Controller at Ritual - Web3 AI Startup Career Growth in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
Career Trajectory: This is a high-ownership, founding-team-adjacent finance role at an early-stage crypto/AI company. A Controller title with direct access to founders and investors is a strong stepping stone toward a CFO position — especially valuable in the rapidly growing blockchain/AI infrastructure sector.
Skills Developed: This role sharpens a rare and highly marketable skill set at the intersection of traditional finance and Web3:
- Crypto treasury management (stablecoins, token vesting, DeFi)
- US GAAP compliance in novel digital asset contexts
- KYC/AML and regulatory compliance for digital assets
- Financial systems design from scratch in a startup environment
- Board-level financial communication and investor relations
Market Compensation: No salary is listed, but Web3 Controller roles at funded startups typically command $130K–$175K base plus token allocations. Ritual's emphasis on "optimized tax structure" and "top 1% of benefits" suggests above-market compensation is likely.
Green Flags: Direct collaboration with founders, high autonomy, mission-critical role at a well-defined early-stage company with a live product (Infernet). The intersection of AI and blockchain is one of the hottest investment themes of the decade.
Red Flags to Watch: Early-stage crypto startups carry inherent volatility risk. "Ambiguous environment" language signals the role will require significant self-direction with limited established processes. Inquire about funding runway and headcount plans during interviews.
About Ritual
Ritual is building a sovereign, execution layer for AI, with our private testnet already live and running. The Ritual chain is the first blockchain custom-built to support AI-native operations, designed from the ground up to enable a new class of applications at the intersection of crypto and AI. Our first product, Infernet, is pioneering new ground as the first solution to enable developers to access AI models both on-chain via smart contracts and off-chain, demonstrating our commitment to bridging these transformative technologies.
About the Role
We're looking for a hands-on Controller to build and oversee our financial operations as we scale. You'll work directly with the founders and leadership team to manage all accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions across both fiat and crypto assets.
This is a high-ownership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and wants to help shape the financial foundation of a next-generation technology company.
- Oversee all financial operations and serve as the internal owner for accounting, treasury, and financial reporting, while coordinating execution with external accounting and tax partners.
- Maintain robust internal controls over fiat and digital assets, ensuring proper reconciliation, documentation, and authorization processes.
- Manage company treasury, including crypto and fiat holdings, stablecoin liquidity, and vendor payments.
- Monitor and report financial position, cash runway, and budget-to-actual performance for management and investors.
- Own financial systems and process design, implementing efficient tools for expense tracking, payments, and internal reporting.
- Coordinate financial reporting cycles (monthly/quarterly/annual close) with external partners to ensure timely and accurate statements.
- Support token operations, including warrant tracking, token vesting, treasury management, and coordination with token administration platforms.
- Collaborate with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning for both fiat and crypto assets.
- Ensure compliance and risk management across all financial operations, including custody, KYC/AML practices, and digital asset handling.
- Prepare investor and board materials, summarizing key financial metrics, burn, and strategic initiatives.
- Partner with legal and finance teams to support fundraising, audits, and due diligence processes.
About You
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA or equivalent preferred).
- 5+ years of accounting/finance experience, ideally including early-stage startups or fast-growth environments.
- Strong understanding of US GAAP and accounting best practices.
- Experience managing or reconciling crypto transactions and digital assets (DeFi, tokens, stablecoins, etc.).
- Familiarity with crypto-native tooling.
- Knowledge of AI or technology sector financial operations (e.g., cloud compute, SaaS, R&D capitalization).
- Proven ability to design and implement accounting processes in a startup setting.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to explain complex financial topics clearly.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently.
Why Join Us
- Join a passionate group of engineers, researchers, and operators on a mission to build the next generation of AI infrastructure.
- Highly competitive compensation package, including annual discretionary bonus & optimized tax structure compared to the vast majority of web3 startups.
- Top 1% of benefits across the web3 startup space.
- 100% of premiums covered on highest quality healthcare.
- Aggressive company 401(k) match.
- Fully remote and/or hybrid, up to you!
- Participate in virtual and in-person events.
- Much much more!
To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/ritual-controller
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Controller role at Ritual fully remote?
Do I need crypto experience to apply for this Controller position?
What are the compensation and benefits like at Ritual?
What qualifications are required for this Controller role?
Will this Controller role involve token and crypto operations?
