Financial Controller

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.

About Hopae

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 We believe identity should be in your control — not locked behind outdated systems or centralized gatekeepers.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.
• Build technology shaping the global trust and identity landscape
• 10+ nationalities, diverse perspectives, one vision
• High-impact, global product

Responsibilities

No micromanagement — full trust, full accountability

• Independently manage bookkeeping, journal entries, reconciliations, month-end close, and preparation of accurate financial statements.
• Handle accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense reimbursements, payroll coordination, banking, and cash management.
• Take responsibility for Korean accounting, tax, statutory filings, and regulatory reporting, coordinating with external advisors where necessary.
• Manage intercompany transactions and reconciliations, multi-currency accounting, and financial reporting across Hopae's international entities.
• Coordinate directly with accountants, tax advisors, auditors, and payroll providers.
• Put in place simple, effective processes that ensure accuracy, accountability, and compliance without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Simplify existing workflows, eliminate unnecessary steps, and automate where it delivers clear value.
• Work closely with colleagues across functions and geographies, communicate financial information clearly, and solve operational and financial challenges together.
• Deliver timely financial information, cash flow reporting, and analysis to support business decisions.
• Reliable management of payments, expenses, payroll coordination, and cash.

Requirements

• Work fast, learn fast, and grow with world-class peers
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Strong working relationships, proactive communication, and effective collaboration across the company.

Preferred

• Experience implementing or improving accounting systems and automation.
• Experience in a startup

Benefits

• Work with exceptional peers across Seoul, Paris, and San Francisco
• $13.5M+ raised
• from top global investors
• Unlimited PTO
• Real ownership from Day 1
• Multicultural, respectful team

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate, timely accounting and month-end close.
• All tax, statutory, and regulatory obligations completed correctly and on time.
• Accurate intercompany reconciliations and international reporting.
• Clear, dependable financial information for management.
• Problems are identified early, discussed openly, and resolved collaboratively.
• Simple, efficient, well-controlled financial operations without unnecessary systems, processes, or administrative overhead.
• Fast Facts
• 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

🧭 Interview Process

• Recruiter Intro Call (30 min) – Get to know Hopae
• Functional or Technical Interview (45 min) – Dive into your skills
• Culture Fit Conversation (45 min) – Collaboration & alignment

Offer 🎉

Note: The process may vary slightly depending on the role.