Controller

About 9amHealth

9amHealth is an AI-enabled virtual specialty care platform focused on managing high-cost chronic conditions at scale. The company partners with employers, health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers to deliver comprehensive, cost-effective medical care for individuals living with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Members receive access to specialized clinicians, including endocrinologists, obesity medicine specialists, and clinical pharmacists, at-home lab testing, prescription medications, and lifestyle support.

9amHealth was founded in 2021 and is backed by leading healthcare investors like Define Ventures, SemperVirens, 7Wire Ventures, and The Cigna Group Ventures.

Controller

The Controller is the first dedicated, in-house accounting leader at 9amHealth. You will own the accounting function end-to-end - chart of accounts, accounting principles, month-end close, reporting, tax compliance, 409A valuations, audit readiness and internal controls - as well as the relationship with our outsourced accounting partner and will progressively bring accounting in-house as we mature.

We are looking for an accountant who thinks like an operator first – both achieving tax and GAAP compliance and ensuring books serve as a strategic asset which enables business insight, analytics, and allows robust FP&A reporting & forecasting.

You will partner closely with both the CFO and Director of FP&A, present to the board of directors and own the relationship with our external auditors and our external tax firm.

Location: Remote - Full Time

What You’ll Do

• Think like an operator, not a scorekeeper
• . Start from what the business needs the numbers to do. Design accounting that serves both GAAP rigor and that enables decision-making by the executive team need each week.
• Drive the chart of accounts.
• Design, own, and maintain the chart of accounts as a strategic asset, structured to support audit-ready GAAP reporting AND the analytics, segmentation (by program, channel, BU, cohort), and forecasting needs of FP&A and business leaders. Maintain it as the company grows so that it continues to enable business insight.
• Set the monthly close standard
• Drive the fastest AI-assisted close (day 5< sustainably) across AR, AP, payroll, GL, accruals, reconciliations, and intercompany. Set the cadence and the bar.
• Lead technical accounting
• Ensure GAAP compliance in revenue recognition for our care model, stock-based compensation under ASC 718 and all other non-routine transactions. Draft robust and defensible accounting policies and memos addressing technical accounting issues.
• Deliver decision-grade reporting
• Produce monthly, quarterly, and ad-hoc financial reports that become the trusted base layer for FP&A's forecasts and the company’s board narrative. Use AI tooling (Claude, ChatGPT, AI-native ERP features) to draft commentary, summarize variances, and accelerate analysis — without compromising rigor or controls.
• Own tax compliance
• Manage federal, state, and local tax filings in partnership with our external tax firm, including corporate income tax, sales/use tax, payroll tax, multi-state nexus, R&D tax credits, and franchise tax. Own the external tax firm relationship, calendar, and quality of results.
• Lead 409A valuations and equity compliance
• Manage the annual (and event-driven) 409A process with our valuation firm. Coordinate with legal on equity issuances, ISO / NSO mechanics, ASC 718 stock comp expense, and equity-related disclosures.
• Build controls and own audit readiness
• Design and document scalable internal controls; build a SOX-ready posture; prepare workpapers; manage the external auditor relationship; deliver a clean audit.
• Run the operating layer of finance
• Manage the outsourced accounting relationship — drive quality, SLA, and progressive insourcing as we mature.

What You’ll Need

Business-first mindset

• You start from "what does the business need this to do?" and work backwards to the accounting. You have strong commercial intuition and partner naturally with non-finance leaders - your output makes them sharper, not slower.

8–12 years of progressive accounting experience including 3+ years as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or Senior Manager at a high-growth company.

CPA (strongly preferred)

• Equivalent depth of technical accounting expertise considered.

Big 4 audit foundation

• Deloitte, EY, KPMG, or PwC background strongly preferred.

Hands-on ERP expertise

• Sage Intacct or NetSuite - comfortable owning chart of accounts design, configuration, and integrations end-to-end.

Chart of accounts design experience

• You have designed or rebuilt a COA at a previous company and can defend the design choices to both auditors and FP&A analysts.

Deep technical accounting fluency

• You have led conclusions on ASC 606, ASC 842, and ASC 718; you can navigate a technical position with auditors and write the memo.

Tax compliance experience

• Hands-on experience managing federal, state, and local tax filings, either directly or through an external tax firm, including sales / use tax, R&D credits, multi-state nexus, and payroll tax.

409A and equity accounting

• You have managed at least one 409A valuation cycle end-to-end and own ASC 718 stock comp accounting; working knowledge of Carta or an equivalent equity platform.

Healthcare or health tech context preferred

• Subscription / membership revenue, pharmacy economics, value-based care, or multi-state regulated services.

Genuine AI fluency

• You use Claude, ChatGPT, or equivalents every day to draft memos, summarize variances, accelerate research, and build internal automations. You understand both the upside and the control implications of LLMs in finance.

Demonstrated close and reporting automation

• You're familiar with the toolset to enable a fast and well documented month-end close: tools like FloQast, BlackLine, Numeric or similar.

Player-coach mindset

• Comfortable being hands-on in the GL one day and presenting to the board the next.

Crisp written communication

• Your memos, schedules, and emails are clear, well-structured, and audit-ready on the first draft.

Bonus points if:

• Experience leading an ERP migration or implementation
• Experience scaling an accounting team through an outsourced-to-insourced transition
• Familiarity with healthcare-specific revenue concepts (claims, capitation, value-based contracts)
• State / local nexus expertise in a multi-state healthcare or e-commerce business
• M&A, carve-out, or fundraising-diligence experience

What you can expect at 9amHealth

At 9amHealth, you'll join the exciting environment of a startup with the stability of highly experienced founders that have successfully built a business from scratch. We foster a collaborative learning mindset and a passion for improvement. You'll work with a brand-new product alongside a small, flexible team of people eager to shape technology, infrastructure, and culture.

Our team members are spread across the globe, with physical sites in San Diego, California, and Vienna, Austria, but we value your culture regardless of where you work.

Additionally, we provide a professional development budget and support continuing education, empowering our team to grow alongside the company. Team members have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on chronic disease management and patient outcomes while contributing to a collaborative, mission driven culture focused on improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Full-Time/W2 Positions Only:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, along with flexible PTO and work from home options.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Diabetes disproportionately impacts

BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities. We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects our patients and creating a positive healthcare experience for them. We welcome applications from people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and foreign born residents.