Controller

Job Description

Position Title: Controller
Reports To: CFO
Department: Firm Ops / Finance
Location: Austin, TX or San Francisco, CA (In-office strongly preferred; remote considered)

The Firm
Founded in 2008, Serent Capital ( www.serentcapital.com ) is a leading lower-middle market private equity firm focused on investing in founder led, vertically focused B2B technology and tech-enabled services companies with nearly $6 billion of assets under management. We strive to be an involved, value-added investor, capable of providing significant operational and strategic support to our portfolio company CEOs on the most critical issues that they face as the company’s scale.

Our mission is to deliver extraordinary returns by partnering with outstanding executive teams to grow exceptional businesses. Our team is comprised of investment and operating professionals that have experience as executives, strategic advisors, and investors in growing businesses.

Position Summary
The Controller will play a critical leadership role within the finance function of a $6+ billion private equity platform investing across six buyout fund groups. Reporting to the CFO and partnering closely with the VP of Finance, this role oversees fund accounting, management company accounting, and expanded ownership of GP accounting.

The Controller will serve as the primary internal owner of the third-party fund administrator and audit relationships, while driving process institutionalization, control enhancement, and thoughtful adoption of technology, including AI-enabled tools, to streamline and scale finance operations.

This role is ideal for a hands-on private equity finance leader who combines strong technical expertise with a builder’s mindset and a desire to operate in an entrepreneurial, high-ownership environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:


Fund Accounting Oversight
• Own relationship with third-party fund administrator across six fund groups
• Review quarterly NAV packages, capital account statements, and supporting workpapers
• Oversee capital calls, distributions, waterfalls, and carried interest calculations
• Lead interim and annual fund audits with Big 4 audit firm
• Ensure compliance with LPAs and U.S. GAAP
• Maintain LP wire instructions

Investor & Portfolio Reporting
• Contribute to quarterly LP reporting including financial schedules and supporting materials
• Partner with investment team and portfolio company CFOs to collect and validate operating data
• Enhance data collection processes and improve reporting efficiency
• Support LP presentations and annual meeting preparation

Management Company & GP Accounting
• Oversee management company accounting and cash flow forecasting
• Review journal entries and financial reporting prepared by the Sr. Accountant
• Formalize and expand ownership of GP entity accounting
• Coordinate annual financial statement audits and tax filings
• Strengthen internal documentation and close processes

Process Institutionalization & Technology Leadership
• Strengthen internal controls and scalable workflows
• Identify gaps in current processes and implement pragmatic improvements
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions to reduce manual processes
• Champion thoughtful adoption of AI and related tools to improve efficiency and reporting accuracy

Team Leadership
• Directly manage and develop Sr. Management Company Accountant
• Mentor Finance Associate
• Operate as a player-coach within the finance team

Qualifications
Ideal candidates will have 8–12+ years of experience in a private equity or venture capital fund accounting leadership position, ideally within professional services or investment management industries, responsible for overseeing fund accounting operations, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and managing third-party fund administrators. The Controller will have recruited and managed a team successfully for multiple years in their career. The successful Controller candidate will possess strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and private fund structures, with demonstrated experience improving processes and implementing robust financial controls.

The successful Controller will be hands-on, detail-oriented, and bring a strong ownership mentality. They will be an intellectually curious, open-minded, and well-rounded leader with exceptional interpersonal skills, enthusiasm for building community, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment that supports the business strategy. Big 4 experience is preferred, and a CPA designation is strongly preferred.

Education
BA/BS in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field required. CPA strongly preferred

Industry
Private Equity

Employment Type
Full-time, Exempt

Travel
10% or less domestic travel for internal firm meetings across the two office locations.