Global Controller - US GAAP / SOX in London

Who are we? In 2017, after more than ten years in the lift industry across Europe and Asia, Benoît Dupont noticed a system stuck in its ways where speed takes priority over quality and frontline teams remain invisible. With Jade Francine and Tristan Foureur, he founded WeMaintain to put technology, trust and people back at the heart of building maintenance. Their ambition: give technicians back their autonomy, rely on in-house IoT technology, and deliver a service designed for users and clients. Based in Paris, London, Singapore and Hong Kong, we maintain lifts, escalators, automatic doors and fire safety systems. With 300+ employees, we combine on-the-ground expertise with data-driven management to deliver high-performing, transparent, and sustainable maintenance. We don’t just maintain buildings. We transform how they’re operated.

Why join us? Because here, you don’t have to choose between autonomy and stability. Large groups often offer stability, but little room to manoeuvre. Smaller organisations allow more freedom, but sometimes without clear direction. At WeMaintain, we strike the right balance:

• Real autonomy, with modern tools and strong support
• A culture built on trust, transparency and respect
• Genuine opportunities for growth and internal mobility
• A team that values commitment, perseverance and the drive to make things happen

And our values guide us every day:

• Care: Working with respect and kindness, internally as well as with our customers
• Grit: Seeing things through, with high standards and determination
• Uniqueness: Daring to be yourself, sharing your ideas and challenging the status quo

Who we’re looking for? We are looking for a Global Controller to join our Group Finance organisation, based in Paris or London. Originally built as a VC-backed technology scale-up, WeMaintain is now majority-owned by a global US-listed industry leader. This new chapter requires WeMaintain to preserve the agility and ownership culture of a scale-up while progressively adopting the accounting, reporting and internal control standards expected in a listed-company environment. We are therefore strengthening our Group Finance organisation with a senior Global Controller. Reporting directly to David, the Group CFO, you will lead WeMaintain’s controllership function and be responsible for the integrity, quality and control of the Group’s financial reporting.

You will supervise the Group Accounting function and provide accounting and reporting leadership across WeMaintain’s international entities. You will ensure that monthly and quarterly closes, financial reporting, accounting judgments, balance sheet reconciliations and revenue recognition processes meet appropriate standards of completeness, accuracy, documentation and review. The role will also lead WeMaintain’s readiness for US GAAP reporting, SOX / internal control over financial reporting requirements and quarterly public-company certification processes. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced Controller who combines strong technical accounting expertise with the ability to build practical processes in a fast-growing international business.

Your day-to-day at WeMaintain As our Global Controller, you will:

• Lead group controllership and accounting quality
• Lead the Group controllership framework and supervise the Group Head of Accounting
• Establish clear accounting policies, close procedures, review standards and escalation rules across all entities
• Own the governance of the monthly and quarterly financial close
• Review and challenge significant accounting entries, accruals, reserves, revenue schedules, estimates and accounting judgments
• Ensure key balance sheet accounts are reconciled, reviewed and appropriately supported
• Monitor accounting quality across countries and drive timely remediation of identified issues
• Develop the Accounting organisation and raise technical accounting and reporting capabilities across the Finance team
• Lead financial reporting and quarterly certification
• Lead the preparation and quality review of WeMaintain financial information submitted for Group monthly and quarterly reporting
• Ensure financial reporting is complete, accurate, appropriately documented and supported by effective review controls
• Coordinate Finance inputs supporting quarterly CEO / CFO and business-unit certification processes
• Maintain visibility over significant accounting matters, reporting exceptions, control deficiencies and remediation actions
• Ensure appropriate escalation of significant transactions, unusual items, contingencies and post-close events
• Lead US GAAP and technical accounting
• Lead the identification, assessment and documentation of differences between local accounting standards and US GAAP
• Establish accounting positions and supporting documentation for significant or judgmental transactions, with support from Group Controllership and external advisors where appropriate
• Oversee key technical accounting topics including revenue recognition, contract accounting, leases, provisions, intercompany matters and consolidation
• Ensure accounting policies are consistently applied across jurisdictions
• Strengthen internal control over financial reporting / SOX
• Develop a pragmatic internal control framework adapted to WeMaintain’s size and maturity
• Ensure key controls over financial reporting are clearly defined, assigned, documented and evidenced
• Oversee remediation of identified control deficiencies
• Coordinate SOX readiness and testing activities with the relevant Group functions; the role does not replace Internal Audit
• Provide senior oversight of revenue recognition and financial review
• Establish appropriate review standards for contract support, revenue schedules, backlog / remaining performance obligations and related accounting entries
• Ensure reconciliation between operational systems, Salesforce and accounting records where relevant
• Challenge significant or unusual revenue recognition matters before reporting
• Review, challenge and approve underlying schedules and supporting documentation according to defined thresholds, while Accounting teams and Country Finance Managers remain responsible for their preparation
• Oversee consolidation, intercompany and tax-related accounting
• Oversee the design and implementation of WeMaintain subgroup consolidation and intercompany reconciliation processes
• Ensure consolidation entries and elimination processes are complete, controlled and auditable
• Partner with Group Tax on the accounting implementation and control of transfer-pricing and intercompany charging mechanisms
• Support the development of reliable systems-based reporting flows from local entities through WeMaintain Group reporting
• Lead audit and support finance transformation
• Lead the relationship with external auditors on Group accounting and financial reporting matters
• Ensure Accounting teams prepare complete and audit-ready supporting files and that audit findings are addressed
• Identify opportunities to improve and automate close, accounting and reporting processes
• Support the development of scalable financial systems, data ownership, reconciliation and reporting controls

What we're looking for You’re a great fit if you:

• Have significant experience in controllership, accounting, audit and/or financial reporting
• Hold, or are progressing towards, a recognised professional accounting qualification such as CPA, ACA, ACCA or DEC
• Have previous experience in a listed-company or similarly demanding reporting environment
• Have strong knowledge of US GAAP and practical experience with SOX / internal controls over financial reporting
• Have a strong understanding of monthly and quarterly close, balance-sheet controls, revenue recognition and technical accounting
• Have experience leading or supervising accounting teams
• Have worked in an international, multi-entity and multi-currency environment
• Have exposure to consolidation and intercompany processes
• Are senior, credible and able to challenge constructively
• Combine strong technical accounting judgement with a pragmatic, hands-on approach
• Are fluent in English

Bonus points if You have:

• A Big Four background
• Previously worked within a US-listed company environment
• Experience in B2B services, recurring-revenue models, field services or an industrial environment
• Worked with NetSuite, HFM or comparable ERP / Group reporting systems
• Spoken French

What success looks like Monthly and quarterly financial reporting is complete, accurate, appropriately documented and supported by effective review controls. Accounting policies, close procedures and review standards are clear and consistently applied across entities. Significant accounting matters, reporting exceptions and control deficiencies are identified, escalated and remediated appropriately. WeMaintain continues to strengthen its readiness for US GAAP reporting, SOX and quarterly public-company certification requirements. Consolidation, intercompany and revenue recognition processes are controlled, reliable and auditable. Accounting and reporting capabilities continue to develop across the Finance organisation.

What we offer A senior role with real ownership within our Group Finance organisation. Direct exposure to the Group CFO and senior Finance stakeholders. The opportunity to contribute to a key stage in WeMaintain’s development as we strengthen our accounting, reporting and internal-control framework. An international working environment across several entities and markets. Strong support from your manager and team. Internal mobility opportunities across teams and locations. A mission-driven company with a high bar for quality.

How to apply Every application is reviewed carefully. Let us know who you are, what attracts you to this role, and what you’d like to build with us. We value motivation, curiosity and potential over a “perfect” background. To apply, click the “Apply” button below and answer a few questions in the form. It’s quick, and it helps us get to know you better. At WeMaintain, we value diversity, encourage personal development, and are committed to inclusion. Whatever your background, story or identity, you are welcome to apply.

Recruitment Process An initial conversation with our Recruitment team - 30 mins to understand your background, motivations and expectations. An interview with David, our Group CFO - 60 mins for a deeper discussion around the role, your technical expertise and the Finance organisation. A conversation with a Finance leader from our majority shareholder - 45 mins to explore listed-company reporting, US GAAP / SOX exposure and the wider Group environment. A peer interview - 45 mins to understand how you collaborate, challenge and operate within a Finance organisation. A final conversation with one of our Co-Founders - 30 mins to confirm alignment on the role, culture and the next stage of WeMaintain’s journey. Welcome to the team!