while on earth™

Job Description

Controller / Director of Finance

Reports to:  CEO

Location:  Remote

Type:  Full-Time, Contract, or Fractional

Overview

while on earth™ is a performance wellness brand selling athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories. As we grow, we’re looking for an experienced finance leader to serve as our Controller or Director of Finance — someone who can own the financial operations of the business, bring rigor and structure to our reporting, and act as a trusted strategic partner to leadership. This role is open to full-time, contract, or fractional arrangements depending on the right fit.

The ideal candidate has meaningful experience in a startup or early-stage environment and is comfortable building financial systems and processes from the ground up. We’re looking for a hands-on operator, who wants to be close to the work and genuinely invested in what we’re building.

Responsibilities

• Partner with our bookkeepers on full-cycle accounting and financial reporting, including month-end close, P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements
  
• Lead financial planning and analysis: budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling to support business decisions
  
• Manage cash flow and working capital to support day-to-day operations and growth initiatives
  
• Coordinate with external accountants, auditors, and tax advisors to ensure compliance and audit readiness
  
• Develop and enforce internal controls, financial policies, and scalable processes appropriate for a growing brand
  
• Oversee and improve financial systems and tools (accounting software, ERP, integrations with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify)
  
• Prepare clear and timely financial reporting for leadership and investors
  
• Help manage accounts payable and receivable, payroll oversight, and vendor and supplier payment terms
  
• Support wholesale, retail, and DTC financial operations including margin analysis, inventory costing, and landed cost tracking
  
• Work closely with Operations and Product team on demand planning and purchase order placement 
  
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis to inform product, marketing, and operational decisions
  

Qualifications:

• 7–12 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, with meaningful time in a startup, early-stage, or high-growth company
  
• Demonstrated ability to build financial infrastructure in a lean, fast-moving environment with limited resources
  
• Strong technical accounting skills
  
• Experience in consumer goods, e-commerce, retail, or fashion/apparel is a strong plus
  
• Proficiency with modern accounting tools such as QuickBooks and bill.com, and comfort with Shopify or similar e-commerce platforms
  
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate financial complexity into clear, actionable insights for non-finance stakeholders
  
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities without losing sight of the big picture
  
• High integrity and a low-ego, collaborative working style
  

Send us an email with your resume, cover letter and relevant portfolio.