Is the Head of Gusto Controls role remote?

It's hybrid — Gusto expects some on-site time in San Francisco, CA, United States.

What's the salary range?

Gusto lists $221,275–$272,906 for this role.

How much experience is required?

At least 12 years of relevant experience for this Head of Gusto Controls role.

Where is the role based?

Gusto is hiring for this position in San Francisco, CA, United States.

What seniority level is this role?

Gusto targets c-level candidates for this position.

Is this full-time or contract?

Full-time for this Head of Gusto Controls role at Gusto.

Head of Gusto Controls at Gusto

Joblaze summary

The Head of Internal Controls at Gusto is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive internal controls program that integrates business process and IT controls. This role requires expertise in risk management, with a focus on building a team and establishing a strategy that leverages AI to enhance control processes. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in internal controls, particularly in technology-driven environments, and a strong background in finance or accounting. Gusto seeks a hands-on leader who can navigate complex systems while fostering collaboration across various departments.

Joblaze insights

Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 17, 2026. Last confirmed on Gusto's careers page October 17, 2026.
Salary band is above the typical range for Management roles (median ~$172,000).
Starts above 70% of 37 comparable c-level management roles in United States we track (median $200,000 across 33 companies).

Quick facts

Is the Head of Gusto Controls role remote?: It's hybrid — Gusto expects some on-site time in San Francisco, CA, United States.
What's the salary range?: Gusto lists $221,275–$272,906 for this role.
How much experience is required?: At least 12 years of relevant experience for this Head of Gusto Controls role.
Where is the role based?: Gusto is hiring for this position in San Francisco, CA, United States.
What seniority level is this role?: Gusto targets c-level candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this Head of Gusto Controls role at Gusto.

From the original posting

About Gusto

About the Role:

We’re looking for a Head of Internal Controls to join Gusto’s Finance, BizOps & Strategy team. This leader will partner with accounting and technical leaders to build and scale a forward-thinking internal controls environment that supports Gusto’s growth and operational maturity.

As the Head of Internal Controls, you will lead Gusto’s controls program across business process controls and IT controls. The scope includes the proprietary and third-party systems supporting Gusto’s payroll, health benefits, retirement, and other financial products.

You will build the team, set the program’s strategy, and embed practical controls into how Gusto’s products, systems, and financial processes are designed and operated. You will also define what an AI-forward internal controls function can look like, both by applying AI to controls work and by establishing oversight of AI-enabled financial processes and software development.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on controls leader who has built or scaled an ICFR program and led experienced teams. They can engage collaboratively with accounting and technical leaders, understand proprietary systems and complex data flows, and translate risk into controls that support the business without creating unnecessary operational burden.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

Build and lead Gusto’s internal controls function, bringing business process controls and IT controls together under a single program and developing the team needed to support both areas.
Own Gusto’s risk-based ICFR framework across financial processes and the systems and data that support them, including scoping, control design, documentation, testing, issue evaluation, and remediation.
Strengthen the control environment supporting Gusto’s complex operations, proprietary systems, and evolving products.
Partner early with Accounting, Finance, Product, Engineering, Data, Security, and Risk to build control and auditability into new products, systems, and processes without creating unnecessary manual work or disruption.
Set the vision for an AI-forward internal controls function, using AI and automation to rethink how risk is identified, evidence is evaluated, and controls are tested and monitored. Establish practical oversight for risks introduced by AI-enabled financial processes and software development.
Lead the relationship with external auditors, ensuring alignment on risk, scope, testing, evidence, and remediation.
Establish clear governance and accountability for internal controls, including training across Gusto and reporting to senior management and the Audit Committee on the program’s health and effectiveness.

Here’s what we're looking for:

12+ years of progressive experience in a Big 4 accounting firm, internal audit, or SOX compliance role program in a complex, scaling organization with professional certifications like CIA or CISA.
5+ years of people leadership experience, with a track record of hiring, coaching, and developing experienced controls professionals and distributing judgment and institutional knowledge across a team.
Deep knowledge of US GAAP, the COSO framework, and the requirements supporting management’s ICFR assessment and external auditor attestation.
Breadth across business process controls and IT controls, with depth in at least 1 discipline and the judgment to lead experienced specialists across both.
Experience in a technology-driven environment with proprietary applications, automated controls, complex data flows, high transaction volumes, and evolving products. Experience in fintech, payments, payroll, or financial services is preferred.
A builder who can establish a long-term strategy and operating model while remaining close enough to the work to resolve ambiguous risks, challenge conclusions, and guide remediation.
The ability to influence senior leaders, translate technical and financial risks into practical decisions, and work credibly with Product, Engineering, external auditors, and the Audit Committee.
An AI-forward mindset. You are already experimenting with AI and automation to improve how internal controls work, from risk identification and evidence evaluation to testing and monitoring.
A practical understanding of how AI changes the control environment, including the risks introduced by AI-generated code and AI-enabled financial processes, and the ability to partner with Engineering and business teams to establish practical oversight.
CPA, CIA, CISA, or a comparable professional certification is preferred.

Our cash compensation amount for this role is between $188,510 - $232,496/year in Denver and between $221,275 - $272,906/year for New York/San Francisco. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

At Gusto, we don't use titles the traditional way, as a signal of rank or hierarchy. Instead, our titles describe two things at once — your craft (what you do, e.g. Engineering, Design) and your scope of ownership (what you're accountable for) — which is why you'll see something like "Head of X" instead of a rank word like "Director" that tells you neither. Because of this, the title on this posting may look different from what you'd expect based on the scope and seniority of the role, and from how similar roles are typically titled elsewhere. If you have questions about how this role compares to your current title or level, your recruiter can help translate.

Standard company text repeated across Gusto's postings is omitted here.

Head of Gusto Controls

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