Controller

About Cardlytics
Founded in 2008, Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) is the industry-leading purchase intelligence and incentives platform. We make commerce smarter and more rewarding for everyone by helping businesses attract, understand, and incentivize consumers through our partners' digital reward programs. Join us on our mission to make commerce smarter and more rewarding for everyone!

About the Team

The Finance team at Cardlytics is integral to ensuring the company’s financial health and compliance. We are committed to delivering accurate financial reporting and analysis to support strategic decision-making across the organization. Our team works collaboratively with stakeholders across departments to maintain transparency, drive operational efficiency, and support the company’s growth trajectory.

About the Position

Cardlytics is seeking a Controller to join our Finance leadership team, reporting directly to the CFO. This role will serve as the senior-most accounting leader at the company, with end-to-end ownership of the controllership function, including financial reporting, technical accounting, tax, treasury, revenue, and corporate accounting.

The Controller will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the company’s financials, maintaining a best-in-class control environment, and enabling the business through strong financial stewardship. This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader who can operate effectively at scale, influence cross-functional partners, and continuously evolve processes, systems, and teams to meet the needs of a public company environment.

You will:

• Serve as the company’s senior accounting leader with full ownership of the controllership function, including financial reporting, technical accounting, revenue, tax, treasury, and corporate accounting

• Set the vision and operating model for accounting, ensuring alignment with business strategy, operational needs, and regulatory requirements

• Maintain ultimate accountability for the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the company’s financial statements

• Oversee the global close and consolidation process through team leadership, ensuring rigor, scalability, and continuous improvement

• Own the company’s SEC reporting strategy and governance, including oversight and final review of all external filings and disclosures

• Act as the primary accounting liaison with external auditors and regulatory bodies, driving an efficient and high-quality audit process

• Provide executive oversight of technical accounting matters, including review and approval of conclusions on complex or non-routine transactions and adoption of new accounting standards

• Own the design, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of internal controls over financial reporting (SOX), ensuring a strong and scalable control environment

• Oversee tax strategy, compliance, and reporting, in partnership with external advisors

• Oversee treasury operations, including liquidity management, capital planning, and banking relationships

• Lead, develop, and scale a high-performing accounting organization, establishing clear structure, accountability, and succession planning across teams

• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Product, Legal, Sales, and the People Team to support business initiatives and ensure appropriate accounting treatment

• Provide financial leadership and insight to support strategic decision-making and operational execution across the organization

• Drive continuous improvement of systems, processes, and policies to enhance efficiency, scalability, and financial data integrity

You have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA required

• 12-15+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public company and/or Big 4 experience

• Significant leadership experience overseeing multiple accounting functions in a complex organization

• Experience navigating complex accounting disclosures and internal control discussions within a Board or Audit Committee setting.

• Deep expertise in GAAP, SEC reporting, and internal controls (SOX)

• Proven ability to operate at a strategic level while maintaining strong operational oversight

• Experience working with a suite of finance systems including ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and financial reporting tools (e.g., Workiva)

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in technology, fintech, or advertising/marketing platforms

• Prior Controller or Assistant Controller experience in a public company environment

• Experience leading global accounting organizations

• Familiarity with technical research tools (e.g., Intelligize)

• Demonstrated success in evolving accounting processes and infrastructure at scale

Technical Environment

We primarily use macOS and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides). While our preferred platform is macOS, we support both macOS and Windows. Familiarity with or willingness to work within this environment is required.

Core Values

Our shared values are the driving force behind everything we do. Across all roles, we are looking for teammates who embody these values:

• Customer and partner first

• Act with urgency and focus

• Integrity with our partners and data

• Accountability even when challenged

• Empowerment over hierarchy

• Growth over comfort

Benefits and Perks

• Flexible paid time off plus company holidays

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance begins on your first day

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match, plan also includes a student loan debt repayment option

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• Educational assistance for continuing education

• Lifestyle Spending Account for physical, emotional, and financial wellness (like gym memberships, home down payments, art classes, park passes, and more!)

• Complimentary Calm app subscriptions to support employee mental health and wellbeing

As an equal opportunity employer, Cardlytics is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our people bring our products and organization to life, and every unique perspective makes us better. If you can do the job and you’re excited about growing with us as we scale our best-in-class advertising platform, we’d love to hear from you. If you need accommodation in the recruiting process due to a disability, please email [email protected] or inform your recruiter.