Financial Controller

🌍 ABOUT HOPAE At Hopae, we're building the world's most trusted digital identity platform — private, secure, and built for real life. We believe identity should be in your control — not locked behind outdated systems or centralized gatekeepers. Our product, Hopae Connect, lets businesses verify real people across borders through a single API — no need to build country-by-country integrations themselves. Our technology powers instant, privacy-first verification across fintech, credentials, supply chain, and gaming — for IDV providers, e-signature platforms, and enterprises who need identity to just work, everywhere. Backed by top global investors, Hopae operates across Seoul, Paris, Luxembourg, and San Francisco, bringing together exceptional talent from over 10 nationalities. We move fast, think globally, and build products that define the future of identity. 💡 WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE - Global DNA: Work with exceptional peers across Seoul, Paris, and San Francisco - High Impact: Build technology shaping the global trust and identity landscape - Ownership Culture: No micromanagement — full trust, full accountability - Elite Standards: Work fast, learn fast, and grow with world-class peers - Inclusive & Respectful: 10+ nationalities, diverse perspectives, one vision - Growth Mindset: Access mentorship, leadership visibility, and continuous learning About the Role Hopae is a global technology startup building the identity network that lets anyone prove who they are, anywhere, instantly. We're looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to independently manage our accounting and financial operations in Korea and support financial reporting across our international entities. This is a hands-on role with full ownership of the accounting function. You'll be responsible for everything from day-to-day bookkeeping and reconciliations to financial statements, compliance, and improving financial processes. We're looking for someone who combines strong technical accounting expertise with sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative, practical approach. You'll work closely with colleagues across the company, solve problems together, and establish reliable financial processes without unnecessary complexity. What You'll Do - Own the accounting function: Independently manage bookkeeping, journal entries, reconciliations, month-end close, and preparation of accurate financial statements. - Manage financial operations: Handle accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense reimbursements, payroll coordination, banking, and cash management. - Ensure compliance: Take responsibility for Korean accounting, tax, statutory filings, and regulatory reporting, coordinating with external advisors where necessary. - Support international accounting: Manage intercompany transactions and reconciliations, multi-currency accounting, and financial reporting across Hopae's international entities. - Manage external providers: Coordinate directly with accountants, tax advisors, auditors, and payroll providers. - Establish practical financial controls: Put in place simple, effective processes that ensure accuracy, accountability, and compliance without unnecessary bureaucracy. - Improve efficiency: Simplify existing workflows, eliminate unnecessary steps, and automate where it delivers clear value. - Collaborate across the business: Work closely with colleagues across functions and geographies, communicate financial information clearly, and solve operational and financial challenges together. Provide financial visibility: Deliver timely financial information, cash flow reporting, and analysis to support business decisions. What We're Looking For - 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including at least 3–5 years with full responsibility for an accounting function. - Proven experience independently managing accounting end to end - Strong technical accounting expertise, including financial statements, reconciliations, month-end close, and statutory reporting. - Deep knowledge of Korean accounting standards, tax regulations, and compliance requirements. - Experience with international accounting, multiple legal entities, intercompany transactions, and foreign currencies. - Excellent communication skills and fluency in Korean and English, with the ability to communicate clearly, proactively, and constructively across different functions, cultures, and time zones. - Collaborative problem-solving: Able to work through challenges with colleagues, consider different perspectives, and reach practical solutions together rather than working in silos. - Strong judgment, integrity, attention to detail, and accountability. - Pragmatic and commercially minded: Able to distinguish what is essential from what is nice to have, and implement solutions appropriate for a lean, pre-Series A startup. - Highly organized, self-directed, and comfortable performing both senior-level accounting work and routine transactional tasks. - Comfortable challenging unnecessary complexity constructively and finding simpler ways to achieve the same outcomes. Preferred, but not required - Korean CPA or equivalent accounting qualification. - Experience with IFRS and consolidated financial reporting. - Experience implementing or improving accounting systems and automation. - Experience in a startup What Success Looks Like - Accurate, timely accounting and month-end close. - All tax, statutory, and regulatory obligations completed correctly and on time. - Reliable management of payments, expenses, payroll coordination, and cash. - Accurate intercompany reconciliations and international reporting. - Clear, dependable financial information for management. - Strong working relationships, proactive communication, and effective collaboration across the company. - Problems are identified early, discussed openly, and resolved collaboratively. - Simple, efficient, well-controlled financial operations without unnecessary systems, processes, or administrative overhead. ⚡️ FAST FACTS - 💰 $13.5M+ raised from top global investors - 📦 2.6M+ downloads of our sd-jwt-js library - 🌍 10+ nationalities across 3 hubs - 🔬 82 eID research projects completed - 🌐 3 projects accepted into the OpenWallet Foundation 🎁 BENEFITS & CULTURE - Unlimited PTO - Remote-friendly work model - Real ownership from Day 1 - High-impact, global product - Multicultural, respectful team 🧭 INTERVIEW PROCESS 1. Recruiter Intro Call (30 min) – Get to know Hopae 2. Functional or Technical Interview (45 min) – Dive into your skills 3. Culture Fit Conversation (45 min) – Collaboration & alignment 4. Offer 🎉 Note: The process may vary slightly depending on the role.