Controller

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada is the fastest-growing Spanish immersion early education® company in the U.S., providing high-quality care and education to children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Our model blends language immersion, strong operational standards, and a focus on whole-child development to deliver a differentiated experience for families and educators alike. Backed by a $30M investment from a premier minority investor, we are scaling nationally and on track to double in size every 18-24 months over the next five years. Our growth and performance have been recognized by the Financial Times (The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies), Inc. Magazine (10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America), and Entrepreneur Magazine (Top 50 Franchise Companies Championing Diversity). We are building a company where operational excellence and accountability are non-negotiable. As we scale rapidly, ensuring consistent performance and strong leadership across centers is critical, making this role a key driver of our continued success. This is an opportunity for a leader who thrives on solving problems, driving measurable results, and building high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

At Tierra Encantada, our values fuel everything we do. We are passionate about nurturing children's growth and creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development. We celebrate the richness of diversity, embracing the unique perspectives it brings to our community. Guided by optimism, we are driven by a shared vision for a brighter future for every child, family, and team member we serve. Join us and be part of a mission-driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact-one child, one family, and one community at a time.

Position Overview

Tierra Encantada is hiring for a Controller who will serve as a key leader responsible for owning the company's day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and integrity across all financial processes. This role is highly hands-on and execution-focused, with responsibility for managing the full accounting cycle, supporting audits, maintaining compliance, and building scalable processes as the company grows. This is not a purely managerial or review-based role. The Controller will be expected to operate as a player-coach, directly executing accounting work while also overseeing a small team. The position will report to and partner closely with the CFO, who leads financial planning and strategy, and will take primary ownership of accounting execution to enable the CFO to focus on broader financial oversight and business growth.

Pay and Schedule

This is a full time, exempt position with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday with 4 days per week on site at our corporate headquarters, and 1 day per week WFH.

The base salary range for this position is $130,000 – $150,000 annually depends on qualifications, education, and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Close Process

• Own and execute the full accounting cycle, including general ledger, journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Lead and actively participate in the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain and improve close timelines, checklists, and procedures.
• Review financial data for accuracy and completeness, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Step in as needed to complete work directly when capacity gaps or issues arise.

Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable & Cash Management

• Oversee and support accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing, collections, and vendor payments.
• Assist in resolving payment-related inquiries, including family billing and tuition questions as needed.
• Maintain strong controls over cash management and reconciliation processes.

Audit, Compliance & Financial Controls

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual audit and coordinate with external auditors.
• Own audit preparation, documentation, and follow-through.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable financial regulations.
• Establish and maintain internal controls and accounting policies.
• Own multi-state compliance requirements, including registrations, filings, and regulatory obligations.

Risk Management & Compliance Administration

• Own administration and tracking of insurance policies, renewals, and certificates of insurance.
• Ensure compliance with insurance requirements tied to leases, licensing, and operations.
• Partner with the CFO on insurance strategy and coverage decisions while owning execution and follow-through.
• Support risk management processes related to financial and operational exposure.

Financial Reporting & Support for Leadership

• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and supporting schedules.
• Partner with the CFO to support financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting needs.
• Provide clear visibility into financial performance, variances, and risks.
• Support cross-functional leaders with financial data and insights as needed.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify inefficiencies in current accounting workflows and implement improvements.
• Build scalable processes to support company growth, including expansion into new markets.
• Support implementation and optimization of financial systems (ERP, accounting software, etc.).
• Improve documentation, standardization, and consistency across accounting processes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Development, Marketing, and Franchise teams to support financial needs and ensure alignment.
• Support real estate and construction accounting processes, including tracking capital expenditures, lease-related items, and project costs.
• Assist in evaluating and improving financial processes tied to enrollment, billing, and center performance.

Other Duties and Projects

• Support additional financial and operational initiatives as assigned.
• Take on evolving responsibilities as the company grows and the finance function scales.
• Other duties and projects, as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA designation strongly preferred.
• 8–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, ideally in a high-growth or multi-site environment.
• Proven experience owning the full accounting cycle and leading month-end close.
• Experience leading audits and working directly with external auditors.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a hands-on, execution-focused role.
• Comfortable working in a lean team environment where the Controller is expected to both do and lead.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with accounting systems and ERP implementations is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• PTO accrual of 160 hours
• 401(k) with 3% employer match
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company paid professional development
• Corporate office amenities (gym, wellness/nursing room, onsite company cafe with coffee, espresso bar, beverages, and snacks available to employees at no cost, onsite free parking), casual work environment, and employee-focused events.

Additional Information About the Position

Tierra Encantada is an equal opportunity employer. Agency applications will not be considered.  No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.  E-Verify is used to verify employment eligibility.