Financial Manager/Controller, Whalar
Office located in Venice Beach, CA or Brooklyn, NY
Creator talent & brand partnerships agency
Job no longer available
Creator talent & brand partnerships agency
201-500 employees
Job no longer available
Office located in Venice Beach, CA or Brooklyn, NY
201-500 employees
Company mission
To harness the power of the creator community by encouraging positive social change through strategic partnerships with world-class creators, brands, and leading social platforms.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred.Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a management role
- Startup experience
- Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and regulatory requirements
- Proven experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite
- Netsuite experience required
- Experience in the hospitality industry is preferred
- System/tools integration experience preferred
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Experience in the creative, membership or media industry is a plus
What the job involves
- The Lighthouse is an innovative Campus for Creators and their teams, with locations in Venice, CA, and Brooklyn, NY
- Our mission is to serve as hubs for creators to learn, make, and belong. We believe in the power of the collective to spark creativity and unlock infinite possibilities
- By bringing together original minds and bold spirits, we aim to provoke the next act of the creator economy and support the growth and sustainability of creators' careers
- The Financial Controller will play a critical role in setting up and managing the financial operations of The Lighthouse
- This individual will ensure the accuracy of financial reporting, compliance with regulations, and provide strategic financial insights to support the company’s growth and success
- The Financial Controller will need to flex up and down as the Lighthouse is being setup
- They will be a key player in maintaining the seamless flow from financial ideation to daily operations to annual and overall company performance, all while fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation
- The role will report into the Whalar (parent entity) CFO with a dotted line to the President of Lighthouse
- This role will also be partnering closely with the Whalar Finance Department
- Establish and manage all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting
- Responsible for executing all accounting functions such as AR, AP, Client Billing, Payroll, Banking and Cash Flow management
- Familiarity with billing customers, paying vendors, and conducting bank and credit card reconciliation
- Ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
- Manage and monitor all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements
- Develop and enforce internal controls to maximize protection of company assets, policies, procedures, and workflow
- Conduct financial analysis and provide strategic recommendations to senior management to guide financial decisions and enhance profitability
- Partner with the parent company (Whalar)’s finance department during audits
- Oversee the preparation and timely filing of all local, state, and federal tax returns
- Manage cash flow planning process and ensure funds availability
- Support month-end and year-end close processes
- Develop and implement financial policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency
- Integrate financial systems and tools, ensuring seamless operation and data flow
- Support The Lighthouse team on all financial requests and serve as a liaison between Whalar finance and The Lighthouse
- Must be able to flex up and down as the finance function for the Lighthouse is being established
Our take
The creator economy is worth billions, but in many ways it is still in its infancy. There are few clear paths to connect brands, content creators, and social platforms in a holistic way. Whalar, however, is challenging this notion by directly managing creator talent and brand partnerships.
Whalar delivers complimentary services encompassing talent management and brand partnerships, as well as proprietary technology platforms to power campaigns at scale. Though founded as a simple influencer marketing agency, the company has been astute in its hiring to build up its expertise, bringing on board executives with experience across the social media, consumer goods and advertising industries.
The company’s client list tells its own story – with notable names including Google, TikTok, McDonalds and Spotify. Operating in such lucrative circles has allowed Whalar to expand internationally. The company has also begun bolstering its standing through the acquisitions of C Talent (a consultancy that represents high-profile Deaf and Disabled talent) and creator management company Sixteenth. 2025 funding raised Whalar's valuation to $400 million and will be used to accelerate its already comfortable growth trajectory.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
15% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Sep 2017
$3m
SEED
Mar 2016
$0.6m
SEED
Total funding: $3.6m
Company benefits
- Remote/flexible work with offices in NY, London, LA and Malaga
- 25 working days of paid vacation each year, with office closure between Christmas and New Year's Day
- Up to four months of fully paid parental leave
- Charity volunteer days
- Home office stipend
- Professional development stipend
- Company-wide yearly bonus
- Private medical insurance
- Health cash plan
- Private pension scheme
- Monthly phone/internet reimbursement
- Calm App subscription (Add up to 4 dependents)
- Fwrd personal development App subscription
Company HQ
Fulton Ferry District, NY
Leadership
James Street
(Co-Founder)Co-CEO at Whalar Group and Member of the Advisory Board at Cerqular. Co-founded and is still active at clothing brand Old Harry, and wristwatch brand Shore Projects.
Neil Waller
(Co-Founder)AAF Hall of Achievement Inductee. Also co-founded Shore Projects and Old Harry. Is a founding investor in a number of startups including EnviroBuild, Project Blu and Gratsy.
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