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Salary: USD 188,510 - 272,906 / annual
Gusto is seeking a Head of Internal Controls to lead the company's internal controls function across business process controls and IT controls. This is a strategic leadership role within the Finance, BizOps & Strategy team, responsible for building and scaling a forward-thinking internal controls environment that supports Gusto's growth and operational maturity.
In this role, you will lead Gusto's controls program covering proprietary and third-party systems supporting payroll, health benefits, retirement, and other financial products. You will build the team, set the program's strategy, and embed practical controls into how Gusto's products, systems, and financial processes are designed and operated. A key responsibility is defining what an AI-forward internal controls function looks like—both by applying AI to controls work and by establishing oversight of AI-enabled financial processes and software development.
Day-to-day responsibilities include:
- Building and leading Gusto's internal controls function, bringing business process and IT controls together and developing the team needed to support both areas
- Owning Gusto's risk-based ICFR framework across financial processes and supporting systems and data, including scoping, control design, documentation, testing, issue evaluation, and remediation
- Strengthening the control environment supporting Gusto's complex operations, proprietary systems, and evolving products
- Partnering early with Accounting, Finance, Product, Engineering, Data, Security, and Risk to build control and auditability into new products, systems, and processes
- Setting the vision for an AI-forward internal controls function, using AI and automation to rethink how risk is identified, evidence is evaluated, and controls are tested and monitored
- Establishing practical oversight for risks introduced by AI-enabled financial processes and software development
- Leading the relationship with external auditors, ensuring alignment on risk, scope, testing, evidence, and remediation
- Establishing clear governance and accountability for internal controls, including training across Gusto and reporting to senior management and the Audit Committee
Gusto supports more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide with payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR services. The company has teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York. All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs).
REQUIREMENTS:
- 12+ years of progressive experience in a Big 4 accounting firm, internal audit, or SOX compliance role in a complex, scaling organization with professional certifications like CIA or CISA
- 5+ years of people leadership experience, with a track record of hiring, coaching, and developing experienced controls professionals and distributing judgment and institutional knowledge across a team
- Deep knowledge of US GAAP, the COSO framework, and the requirements supporting management's ICFR assessment and external auditor attestation
- Breadth across business process controls and IT controls, with depth in at least one discipline and the judgment to lead experienced specialists across both
- Experience in a technology-driven environment with proprietary applications, automated controls, complex data flows, high transaction volumes, and evolving products. Experience in fintech, payments, payroll, or financial services is preferred
- A builder who can establish a long-term strategy and operating model while remaining close enough to the work to resolve ambiguous risks, challenge conclusions, and guide remediation
- The ability to influence senior leaders, translate technical and financial risks into practical decisions, and work credibly with Product, Engineering, external auditors, and the Audit Committee
- An AI-forward mindset with experience experimenting with AI and automation to improve how internal controls work, from risk identification and evidence evaluation to testing and monitoring
- A practical understanding of how AI changes the control environment, including the risks introduced by AI-generated code and AI-enabled financial processes, and the ability to partner with Engineering and business teams to establish practical oversight
- CPA, CIA, CISA, or a comparable professional certification is preferred
