Controller - Remote US

Job Title: Controller Location: Remote (U.S.-based) Reports to: CEO Employment Type: Full-Time Salary Range: $105,000 – $120,000 What You'll Do Paragon Payroll is a fast-growing, remote-first payroll bureau and certified isolved partner, serving clients in high-compliance industries including cannabis. We are seeking a Controller with deep experience in payroll services or the PEO/bureau space to own our financial operations, enhance cash control, and drive margin visibility across our book of business. This role is ideal for someone who has worked inside a payroll bureau, PEO, or HCM platform provider, understands how to manage client billing, tax payment flows, and vendor obligations - and thrives in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment. Key Responsibilities Financial Management & Reporting • Oversee all accounting operations: client billing, A/R, A/P, general ledger, tax filings, and month-end close • Produce accurate financial statements and internal dashboards • Track client profitability and identify margin leakage in services Cash Flow & Budgeting • Manage 13-week cash flow forecasts across operating and trust accounts • Optimize client funds flow (e.g., tax payments, payroll funding, fee collections) • Maintain detailed visibility into burn, collections, and vendor disbursements Payroll Bureau Operations (Core Focus) • Own the financial oversight of payroll tax collections, remittances, and liabilities • Ensure billing is aligned with services, headcount, or pay-cycle tiers • Work closely with isolved and operations team to track revenue per client and handle exceptions (e.g., one-offs, credits, or off-cycle bills) • Coordinate payroll-related audits, reconciliations, and journal entries Systems & Automation • Manage financial systems including QuickBooks Online, isolved, Excel/Sheets • Optimize integrations between systems; reduce manual work through templates or tools • Implement processes that help scale - with auditability and transparency Compliance & Controls • Ensure all payroll-related taxes are properly accounted for and reconciled • Coordinate with external CPAs for filings, 280E tracking (where relevant), and year-end prep • Maintain and improve internal controls and documentation Required Qualifications • 5+ years of experience in an accounting or controller role within a payroll bureau, PEO, ASO, or similar environment • Strong understanding of payroll cash flow, tax fund flow, and client billing models • Experience with isolved or similar platforms (Paychex, Paylocity, ADP, etc.) • Proficient in QuickBooks Online, Excel/Google Sheets, and reporting tools • Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA a plus but not required • Comfortable working independently in a remote environment and reporting to a founder/CEO Key Competencies • You thrive in the back-office engine room - making sure numbers are accurate and systems run smoothly • You enjoy building processes that reduce errors and manual effort • You can explain financial concepts in simple terms, and you're not afraid to challenge inconsistencies • You like knowing how each client relationship affects the bottom line Growth Path This is a key operational role with a direct path to VP of Finance or CFO as the company scales and reaches greater profitability. You'll be a foundational part of Paragon's next stage of growth. Apply tot his job