Controller & Chief Accounting Officer Roles
Swell Recruit is a controller recruiter specializing in placing Controllers and Chief Accounting Officers at growth-stage companies. You close the books, build the controls, and keep the business honest — but you’re ready for more than another month-end. Whether you’re eyeing a more complex controller seat, a CAO title, or a clear path toward CFO, we work with Controllers who want their next move to actually mean something.
Why Controllers & CAOs Talk To Me
Most Controllers I place are the quiet engine behind a company’s financial credibility. You’re not chasing job boards — you’re selectively exploring what’s next. My job is to translate your background into specific, vetted opportunities at companies where you’ll have real impact and a real growth path.
I work contingency searches across PE-backed platforms, VC-backed startups, founder-owned businesses, fintech companies, and family offices. If a company needs someone to own the numbers and build the infrastructure around them, that’s my network.
What Strong Controllers Actually Do
The best Controller roles go way beyond “owning the close.” Here’s what you’re really bringing to the table:
- Own financial reporting, GAAP compliance, and audit coordination
- Design and enforce internal controls that let a company scale without chaos
- Lead and develop the accounting team
- Partner with the CFO on systems, KPIs, and business performance
- Drive ERP implementations, reporting upgrades, and process improvements
- Build cash flow visibility and forecasting that leadership actually trusts
In high-growth companies especially, a strong Controller is a builder — of process, systems, teams, and credibility.
Controller to CFO: Are You On That Path?
A lot of Controllers quietly want the CFO title but aren’t sure how to position for it. We’ll look at where you already act like a CFO, where your exposure to boards, investors, or founders has been strongest, and what gaps to close. Then we target roles that either put you at the top of the accounting pyramid — or deliberately put you on a CFO track in 2–3 moves.
Markets I Cover
I place Controllers and CAOs across NYC, Los Angeles, Miami, and South Florida. I’m also active in the Midwest and Detroit metro, particularly within fintech, private equity-backed, and founder-led businesses.
How To Get Started
Share your resume or LinkedIn profile along with a quick note on your current role and what “better” looks like. If there’s a live search that fits, we’ll talk details. If not, I’ll keep you in mind for confidential mandates and reach out when something’s worth your time.
Submit Your Profile | View Current Roles
Also Exploring: CFO Roles | VP Finance Roles | Director of Accounting Roles | Ongoing Opportunities
Hiring a Controller? Contact us — we run active Controller searches across NYC, LA, Miami, and the Midwest.
Swell Recruit — Controller & CAO Practice Placing Controllers and Chief Accounting Officers at the companies that need real accounting infrastructure to scale.
Specialties: PE-Backed Platforms · VC-Backed Startups · Fintech · Family Offices · Founder-Led Businesses · CPA Firms
Recent Controller & CAO Searches:
Controller — WealthTech, $25M ARR
Controller — Fintech, Midwest
Chief Accounting Officer — PE-Backed Platform
CFO-Track Controller — VC-Backed Startup
Markets: New York City · Los Angeles · Miami · Midwest & Detroit
📞 NYC: +1-347-709-8816 · LA/Miami: +1-424-645-7059
🌐 swellrecruit.com · LinkedIn · greg@swellrecruit.com
Contingency and retained search. No placement, no fee.