A premier sports and entertainment organization is seeking a Vice President, Controller to lead the accounting function across its professional sports teams, venue operations, and affiliated entities. This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the integrity of the organization's financial statements, monthly and annual close, technical accounting positions, internal control environment, external audit, and league, lender, and regulatory reporting. The position operates within a fast-paced, event-driven business featuring multiple legal entities, a significant fixed-asset base, contract-based revenue streams, and league-level reporting requirements. The successful candidate will combine public accounting rigor with the operational mindset needed to lead a disciplined, responsive, and high-performing accounting function.
Key Responsibilities
Close and Financial Reporting:
Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close across all entities, including consolidation and intercompany eliminations.
Prepare consolidated and stand-alone financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.Improve and stabilize the close calendar while establishing clear ownership and accountability.
Produce monthly reporting packages for the Chief Financial Officer and executive leadership, including variance analysis against budget and forecast.
Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and entity structure to support accurate reporting by team, venue, and event.
Technical Accounting:
Serve as the organization's primary resource for technical accounting matters.
Research and document accounting positions related to revenue recognition under ASC 606, leases under ASC 842, acquisitions under ASC 805, impairment, and consolidation.
Oversee revenue recognition for ticketing, premium seating and suites, sponsorships, naming rights, media rights, league distributions, concerts, concessions, merchandise, and food and beverage.
Manage deferred revenue associated with the event calendar and multi-year agreements.
Oversee fixed-asset accounting for the arena and related facilities, including capitalization policies, construction in progress, capital-project tracking, depreciation, and disposals.
Account for related-party transactions, management and service agreements, joint ventures, and partnership arrangements.
Audit, Controls, and Compliance:
Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and manage the annual audit from planning through issuance.
Maintain and document the internal control environment, with particular attention to cash handling, revenue capture, procurement, and payroll.
Prepare league reporting, including submissions to league offices and revenue reporting used in collective bargaining agreement calculations.
Manage covenant compliance reporting and prepare required lender schedules and certifications.
Partner with outside tax advisors on federal, state, and local filings; sales and use tax; New York State and New York City requirements; non-resident athlete and entertainer withholding; and unclaimed property.
Treasury and Accounting Operations:
Provide oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, and cash reconciliation.
Report the organization's cash position and support cash forecasting in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer.
Review event settlements with promoters, visiting teams, and third-party operators for accuracy and completeness.
Reconcile banking, merchant processing, and ticketing-platform activity to the general ledger.
Team Leadership and Business Partnership:
Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team, including hiring, performance management, and succession planning.
Partner with financial planning and analysis to ensure actual results, budgets, and forecasts are consistently defined and reconciled.
Advise Ticketing, Partnerships, Arena Operations, Legal, and People teams on the accounting implications of contract terms.
Support the Chief Financial Officer with financing activities, transactions, due diligence, purchase accounting, integrations, and special projects.
Identify and implement improvements to accounting processes, systems, close procedures, and recurring reconciliations.
Required Qualifications:
Active CPA license.
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Ten or more years of progressive accounting experience, including at least four years as a Controller, Assistant Controller, or in a comparable leadership role.
Public accounting experience with a national or regional firm.
Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP.Experience managing a multi-entity consolidated close and external audit.
Working knowledge of ASC 606, fixed-asset accounting, and capital-project accounting.
Experience maintaining internal controls in a cash-intensive or high-transaction-volume business.
Strong ERP knowledge and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Ability to work on-site in Brooklyn and support evenings, weekends, and holidays when required by the event schedule.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience within sports, live entertainment, venue operations, hospitality, or media.
Familiarity with league financial reporting and revenue definitions under a collective bargaining agreement.
Experience with lender or bondholder covenant reporting.
Experience with purchase accounting, entity restructuring, or financing transactions.
Experience supporting an ERP implementation or system upgrade.
Ability to communicate complex technical accounting matters clearly to colleagues outside of finance.
