Controller (Remote)

Zesty.ai is seeking a remote Controller to build and lead an automated accounting function for their AI-driven property and climate risk analytics platform. The role involves professionalizing accounting policies, designing scalable processes, implementing financial controls, and driving automation. The Controller will oversee multi-entity financial closings, manage outsourced bookkeeping, and ensure compliance while leveraging AI to enhance efficiency in finance workflows.
Controller
Location: Remote (US)
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer


About ZestyAI
ZestyAI is the leading property and climate risk analytics platform for the P&C insurance industry. Our AI-powered models provide property-level insights into the risks that drive the majority of losses, including wildfire, hail, and water damage. Using proprietary data from aerial imagery, property characteristics, permits, and environmental signals, we help insurers price accurately, underwrite smarter, and reduce losses – creating a stronger and more resilient insurance market. As climate events grow more frequent and complex, legacy models can no longer keep pace. ZestyAI replaces outdated assumptions with dynamic, property-specific intelligence. Our next wave of innovation leverages agentic and generative AI to accelerate decision-making across the insurance value chain.


The Opportunity
We are hiring a Controller to build and lead a modern, automation-first accounting function at a rapidly growing AI company.


This is a rare opportunity to design the financial control environment of an AI-native platform company from the ground up.


We are intentionally building a flat, highly capable finance team where senior leaders operate as high-impact individual contributors and leverage automation, outsourced partners, and AI agents to maximize efficiency. You will work directly with the CFO to:



Professionalize accounting policies and monthly close process
Design scalable accounting processes and infrastructure
Implement scale-appropriate financial controls
Drive automation across close, reporting, and compliance
Build a finance function that scales to $100M+ without unnecessary headcount

If you are a technically strong Controller who is curious, self-directed, and already experimenting with AI in your current finance workflows, this role puts you at the forefront of how AI reshapes accounting. You will not be constrained by legacy systems or bureaucracy. You will be empowered to build.


What You’ll Do
Own the Accounting Function

Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual multi-entity close process; produce accurate consolidated GAAP financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
Managing outsourced bookkeeping
Develop accounting policies, SOPs, and internal controls
Manage/oversee AP, AR, payroll accounting, reconciliations
Maintain reconciliations, schedules, and documentation at audit-ready standards

Revenue & Contract Accounting

Own revenue recognition policy and execution (including complex data licensing and multi-element contracts)
Partner with Go-To-Market and Legal to ensure contract structures align with accounting treatment
Maintain deferred revenue schedules and ensure billing, collections, and reporting are clean and reconciled

Controls, Risk & Audit

Design and implement scalable internal controls
Prepare the company for financial audits and future diligence
Partner cross-functionally to ensure control maturity aligns with growth
Build documentation and workflows that support compliance and enterprise customer requirements

Automation & AI-Driven Finance

Lead the accounting systems roadmap (ERP, close tools, bill pay, spend management)
Leverage automation to reduce manual journal entries and reconciliation work
Identify and implement AI agents or workflows to assist with:

Reconciliations
Contract review
Close checklists
Policy drafting
Variance analysis

Establish an “automation-first” mindset across the finance function

You will have wide latitude to test, implement, and scale AI tooling inside finance.


Vendor & Outsourced Partner Oversight

Manage outsourced bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and other accounting support
Establish clear service standards and quality expectations
Ensure outsourced workflows integrate seamlessly with internal systems

Cash & Financial Discipline

Oversee AP/AR workflows and improve billing and collections rigor
Strengthen working capital management
Support cash forecasting accuracy through clean accounting data

What We’re Looking For

7+ years of progressive accounting experience
Strong US GAAP foundation including CPA and audit experience (either auditor-side or company-side)
Experience in high growth recurring revenue software startup
Experience managing revenue with enterprise contracts
Familiarity with enterprise sales commission plans
Proven experience operating in a lean or growth-stage environment
Experience managing audits and building documentation discipline
Demonstrated ability to improve processes and implement systems

Bonus Points For

Experience in Insurtech, fintech, data platforms, or AI-driven companies
ERP implementation experience
Hands-on experimentation with AI tools in accounting workflows
Clear examples of automation initiatives you have personally driven

Who You Are

Curious and self-directed
Comfortable building in ambiguity
Energized by improving systems rather than maintaining legacy processes
Highly accountable and detail-oriented
Excited by AI’s role in reshaping finance operations
Motivated by impact and ownership, not title hierarchy

You’ve likely already found ways to use AI in reconciliations, policy writing, close management, or analysis — and you’re eager to go further.


Why Join ZestyAI

Join a recognized AI and Insurtech leader reshaping risk analytics
Work directly with executive leadership in a high-impact role
Build a modern accounting function designed for scale
Operate in a flat team with significant ownership
Be at the forefront of AI adoption in finance operations

This is a career-defining opportunity for a Controller who wants to build — not just maintain.







Job posting details for Controller (Remote) at Zesty.ai in Atlanta, GA. . ClimateTechList gathers 9,000+ job openings from over 546 climate tech companies and updates them daily.