Preply

Director of Accounting – Controlling

Preply

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: London • United Kingdom

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Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Own and transform the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, driving significant improvements in speed, structure, and discipline
  • Build a SOX 404-compliant controls environment from the ground up
  • Establish public-company-grade reporting, including audit-ready financial statements
  • Lead technical accounting across complex areas (revenue, SBC, consolidation, etc.)
  • Identify and eliminate manual processes through automation and AI-enabled workflows
  • Improve data quality, systems, and reporting infrastructure (NetSuite, etc.)
  • Deliver step-change efficiency gains across accounting operations
  • Assess current team capabilities and upgrade talent where needed
  • Define the right structure, roles, and responsibilities for scale
  • Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and excellence
  • Work closely with FP&A, Legal, Tax, and Operations to ensure alignment
  • Act as a trusted advisor to Finance leadership on IPO readiness
  • Partner with auditors and external advisors to ensure smooth execution

Requirements

  • Big Four background (PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG)
  • 10+ years of experience in accounting, including leadership roles
  • Proven experience building or transforming accounting functions in high-growth environments
  • Hands-on experience with SOX 404 design and implementation
  • Strong expertise in US GAAP and external reporting (10-K, 10-Q, S-1 exposure)
  • Track record of improving close processes and operational rigor
  • Strong people leadership and ability to drive change
  • Nice to have - Pre-IPO or IPO experience
  • Experience in SaaS, marketplace, or global tech companies
  • Exposure to automation / AI in finance
Benefits
  • Care to change the world - We are passionate about our work and care deeply about its impact to be life changing.
  • We do it for learners - For both Preply and tutors, learners are why we do what we do. Every day we focus on empowering tutors to deliver an exceptional learning experience.
  • Keep perfecting - To create an outstanding customer experience, we focus on simplicity, smoothness, and enjoyment, continually perfecting it as every detail matters.
  • Now is the time - In a fast-paced world, it matters how quickly we act. Now is the time to make great things happen.
  • Disciplined execution - What makes us disciplined is the excellence in our execution. We set clear goals, focus on what matters, and utilize our resources efficiently.
  • Dive deep - We leverage business acumen and curiosity to investigate disparities between numbers and stories, unlocking meaningful insights to guide our decisions.
  • Growth mindset - We proactively seek growth opportunities and believe today's best performance becomes tomorrow's starting point. We humbly embrace feedback and learn from setbacks.
  • Raise the bar - We raise our performance standards continuously, alongside each new hire and promotion. We build diverse and high-performing teams that can make a real difference.
  • Challenge, disagree and commit - We value open and candid communication, even when we don’t fully agree. We speak our minds, challenge when necessary, and fully commit to decisions once made.
  • One Preply - We prioritize collaboration, inclusion, and the success of our team over personal ambitions. Together, we support and celebrate each other's progress.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
SOX 404 complianceUS GAAPfinancial reportingautomationAI-enabled workflowsaccounting transformationclose process improvementtechnical accountingaudit-ready financial statementsdata quality improvement
Soft Skills
leadershipchange managementaccountabilityownershipexcellenceteam assessmentcollaborationcommunicationstrategic thinkingproblem-solving