Director of Accounting / Controller

WE POWER PEOPLE’S PROGRESS. At Preply, we’re all about creating life-changing learning experiences. We help people discover the magic of the perfect tutor, craft a personalised learning journey, and stay motivated to keep growing. Our approach is human-led, tech-enabled - and it’s creating real impact. We’ve just reached unicorn status with a $150M Series D, accelerating our vision to transform education through human-led, AI-enhanced learning. Today, 100,000+ tutors teach 90+ languages to learners in 180 countries - and we’re only getting started. As a category-defining company, we’re shaping what the future of learning looks like at global scale. Every Preply lesson sparks change, fuels ambition, and drives progress that matters. Joining Preply means helping define the future of education at global scale, and building something that truly matters for millions of people, every day. ABOUT THE ROLE We’re hiring a Director of Accounting / Controller to help lead Preply through its next phase of growth and build the accounting foundation required for IPO readiness. This is not a steady-state role. Preply has scaled rapidly - and now needs to upgrade its accounting infrastructure, processes, and team to public-company standards. You will lead that transformation. You’ll partner closely with the VP Accounting and CFO to build a function that is: - Fast (disciplined, compressed close) - Clean (accurate, reliable financials) - Audit-ready (SOX-compliant, externally trusted) - AI-enabled (automated, insight-driven) This is a high-ownership, high-impact role with direct visibility to leadership, auditors, and future public market stakeholders. WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING Build and scale the accounting function - Own and transform the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, driving significant improvements in speed, structure, and discipline - Build a SOX 404-compliant controls environment from the ground up - Establish public-company-grade reporting, including audit-ready financial statements - Lead technical accounting across complex areas (revenue, SBC, consolidation, etc.) Drive transformation and automation - Identify and eliminate manual processes through automation and AI-enabled workflows - Improve data quality, systems, and reporting infrastructure (NetSuite, etc.) - Deliver step-change efficiency gains across accounting operations Build and lead a high-performing team - Assess current team capabilities and upgrade talent where needed - Define the right structure, roles, and responsibilities for scale - Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and excellence Partner across the business - Work closely with FP&A, Legal, Tax, and Operations to ensure alignment - Act as a trusted advisor to Finance leadership on IPO readiness - Partner with auditors and external advisors to ensure smooth execution WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED - Big Four background (PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG) - 10+ years of experience in accounting, including leadership roles - Proven experience building or transforming accounting functions in high-growth environments - Hands-on experience with SOX 404 design and implementation - Strong expertise in US GAAP and external reporting (10-K, 10-Q, S-1 exposure) - Track record of improving close processes and operational rigor - Strong people leadership and ability to drive change NICE TO HAVE - Pre-IPO or IPO experience - Experience in SaaS, marketplace, or global tech companies - Exposure to automation / AI in finance OUR PRINCIPLES - Care to change the world - We are passionate about our work and care deeply about its impact to be life changing. - We do it for learners - For both Preply and tutors, learners are why we do what we do. Every day we focus on empowering tutors to deliver an exceptional learning experience. - Keep perfecting - To create an outstanding customer experience, we focus on simplicity, smoothness, and enjoyment, continually perfecting it as every detail matters. - Now is the time - In a fast-paced world,