Assistant Controller
Role Overview
This senior-level Assistant Controller role at Duolingo involves leading day-to-day accounting operations, including month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and accounts payable. The hire will own the close process end-to-end, drive automation in systems like NetSuite, and manage a team to ensure accurate financial reporting and SOX compliance. This position requires deep expertise in US GAAP and aims to scale a best-in-class accounting organization in a fast-paced tech environment.
Perks & Benefits
The role follows a 4+1 in-office model in Pittsburgh, PA, with Fridays optional, offering a hybrid work setup. Benefits include a competitive salary range of $168,800–$253,200 USD, equity compensation, and world-class holistic well-being benefits. The company emphasizes a collaborative culture with daily interactions among world-class minds, opportunities for limitless learning, and a focus on innovation and fact-based decision-making.
Full Job Description
Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!
At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about educating our users, experimenting with big ideas, making fact-based decisions, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities and daily collaborations with world-class minds — while doing work that’s both meaningful and fun.
Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.
Read our blog to learn more.
About the role...
Duolingo is looking for an experienced Assistant Controller to help scale a best-in-class accounting organization. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, you’ll lead core accounting operations and own the close process from end to end.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being deeply involved in the mechanics of the close process and reviewing transactional activity. You’ll be expected to understand the numbers at a granular level, dig into how things work, and quickly recognize when something is off. Success in this role requires curiosity, rigor, and a commitment to 100% accuracy in our financial data.
🧠 You will...
- Lead day-to-day accounting operations, including month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and accounts payable
- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely and accurate reporting
- Review and approve journal entries and reconciliations with a high bar for quality and documentation
- Develop deep expertise in revenue, expenses, and balance sheet activity to proactively identify and resolve issues
- Oversee accounts payable, ensuring accurate coding, proper approvals, and timely payments
- Improve AP workflows, controls, and vendor experience
- Drive automation and systems improvements (e.g., NetSuite, Zip) to reduce manual work and accelerate close
- Partner with FP&A and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment and accurate financial reporting
- Maintain strong SOX compliance and internal controls
- Manage and develop members of the accounting team, setting clear expectations and unblocking challenges
✅ You have...
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience); CPA required
- 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting (Big 4 preferred) and industry experience
- Experience leading accounting teams in high-growth or complex environments
- Deep expertise in US GAAP
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to dive into systems and processes
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills
- Strong organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
- Ability to work in Pittsburgh, PA. This role follows our 4+1 in-office model (Monday–Thursday in office, Friday optional)
⭐ Exceptional candidates will have...
- Public company experience
- Experience with NetSuite and Zip
- Familiarity with Google Workspace
- Experience in a fast-paced tech company
- A strong Duolingo streak 😉
We post a multi-level salary range for all of our roles.
This is not inclusive of the rest of our awesome portfolio that includes equity compensation and world-class benefits. Our salary ranges are the same for all US locations. Your recruiter can share more details about the range for a specific level during the hiring process. The actual salary within the range is determined by many factors including but not limited to, skills, experience, education, and internal equity.
Salary Range:
$168,800—$253,200 USD
Take a peek at how we care for our employees' holistic well-being with our benefits here.
We will do everything we can within reason to make sure that your interview takes place in an environment that fairly and accurately assesses your skills. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact accommodations@duolingo.com.
Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
By applying for this position your data will be processed as per the Duolingo Applicant Privacy Notice.
Sign up for job alerts here.
Similar jobs
Found 6 similar jobs