement preparation.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing SEC filings, managing quarterly reviews, and coordinating annual audits.
Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities:
- Strong technical accounting experience, including equity-based compensation and complex accounting matters.
- Experience with financial consolidation, payroll and benefits accounting, incentive compensation, and equity reporting.
- Experience managing financial reporting systems, preferably Oracle, FCCS, Workiva, and Smart View.
- Familiarity with SOX compliance, internal controls over financial reporting, and audit processes.
- Strong leadership, analytical, project management, and cross-functional communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining a high standard of accuracy, control, and reporting quality.
The salary range for this position in NY Metro/NY State is $230,000 to $260,000. However, please note that salary ranges vary for other geographic areas.
Our Employee Value Proposition
- Competitive Pay, including a Bonus Target or Variable Pay Incentive Program
- Benefits Package -Medical, Dental, and Vision (plus much more)
- 401(k) Plan with Company Match
- Short- & Long-Term Disability
- Wellness Programs
- Group Life and AD&D Insurance
- Paid Vacation, Sick Days and bank Holidays
- Employee Engagement Activities including Employee Appreciation Day, DEI Employee Resource Groups, Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Recognition
We offer a total rewards package comprised of a competitive base rate of pay, variable pay incentive programs based on the role, and a comprehensive benefit suite. Offered rates of pay are determined based on job-related knowledge, relevant experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, or gender identity/expression (including pregnancy, childbirth, transgender status, or sexual orientation), religion or creed, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Everyone is welcome here, and we hire based on your ability to do the job, not any protected characteristics.
If you need help or reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please let your TA Partner know.