SVP Controller

Who We Are: 

On Location is a premium experience provider, offering world class hospitality, ticketing, curated guest experiences, live event production, and travel management across sports, entertainment, and fashion. From unrivaled access for corporate clients to guests looking for fully immersive experiences at marquee events, On Location is the premier and official service provider to over 150 iconic rights holders, such as the IOC (Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, LA 2028), NFL, NCAA, UFC and PGA of America, and numerous musical artists and festivals. The company also owns and operates a number of unique and exclusive experiences, transforming the most dynamic live events into a lifetime of memories. On Location is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.

Main Purpose of Job

On Location, a leader in the experiential hospital industry, is seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Vice President (SVP), Controller to oversee the financial operations and controllership function. The SVP, Controller will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting, maintaining a robust SOX-compliant control environment, and driving finance transformation initiatives.  This role will oversee the accounting/controllership for the various On Location verticals, including Sports (Core and Collegiate), Travel, Olympics, and FIFA – World Cup. This role requires deep technical expertise, leadership in managing cash flow and treasury operations, and oversight of key teams, including the Revenue Accounting team, Accounts Payable, Controllership team, and Collegiate Travel Office Accounting team. The ideal candidate will bring over 10 years of progressive accounting experience, a CPA designation, and a proven track record in a public company setting. Ideally, this candidate will have come from the entertainment/live events industry.

Reports To - CFO, On Location

Direct Reports - There are 6 direct reports

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm; plus any additional hours to complete deadlines. The SVP, Controller may be required to work across time zones as On Location is an internationally operating company. Will be occasionally required to work outside of standard working hours or on weekends at events.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Financial Close Process: Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to deadlines

• Financial Reporting to Corporate Accounting: Partner with corporate accounting to prepare accurate and timely divisional financial statements, ensuring alignment with GAAP and corporate accounting policies. Serve as the primary liaison for all divisional SEC reporting requirements/deadlines. Ensure regulatory compliance with all compliance deadlines and disclosure requirements.

• SOX Compliance: Maintain and enhance a robust internal control environment in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements, including documentation, testing, and remediation of controls.

• Audit Management: Manage the annual internal and external audit process, coordinating with auditors to ensure timely completion of audit requirements, addressing inquiries, and providing all necessary documentation and support.

• Cash Forecasting and Treasury Management: Direct cash flow forecasting processes, optimize working capital, and manage treasury operations with subsidiaries of On Location and TKO treasury. Liaison with On Location business verticals to roll up 13 month cash forecast. Roll up and managed disbursement requests on a weekly basis that gets sent to corporate treasury for approval.

• Technical Accounting Memos: Provide leadership on complex accounting issues, authoring technical memos to address revenue recognition, lease accounting, acquisitions, and other GAAP-related matters. Liaison with TKO Corporate Technical Accounting Group (“CTAG”) on “Significant Accounting Matters” to ensure accurate conclusions of accounting treatment.

• Finance Transformation: Drive initiatives to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and implement best-in-class financial systems and tools, with a focus on leveraging technology for scalability. Help lead initiative around SAP S4 Hana implementation and other perimeter system implementations.

• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a diverse group of finance teams, including: Revenue Accounting Team: Oversee accounting processes in ticketing sales/inventory subledgers. Oversee accounting related to ticket sales, refunds, and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with revenue recognition standards.

• Revenue Operations: Lead the revenue operations function, aligning financial reporting with operational performance and driving insights to support business growth.

• Accounts Payable: Direct the AP team to ensure timely and accurate vendor payments, expense management, and process optimization.

• Controllership Team: Supervise the core controllership function, ensuring strong governance, policy adherence, and financial integrity across the division.

• Collegiate Travel Office Accounting Team: Manage the accounting operations for the Collegiate Travel Office, management of associated sub-ledgers and financial reporting specific to CTO-related activities.

• Travel and Entertainment Policy: Develop and enforce a comprehensive travel and entertainment (T&E) policy, inclusive of managing the corporate credit card program across a company of 1,000 employees, ensuring compliance, cost control, and efficient expense reporting processes.

• System Expertise: Utilize and optimize financial systems, including NetSuite, to support reporting, forecasting, and operational needs across all teams.

Knowledge and Experience

Mandatory  

• Financial Reporting

• Technical Accounting Expertise

• SOX and Internal Controls

• Treasury and Cash Management

• Audit Leadership

• ERP Systems Proficiency

• Ticket Revenue and Inventory Management

• Policy Development and Enforcement

• Finance Transformation Leadership

• Seasoned team leadership

Desirable

• Event experience

• NetSuite and SAP S4 Hana system knowledge

• Knowledge of Italian tax regulations (e.g. VAT)

Skills and Abilities

Mandatory 

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing, multi-functional teams and manage cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

• Analytical Skills: Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities, with a focus on technical accounting and process improvement.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information to senior leadership and external stakeholders, including Big 4 auditors.

• Strategic Vision: Experience driving finance transformation projects and implementing innovative solutions to support business growth.

Qualifications and Training

Mandatory 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA certification required. Masters Degree is a plus.

• Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a public company. Experience in live events or experiential hospital industry is a plus.

Technical Skills

• Extensive knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting requirements.

• Proven experience with SOX compliance and internal controls.

• Hands-on expertise with NetSuite and/or SAP financial systems.

• In-depth expertise in US GAAP, including advanced knowledge of revenue recognition (ASC 606), lease accounting (ASC 842), business combinations (ASC 805), and financial instruments, with a proven ability to interpret and apply complex accounting guidance.

Competencies

• Integrity and accountability

• Strategic thinking and execution

• Attention to detail and deadline-driven

• Collaborative leadership style

• Adaptability to a dynamic, growth-oriented environment

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Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the range shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.

Hiring Range Minimum:

$187,500 annually

Hiring Range Maximum:

$250,000 annually