Controller, Accounting, Financial Compliance

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada is the fastest-growing Spanish immersion early education® company in the U.S., providing high-quality care and education to children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Our model blends language immersion, strong operational standards, and a focus on whole-child development to deliver a differentiated experience for families and educators alike. Backed by a $30M investment from a premier minority investor, we are scaling nationally and on track to double in size every 18‑24 months over the next five years.

Our growth and performance have been recognized by the Financial Times (The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies), Inc. Magazine (10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America), and Entrepreneur Magazine (Top 50 Franchise Companies Championing Diversity). We are building a company where operational excellence and accountability are non‑negotiable.

At Tierra Encantada, our values fuel everything we do. We are passionate about nurturing children's growth and creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development. We celebrate the richness of diversity, embracing the unique perspectives it brings to our community. Guided by optimism, we are driven by a shared vision for a brighter future for every child, family, and team member we serve.

Join us and be part of a mission‑driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact‑one child, one family, and one community at a time.

Tierra Encantada is hiring for a Controller who will serve as a key leader responsible for owning the company's day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and integrity across all financial processes. This role is highly hands‑on and execution‑focused, with responsibility for managing the full accounting cycle, supporting audits, maintaining compliance, and building scalable processes as the company grows. This is not a purely managerial or review‑based role.

The Controller will be expected to operate as a player‑coach, directly executing accounting work while also overseeing a small team. The position will report to and partner closely with the CFO, who leads financial planning and strategy, and will take primary ownership of accounting execution to enable the CFO to focus on broader financial oversight and business growth.

This is a full time, exempt position with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday with 4 days per week on site at our corporate headquarters, and 1 day per week WFH.

The base salary range for this position is $130,000 – $150,000 annually depends on qualifications, education, and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.

• Own and execute the full accounting cycle, including general ledger, journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Lead and actively participate in the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain and improve close timelines, checklists, and procedures.
• Review financial data for accuracy and completeness, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Step in as needed to complete work directly when capacity gaps or issues arise.

• Oversee and support accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing, collections, and vendor payments.
• Assist in resolving payment‑related inquiries, including family billing and tuition questions as needed.
• Maintain strong controls over cash management and reconciliation processes.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual audit and coordinate with external auditors.
• Own audit preparation, documentation, and follow‑through.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable financial regulations.
• Establish and maintain internal controls and accounting policies.
• Own multi‑state compliance requirements, including registrations, filings, and regulatory obligations.

• Own administration and tracking of insurance policies, renewals, and…