Controller

About Us
CMB is a full-service custom market research and strategy firm based in Boston. As a Top 25 Insights & Analytics company, we’re known for our relentless business-decision focus and cutting-edge creativity. Our passion is helping the world’s leading brands engage, innovate, and grow. We leverage the best of advanced analytics, consumer psychology, and market strategy to tackle game-changing initiatives and business challenges for our clients.


What about our culture?  Simply put, our people are our power. We have a diverse, inclusive and collaborative team of bright perspectives and curious minds.  At CMB you’ll have plenty of opportunities to achieve your full potential. From learning new skills, expanding your expertise, and continuing to advance your professional development, you will feel supported and valued. 


Our benefits say a lot about how much we value our employees: we offer a fully paid sabbatical, a wellness stipend, paid time off to volunteer, generous medical plans, a 401k match, and more. Every employee also gets to enjoy an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).


ESOP?  Yes, we are 100% employee owned!  An ESOP is like a qualified retirement plan, similar to a 401k, but you don’t have to make any contributions to participate in the rewards.  When we each work hard to provide exceptional service and deliverables to our clients, the positive performance of the company increases the value of our stock and enables the accumulation of wealth for all our employee-owners.


About the Position
Are you a leader in finance with project-based professional services industry experience looking for a new role with a top research firm? The Controller will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, managing strong internal controls, enabling client & project profitability improvement, ensuring sound financial planning & management practices, and supporting business decision-making. This leader collaborates with CMB executives, function managers, client account owners, and colleagues at all levels of the organization in addition to partnering with our parent company’s, ITA Group, Finance team.

This position reports to CMB’s AVP of Finance until January 2026, then will report directly to the COO/CFO.

This role will work a hybrid schedule in our Boston, MA office.


About You
You are a meticulous professional who thrives on precision and technical excellence. You are a highly effective communicator and a personable team manager, influential collaborator, and people developer. Your keen eye for detail ensures that every task, no matter how small, is executed with accuracy and care. You approach challenges methodically, leveraging your technical expertise to analyze complex problems and devise effective solutions. Your commitment to quality is unwavering; you consistently produce work that meets the highest standards, taking pride in delivering flawless results. You are organized and efficient, adept at managing multiple tasks while maintaining a focus on precision and thoroughness.

About Your Background
You’ve worked hard to get to where you are and are ready to take on a role where you can leverage your skills in finance and people management. You have a track record of proven success in financial leadership along with managing a small team of driven individuals within a professional services firm that uses project-based accounting. Here’s what you’ll be doing and the qualifications we are looking for:

Responsibilities and Expectations 

Essential Duties 

Financial Leadership & Reporting

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, including project-based revenue recognition process and preparation of GAAP-compliant financial statements

• Manage general ledger accuracy, account reconciliations, and internal controls

• Create and communicate timely and value-added management reporting, including:

• Monthly financial results

• Quarterly profitability by client, project, and solution type

• Employee, departmental, and organizational scorecards

• Provide ad hoc financial analysis to support decision-making

• Manage CMB’s annual financial review and audit process with ITA Group and external auditors

Team Leadership (starting January 2026)

• Lead and manage the accounting and admin team:

• Set clear goals and expectations

• Distribute workloads equitably

• Provide ongoing coaching, performance reviews, and development planning

• Ensure delivery of high-quality financial services and support

Financial Planning & Management

• Partner with function leaders and stakeholders to enhance financial planning, management, and support

• Evaluate and recommend pricing models and manage updates to Budget Builder tool

• Enable client and project profitability improvement efforts

Process Improvement & Systems Oversight

• Evaluate and optimize accounting system workflows for efficiency and accuracy

• Support management and administration of ERP and PSA (Sage/Intacct and Kimble) infrastructure and processes in collaboration with Sales & Account Management, Client Services, and ITA Group

• Ensure data integrity across time tracking, billing, and finance platforms

Budgeting, Forecasting & Collaboration

• Support annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes

• Serve as the finance liaison for cross-functional projects and ITA Group finance efforts

• Contribute to profitability improvement efforts and organizational change initiatives

Cash Management, Tax & Compliance

• Manage cash flow and ensure sound cash management practices

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local tax requirements in partnership with ITA Group

• Manage and enforce internal financial policies and controls

Payroll & Benefits

• Oversee bi-weekly payroll and related tax filings in partnership with People & Culture, ITA Group, ADP, and relevant state agencies

• Collaborate with People & Culture and ITA Group on employee benefits and insurance programs

Operational Support

• Serve as the primary contact for Insights Association financial and compensation studies

• Assist with finance-related special projects and act as a backup to team members

• Participate in peer reviews and finance team scorecard goal achievement

• Interface with ITA Group on commercial insurance policies

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA and/or MBA preferred

• 8+ years of progressive accounting and financial management experience with 2+ years in a controller or similar role within project-based professional services environments; market research or consulting industry experience is a plus

• Proven track record of increasing responsibility in diverse, complex business settings

• Strong knowledge of general ledger, project-based accounting, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, and banking processes and best practices

• Deep experience with ERP/accounting systems required

• High attention to detail with excellent time management and multi-tasking skills

• Highly effective talent leader, manager, and developer

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional financial initiatives, profitability improvement efforts, and organizational change

• Deep experience in financial reporting and analysis, planning, and decision support

• Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce.com, Sage/Intacct or similar ERP system, Kimble/Kantana or similar PSA tool, along with the drive to leverage AI to enable automated and streamlined processes

• Skilled in business partnering and stakeholder engagement with executives, line managers, and cross-functional teams

• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization with a strong customer service orientation

• Strong analytical, prioritization, and project management skills

• Impactful communicator with excellent verbal, written, and presentation abilities

• Self-motivated, adaptable, and eager to learn; thrives in fast-paced environments

• Merger & acquisition experience is a plus

*No agency assistance needed* 

*No visa/work authorization available* 

CMB strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We recognize that people from structurally marginalized groups often only apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications, despite the reality that applicants rarely ever meet 100% of the qualifications. If you have demonstrated experience in the custom market research and insights industry and this position aligns with your experience and interests, please apply!

CMB is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or to other non-work-related factors. As part of our commitment to inclusivity, CMB will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Kate Milligan at [email protected]. 


The annual base salary range for this position is $125,000-$155,000 plus bonus, benefits, and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The base salary is dependent on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) experience, expertise, skills, and employee's location.