Global Accounting Lead

About this role

At Certn, we’re changing how trust works with The World’s Easiest Background Check.

We’ve raised $127M+, earned Deloitte Fast 50 recognition three years in a row, and we’re still only scratching the surface. Our goal is straightforward: help people move faster - into jobs, homes, and opportunities - by simplifying the path to trust.

We’re not a traditional background screening company. We’re a team of curious, collaborative builders who care about solving real problems for real people. We challenge each other, move fast, and have fun doing it.

If you want to grow, make an impact, and help shape products used by millions, this is your place. Let’s build what’s next, together.

THE ROLE: GLOBAL ACCOUNTING LEAD

As our Global Accounting Lead, you’ll play a key role in managing Certn’s global accounting operations and ensuring our financial reporting is accurate, complete, and delivered on time.

This role is hands-on, detail-oriented, and leadership-focused. You’ll oversee core accounting operations, support month-end close, strengthen internal controls, and help ensure Certn’s financial data is reliable, audit-ready, and useful for business decision-making.

You’ll also lead and support a team of accounting professionals, helping build a high-performing culture rooted in accountability, continuous learning, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

This full-time role reports to the Assistant Controller and can be filled by anyone in Canada, but there is an expectation to work closely with our UK team so Eastern working hours are preferred.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING (AND CRUSHING)

ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS & FINANCIAL REPORTING

- Lead the global month-end close process, ensuring timely, accurate, and complete financial results.

- Review and approve journal entries, supporting calculations, and account reconciliations to maintain data integrity and audit readiness.

- Oversee accounts payable processes, including timely processing, accurate coding, and alignment with internal controls and vendor agreements.

- Maintain and improve global accounting processes and internal controls to support efficiency, consistency, and risk mitigation.

- Prepare and deliver internal financial reporting, including variance analysis and commentary for leadership and finance stakeholders.

- Review and reconcile intercompany transactions to support accurate consolidated reporting.

- Own and complete the global month-end checklist, ensuring accounting processes are consistent and complete.

- Serve as the accounting system administrator, supporting data integrity, access control, and system optimization.

FINANCIAL OWNERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY

- Act as a key accounting owner for Certn’s global financial results, ensuring financial activities are accurately reflected and aligned with accounting policies and standards.

- Ensure accurate and timely cash flow reconciliations and analysis are completed monthly.

- Partner closely with the Assistant Controller to validate and explain regional financial data for consolidation and leadership reporting.

- Proactively identify and resolve accounting issues, discrepancies, or risks.

- Uphold IFRS, regional GAAP, and internal accounting policy requirements across global activities.

- Support external audits by owning reconciliations, preparing documentation, and responding to audit-related inquiries.

- Provide useful insight into global financial performance by connecting operational activity to financial outcomes.

- Recommend and implement improvements that increase accuracy, control, and scalability across accounting practices.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

- Lead and support a high-performing global accounting team through day-to-day guidance and technical oversight.

- Set clear team goals and expectations aligned with Finance and company priorities.

- Provide coaching, feedback, and support for performance management and career development.

- Build a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented team culture.

- Promote continuous improvement and knowledge-sharing across the team.

STRATEGIC FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT & CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

- Collaborate with Finance and FP&A teams to support budgeting, forecasting, and planning through timely and accurate actuals.

- Contribute to the development of scalable financial policies and accounting processes that support Certn’s growth.

- Deliver data-informed insights and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen decision-making.

- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure the financial impact of business activities is accurately captured.

- Support preparation for board reporting, investor communications, and strategic finance initiatives by providing reliable financial data.

COMPLIANCE, TAX & EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS

- Manage timely filing of GST, PST, Employer Health Tax, and other statutory remittances in accordance with regional requirements.

- Liaise with external accountants and advisors on annual corporate tax filings, SR&ED claims, and audit engagements.

- Provide accurate documentation and timely responses to external partner requests.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

- CPA designation completed or in the final stages of completion.

- Strong technical accounting knowledge, including GAAP and IFRS where applicable.

- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and formula logic.

- Experience with ERP or accounting systems such as NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage, or similar tools.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, especially when reconciling data and identifying financial discrepancies.

- Proven experience managing end-to-end month-end activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, adjustments, and reporting deadlines.

- Experience preparing full sets of financial statements, including balance…