Controller - Transformation

About ETS:

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners worldwide to be future-ready. For more than 75 years, we've been advancing the science of measurement to build benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment across cultures and borders. Our worldwide impact extends through our renowned assessments including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE and Praxis tests, serving millions of learners in more than 200 countries and territories. Through strategic acquisitions, we've expanded our global capabilities: PSI strengthens our workforce assessment solutions, while Edusoft, Kira Talent, Pipplet, Vericant, and Wheebox enhance our educational technology and assessment platforms across critical markets worldwide.

Through ETS Research Institute and ETS Solutions, we're partnering with educational institutions, governments, and organizations globally to promote skill proficiency, empower upward mobility, and unlock opportunities for everyone, everywhere. With offices and partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, we deliver nearly 50 million tests annually. Join us in our journey of measuring progress to power human progress worldwide.

ETS Solutions is a newly formed business unit within ETS, comprising several workforce credentialing businesses that includes marquee brands like PSI, TOEIC, among others, as well as plans for future M&A. Over the approximate next year, ETS Solutions will transition into a stand-alone company, serving as a global leader in workforce credentialing, advisory, and assessment solutions. With a total addressable market opportunity exceeding $20 billion and current annual revenues of over $400 million, ETS Solutions is poised for rapid growth, value creation, and operational independence.

The newly created Controller role will oversee ETS Solutions, Praxis, and other business units migrating to the NetSuite ERP platform. As a senior finance leader, this position is responsible for building, leading, and operating a best-in-class controllership function as ETS Solutions transitions from an ETS division to a standalone company and related reporting units migrate onto NetSuite. Reporting to the Global Controller, this role is highly hands-on and strategically critical-ensuring financial integrity, operational rigor, scalable processes, and investor-grade reporting.

The Controller will serve as the architect and operator of core accounting, close, and control processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency, compliance, and speed during a period of rapid change. This leader will play a central role in the carve-out, standing up financial infrastructure, policies, and governance while maintaining continuity of operations.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical accounting expertise, operational discipline, and change leadership, with the ability to execute in ambiguity and partner closely with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, IT, HR, and business leaders globally.

Organization Separation & Accounting Readiness

• Lead preparation of carve-out financial statements in accordance with US GAAP, including historical financials, disclosures, and audit readiness.
• Establish accounting policies, procedures, and internal control frameworks appropriate for a standalone, sponsor-backed company, aligned with ETS Enterprise.
• Partner with Legal, Tax, Treasury, HR, and external advisors on TSA structures, intercompany accounting, and separation mechanics.

Systems & Process Independence

• Design and implement a scalable record-to-report (R2R) operating model, including chart of accounts, close calendar, reconciliations, and reporting cadence.
• Partner with the ETS Solutions Finance and IT to implement and stabilize a global ERP and related finance systems.

Audit, Compliance & Governance

• Serve as primary owner of external audits, including coordination with external auditors and resolution of complex accounting matters.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and tax-related financial reporting requirements across global entities.
• Strengthen financial governance, approval authorities, and control discipline across ETS Solutions.

Keyword: Controller - Transformation
Required Experience:

• 15+ Years of Experience
• Progressive controllership or senior accounting leadership experience in a complex, multi-entity organization.
• Experience with carve-outs, standalone readiness, or major finance transformations.
• Ownership of external audits and complex accounting judgments.
• Experience operating in a global environment.
• Required: NetSuite ERP experience (implementation, optimization, and/or operating ownership of key record-to-report processes).
• Preferred: NetSuite OneWorld and/or Advanced Revenue Management (ARM) experience; familiarity with integrations, reporting, and financial system controls.
• CPA or CMA required

Controllership & Financial Integrity

• Lead and own the monthly close end-to-end, including establishing and driving the close calendar, assigning/accountability for deliverables, and coordinating cross-functional inputs to ensure accurate, timely, and transparent results.
• Drive close discipline and continuous improvement (e.g., standard journal entry governance, balance sheet reconciliations, flux/variance analysis, and a clear review and sign-off process), with a focus on accelerating the close while maintaining control and quality.
• Oversee general ledger, revenue recognition, cost accounting, accruals, reserves, and balance sheet integrity.
• Ensure consistent application of accounting policies across global operations.

Revenue & Contract Accounting

• Partner with Enterprise, Legal, and FP&A teams to ensure appropriate revenue recognition for complex customer contracts, multi-element arrangements, and global transactions.
• Strengthen controls and documentation around pricing, billing, deferred revenue, and customer receivables.

Transformation & Process Excellence

• Lead the redesign of accounting processes to enable scalability, automation, and real-time insight.
• Drive standardization, simplification, and continuous improvement across finance operations.
• Embed a strong ownership mindset and operational cadence within the controllership organization.
• Act as a key thought partner to the ETS Solutions Finance on accounting implications of strategy, M&A, capital structure, and investor readiness.
• Support investor-grade reporting, diligence requests, and data room readiness.
• Translate complex accounting topics into clear, actionable insights for executive leadership.

M&A & Integration Support

• Lead accounting diligence and integration planning for acquisitions.
• Ensure rapid stabilization of acquired entities' accounting, controls, and reporting.
• Support purchase accounting, opening balance sheets, and post-close integration.
• Act as a key thought partner to the ETS Solutions Finance on accounting implications of strategy, M&A, capital structure, and investor readiness.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and lead a high-performing global accounting organization with strong technical depth and operational discipline.
• Assess current talent, identify gaps, and hire key leaders as ETS Solutions scales.
• Develop future finance leaders through coaching, mentorship, and exposure to transformation initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Required Leadership Traits & Experience:

• Hands-On, Detail-Oriented Leader: Deep involvement in the mechanics of accounting and close, with the ability to zoom out and see enterprise implications.
• Change Leader: Proven ability to build structure in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Technical Excellence: Strong command of US GAAP, complex accounting topics, and financial controls.
• Executive Maturity: Confidence and credibility to engage with auditors, advisors, and senior leadership.
• Operational Mindset: Focused on execution, repeatability, and sustainable processes-not just compliance.

ETS is mission driven and action oriented

• We are passionate about hiring innovative thinkers who believe in the promise of education and lifelong learning.
• We are energized by cultivating growth, innovation, and continuous transformation for the next generation of rising professionals as leaders. In support of this ETS offers multiple Business Resource Groups (BRG) for you to learn and advance your career growth!
• As a not-for-profit organization we will encourage you to lean in to your passion for volunteering. At ETS you may qualify for up to an additional 8 hours of PTO for volunteer work on causes that are important to you!
• The base salary range advertised represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base pay is only one aspect of the Total Rewards Package that will be offered to the successful candidate.

ETS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in creating a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

From: ETS