Careers

Company Background

Vessel Advisors delivers financial clarity and operational certainty to growth-stage CEOs and their companies. We serve as an outsourced financial team with a focus on strategic finance, technology, and metrics. We provide a full accounting and finance team at a fraction of the cost, and we scale up or down with our clients as they do. We work primarily with dynamic, growth-stage business leaders who need to develop and implement strategic financial and operational plans. We get to serve as trusted advisors to dynamic business leaders and equip them with the financial information they need when they need it.

Position Summary

The Controller position at Vessel Advisors reports directly to the VP of Operations and to client executive leadership on a fractional basis. This role is responsible for directing all accounting, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, grant and contract compliance, tax coordination, and internal control functions across multi-entity nonprofit organizations, including direct-service providers, advocacy and education organizations, and their related affiliates and supporting entities.

We are hiring this role in anticipation of continued growth in our nonprofit client portfolio. The Controller serves as a hands-on technical lead, overseeing credit card and invoice approval workflows, accounting system reporting and optimization, rolling cash flow projections, and coordination with outside accounting and audit firms. The ideal candidate blends deep nonprofit accounting expertise with an AI-first mindset, orchestrating workflows through modern tools to scale client financial operations.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• AI-First Mindset: Possess a deep, self-driven curiosity for AI, actively integrating tools into personal and professional workflows to eliminate 80–90% of manual effort—far beyond basic text drafting or email generation.
• Hands-on Platform Experience: Direct experience designing and deploying customized AI solutions, including Claude Artifacts, custom GPTs, tailored Projects, and specialized prompt skills.
• Agentic Management: Naturally approach work as an orchestrator, leveraging and managing multiple AI agents concurrently to execute complex financial and operational deliverables.
• Nonprofit expertise: Proven background as a Controller serving tax-exempt organizations, managing fund accounting across restricted and unrestricted net assets, federal and private grant portfolios, donor-designated funding, and multi-entity or affiliate structures. Breadth across adjacent service industries, such as professional services or marketing, is a plus.
• Operational leadership breadth: Comfortable extending past the accounting function into operations, including process design, vendor and systems management, payroll and HR coordination, and cross-functional leadership alongside executive directors, finance committees, and boards. Prior COO or Director of Operations exposure is a strong signal.
• Tech-savvy and systems expertise: Deep proficiency with Sage Intacct (including system setups, modifications, and customized reporting), Excel, and Google Workspace. Familiarity with QuickBooks Online, Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, BILL, Ramp, Gusto or ADP payroll, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang, and Expensify is highly valued.
• Extreme ownership and proactive focus: Deeply organized, comfortable leading fractional engagements, managing tight deadlines, and operating with perfectionist standards across multi-entity consolidations and grant reporting calendars.
• Excellent virtual communicator: Superior written (Slack, email) and verbal skills for high-frequency remote client engagement, including comfort presenting to executive directors, finance committees, and boards.

Day to Day Operations

• Transaction approvals: Execute daily and weekly review and approval of all client credit card transactions and vendor invoices to maintain operational momentum.
• Outside accounting and audit firm oversight: Review work papers, monthly close packages, and financial deliverables provided by outside accounting firms, and serve as the primary liaison for annual financial statement audits.
• Systems modification and reporting: Head up the active configuration, modification, and optimization of client accounting system setups; design and run custom financial, program, and grant reports.

Nonprofit Accounting and Compliance

• Fund accounting and net assets: Maintain fund-level accounting across net assets with and without donor restrictions, track releases from restriction, and reconcile donor-restricted balances to the underlying gift and grant agreements.
• Revenue recognition: Apply ASU 2018-08 to distinguish contributions from exchange transactions and conditional from unconditional promises to give, recognize program service and fee-for-service revenue under ASC 606, and record contributed nonfinancial assets under ASU 2020-07.
• Grant and contract compliance: Administer federal, state, foundation, and corporate grant portfolios, including budget-to-actual reporting, drawdown and reimbursement requests, subrecipient monitoring, and compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Functional expense and cost allocation: Build and maintain cost allocation methodologies across program, management and general, and fundraising; prepare the statement of functional expenses and support negotiated indirect cost rate agreements.
• Audit and tax coordination: Prepare audit-ready schedules and the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards, coordinate single audits where applicable, and support Form 990 and Form 990-T preparation with external CPAs.
• Endowment and investment accounting: Track board-designated and donor-restricted endowments, spending policy calculations, and UPMIFA compliance.

Fractional Leadership, Treasury, & Analysis

• Rolling cash flow and liquidity: Lead organization-wide cash flow projections, liquidity planning, operating reserve policy monitoring, debt covenant compliance, and line-of-credit management.
• Budgeting and financial modeling: Prepare annual organizational budgets, program- and grant-level budgets, long-range forecasts, and scenario models tied to funding cycles and renewal timelines.
• Consolidated and board reporting: Deliver accurate month-end consolidated reporting packages, finance and audit committee materials, and KPI dashboards; establish internal controls and coordinate annual audit and tax workflows with external CPAs.
• Team and AI orchestration: Supervise internal, client, and third-party staff while deploying multi-agent AI workflows to streamline accounting deliverables.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 8–10+ years of progressive accounting leadership (Controller, Director of Finance, Director of Accounting, COO, or CFO) with significant tenure serving nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations.
• Technical accounting: Mastery of GAAP for not-for-profit entities (ASC 958), fund accounting, multi-entity consolidations, federal award compliance, and functional expense allocation.
• Systems: Demonstrated expertise in Sage Intacct (setup and modification experience strongly preferred), coupled with hands-on skill in building custom GPTs, Claude Artifacts, and automated workflows.
• Education and credentials: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required. CPA, CNAP, or Master's degree strongly preferred.

Physical Location & Details

• Type: Full-Time (40+ Hours per week)
• Location: USA only – Fully Remote Working Arrangement. Standard working hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in your local time zone; MST or PST preferred).
• Ability to Travel Preferred: Infrequent (1x per month or less) for initial client discovery assessments or strategic team meetings.
• Annual All-Team Retreat: late summer/early fall, required attendance.
• Compensation: Starting at $95,000+ per year (DOE).

Benefits

Benefits:

• PTO at 120hr per year (3 weeks)
• Health stipend
• 10 Company Paid Holidays
• Sick Time
• Performance Bonus

Company Background

Vessel Advisors delivers financial clarity and operational certainty to growth-stage CEOs and their companies. We serve as an outsourced financial team with a focus on strategic finance, technology, and metrics. We provide a full accounting and finance team at a fraction of the cost, and we scale up or down with our clients as they do. We work primarily with dynamic, growth-stage business leaders who need to develop and implement strategic financial and operational plans. We get to serve as trusted advisors to dynamic business leaders and equip them with the financial information they need when they need it.

Position Summary

The Controller position at Vessel Advisors reports directly to the VP of Operations and client executive leadership on a fractional basis. This role is responsible for directing all accounting, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, tax coordination, and internal control functions across multi-entity industrial real estate development projects, operating properties, and construction management entities.

Additionally, this position serves as a hands-on technical lead—overseeing credit card approvals, invoice workflows, Sage Intacct reporting, cash flow projections, third-party accounting review (CohnReznick), and our ongoing Sage Intacct setup and system modification initiative. The ideal candidate blends deep commercial/industrial construction accounting expertise with an AI-first mindset, orchestrating workflows through modern tools to scale client financial operations.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• AI-First Mindset: Possess a deep, self-driven curiosity for AI, actively integrating tools into personal and professional workflows to eliminate 80–90% of manual effort—far beyond basic text drafting or email generation.
• Hands-on Platform Experience: Direct experience designing and deploying customized AI solutions, including Claude Artifacts, custom GPTs, tailored Projects, and specialized prompt skills.
• Agentic Management: Naturally approach work as an orchestrator, leveraging and managing multiple AI agents concurrently to execute complex financial and operational deliverables.
• Construction & Industrial Real Estate Expertise: Proven background as a Controller managing vertically integrated industrial real estate development, project capitalization, land acquisition, and construction management entities.
• Tech-Savvy & Systems Expertise: Deep proficiency with Sage Intacct (including system setups, modifications, and customized reporting), Excel, and Google Workspace. Familiarity with MRI, Nexus AP automation, ADP payroll, Procore, Yardi, QBO, BILL, and Textura is highly valued.
• Extreme Ownership & Proactive Focus: Deeply organized, comfortable leading fractional engagements, managing tight deadlines, and operating with perfectionist standards across multi-entity consolidations.
• Excellent Virtual Communicator: Superior written (Slack, email) and verbal skills for high-frequency remote client engagement.

Day to Day Operations

• Transaction Approvals: Execute daily/weekly review and approval of all client credit card transactions and vendor invoices to maintain operational momentum.
• Outside Accounting Firm Oversight: Review work papers, monthly close packages, and financial deliverables provided by CohnReznick (outside accounting firm performing base accounting).
• Systems Modification & Reporting: Head up the active modification and optimization of the client's Sage Intacct setup; design and run custom Sage Intacct financial and operational reports.

Construction & Real Estate Development Accounting

• Job Cost & WIP Management: Track project costs, capitalize development expenditures, manage monthly Work-in-Progress (WIP) schedules, track committed costs, and calculate Percentage of Completion (POC) revenue recognition.
• Billing & Capital Stack Management: Manage AIA G702/G703 progress billings, subcontractor pay applications, retainage, change orders, lender draw packages, development loan requisitions, NNN/CAM reconciliations, and capital calls.

Fractional Leadership, Treasury, & Analysis

• Rolling Cash Flow & Liquidity: Lead company-wide cash flow projections, liquidity planning, debt covenant compliance, and line-of-credit management.
• Budgeting & Financial Modeling: Prepare annual budgets, long-range forecasts, project pro formas, and sources/uses schedules.
• Consolidated Reporting & Controls: Deliver accurate month-end consolidated reporting packages, track KPIs, establish internal controls, and coordinate annual audit/tax workflows with external CPAs.
• Team & AI Orchestration: Supervise internal, client, and third-party staff while deploying multi-agent AI workflows to streamline accounting deliverables.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 8–10+ years of progressive accounting leadership (Controller, Director of Accounting, or CAO) with significant tenure in commercial/industrial real estate development and construction.
• Technical Accounting: Mastery of GAAP, multi-entity consolidations, job cost accounting, debt/equity waterfall allocations, and joint venture structures.
• Systems: Demonstrated expertise in Sage Intacct (setup/modification experience strongly preferred), coupled with hands-on skill in building custom GPTs, Claude Artifacts, and automated workflows.
• Education & Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required. CPA, CCIFP, or Master’s degree strongly preferred.

Physical Location & Details

• Type: Full-Time (40+ Hours per week)
• Location: USA only – Fully Remote Working Arrangement. Standard working hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in your local time zone; MST or PST preferred).
• Ability to Travel Preferred: Infrequent (1x per month or less) for initial client discovery assessments or strategic team meetings.
• Annual All-Team Retreat: late summer/early fall, required attendance.
• Compensation: Starting at $95,000+ per year (DOE).

Benefits

Benefits:

• PTO at 120hr per year (3 weeks)
• Health stipend
• 10 Company Paid Holidays
• Sick Time
• Performance Bonus

Location: 100% Remote (Must currently reside in NV, AZ, ID, TX, or CA)

Travel Requirements: Up to 2 times per month for 2-3 day onsite client discovery assessments

Role Type: Full-Time W-2 (45–55 hours/week, including travel time)

Compensation: $105,000 – $130,000 base salary + up to 10% annual performance bonus + Benefits

Love consulting, client variety, and leading the room—but hate the public accounting grind?

At Vessel Advisors, we deliver financial clarity and operational certainty to growth-stage CEOs. We operate as an outsourced financial executive team, blending strategic finance, accounting systems, and data-driven insights.

We are expanding our core team with a full-time Consulting Controller who thrives in dynamic, multi-client environments. If you have a foundation in public accounting/audit, love stepping into ambiguous client setups, and possess elite executive presence to lead in-person assessments, this role was built for you.

Why Join Vessel Advisors?

• No 80-Hour Busy Seasons: Enjoy high-impact, multi-client advisory work with predictable travel and remote flexibility.
• True Advisory Focus: You won’t just manage a ledger; you will facilitate intensive onsite assessments, advise C-suite leaders, and design financial roadmaps that directly impact client bottom lines.
• Ownership & Growth: Lead end-to-end client engagements and work directly alongside former Big 4 and CFO practice leaders.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead Onsite Financial Assessments: Facilitate 2–3 day in-person discovery sessions with growth-stage CEOs and executive teams to evaluate financial health, internal controls, and operational bottlenecks.
• Deliver Strategic Recommendations: Author comprehensive assessment reports and partner with Vessel CFOs/Advisors to present actionable financial roadmaps to client leadership.
• Fractional Controller Leadership: Serve as the lead Controller across a portfolio of recurring clients, managing month-end close quality, budget/forecast builds, and accounting system optimizations.
• Drive Clean-Up & Integration: Step into complex financial setups, identify risk areas, and establish internal controls to make client books "audit-ready."
• Lead Teams & Contractors: Direct and review the work of supporting accounting staff and specialized contractors to ensure quality, budget, and scope targets are met.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• Public Accounting Roots: 3–5+ years of foundational experience in financial audit, assurance, or risk advisory at a public accounting firm. CPA license is a bonus, okay if inactive.
• Controller / Advisory Experience: 8+ years in progressive accounting roles, including proven experience managing multi-client engagements or corporate financial operations.
• Room Facilitator & Executive Presence: Exceptional ability to lead in-person discovery meetings, command a room of executive stakeholders, and navigate complex conversations with composure.
• Tech-Savvy & Systems Mindset: High proficiency in cloud accounting platforms (QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Sage Intacct) and modern finance tech stacks.
• Proactive Project Manager: Obsessively organized, agile when travel schedules shift, and comfortable operating in a 95% Slack / 70% client email environment.

Location & Travel Requirements

• Approved States: Candidates must currently reside in one of the following states: Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, or California. (Applications outside these states cannot be processed at this time).
• Travel: Ability to travel up to two (2) times per month for 2–3 day client onsite assessments, plus an annual team retreat.
• Required: Annual Staff Retreat, 3-4 Days in Southern California

Benefits

Compensation: 

• Base Salary: $105,000 – $130,000 (Commensurate with experience)
• Performance Bonus: Up to 10% annual bonus target
• Time Off: 10 Days PTO + 10 Paid Holidays
• Benefits: Monthly healthcare stipend option
• Work Setup: 100% Remote work-from-home arrangement when not traveling

Vessel Advisors is a dynamic and forward-thinking accounting firm that specializes in providing bespoke financial solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients. We are currently seeking experienced Fractional CFOs to join our team. This opportunity is designed for a strategic financial leader who is capable of stepping into a variety of roles that can address the unique financial challenges faced by our clients. As a Fractional CFO, you will work closely with businesses of different sizes (primarily SMBs of $5-100M), providing high-level financial guidance, strategic planning, and direction to ensure they achieve their financial goals. This role offers flexibility as you will collaborate with clients on a part-time basis, allowing you to manage multiple engagements on a contract basis, while wielding a significant impact on each organization’s financial health. The ideal candidate should thrive in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional analytical skills, and have a deep understanding of financial strategy and operations, and be willing to utilize cloud based software. At Vessel Advisors, we prioritize integrity, creativity, and teamwork, and we are excited to find Fractional CFOs who align with our core values and are ready to drive excellence in our clients’ financial endeavors.

We’re looking for exceptional fractional CFOs who are experts in a variety of industries and are local or within driving distance of Irvine, CA. We invite you to apply to join our bench of independent contractors - to serve our clients in upcoming and recurring projects. Please do not apply or contact us without at least 10+ years in the CFO seat for SMBs.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level financial management and strategic planning services to clients as a Fractional CFO.
• Analyze client financials, assess risk, and develop insights to guide strategic decision-making.
• Assist clients in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling to ensure sustainable business growth.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and other financial transactions by providing expert advice and due diligence.
• Collaborate with accounting teams to prepare financial statements and reports that comply with regulations and standards.
• Implement financial systems and processes to enhance reporting accuracy and efficiency.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, communicating complex financial information in an understandable manner to non-financial stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• 10+ years in the CFO seat for small-medium sized businesses
• Proven experience as a CFO, financial consultant, or similar role, with a track record of success in managing financial strategy.
• Strong understanding of corporate finance principles, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex financial data and trends.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building relationships with clients. We need someone who can lead a meeting room during a Discovery Assessment onsite with a client.
• Willingness to, and skilled at, working both remote and in office.
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficient in financial software and advanced Excel skills, with the ability to quickly adapt to new tools.
• Proactivity & Leadership - we need proactive CFOs who take the lead and can execute on deliverables. Please do not apply if you wait to be told what to do.
• Willingness to travel for 1-2 days per client engagement for our onsite client assessments
• Consultative approach - we need CFOs who are natural leaders and excel at mentorship/advisory.

If you’re passionate about delivering value, have experience in high-level financial roles, and thrive in a flexible, remote (sometimes limited hybrid/onsite) environment, we’d love to hear from you! Learn more about what we do and who we are by visiting www.vesseladvisors.com.