What Cognite is: Relentless to achieve

Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI, and data solutions that solve the world’s hardest, highest-impact problems. With unmatched industrial heritage and a comprehensive suite of AI capabilities, including low-code AI agents, Cognite accelerates the digital transformation to drive operational improvements.

We thrive in challenges. We challenge assumptions. We execute with speed and ownership. If you view obstacles as signals to step forward - not backwards - you’ll feel right at home here.

Our Moonshot is bold: Unlock $100B in customer value by 2035, and redefine how global industry works. Join us in this venture where AI and data meet ingenuity, and together, we will forge the path to a smarter, more connected industrial future.

How you’ll demonstrate Ownership

We’re seeking a Senior Director, Financial Reporting — Global Accounting Controller — who owns Cognite’s accounting operations end to end: accurate and timely financial reporting under IFRS, a clean and efficient group close, robust internal controls, and the systems and processes that let the function scale. You are the primary steward of the consolidated financial statements and a trusted partner to the business and auditors.

You treat financial reporting as infrastructure for growth — the more reliable and scalable it is, the faster the business can move. You obsess over accuracy, close cycle time, control effectiveness, and audit readiness, and you build the team, tools, and rituals that improve them quarter over quarter.

You report to the VP, Financial Reporting, and partner across FP&A, Sourcing, and the international entities.

Own financial reporting and compliance

• Prepare and analyze financial statements under IFRS for entities across the Cognite Group, including the consolidated financial statements.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close for the consolidated group, including account analysis and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax regulations, and internal policies; maintain and develop group accounting principles.
• Control statutory reporting, including tax and VAT; supervise preparation of the tax papers for the Norwegian entities and coordinate tax returns for international subsidiaries.
• Follow up on accounting and tax issues and coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Be the finance function’s transparent, trusted voice with external auditors throughout the audit cycle.
• Support management with the audit committee, including meeting minutes and AC presentations.

Build controls and scalable process

• Implement efficient financial control procedures and tools that let Cognite scale in a fast-paced environment.
• Own the Procure-to-Pay process and drive continuous improvement across process and stakeholder management.
• Own the banking and treasury process for the consolidated group.
• Maintain and develop financial-controlling and business-controlling procedures that keep pace with growth.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing team on vendor management.
• Maintain proper access control across all finance systems (NetSuite, Salesforce, FloQast, Visma Expense, Expensify, Altinn).

Lead international accounting operations

• Manage accounting operations for foreign subsidiaries and ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Coordinate with international tax advisors to ensure tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Lead an AI-first finance function

• Lead and develop a team of accounting professionals; build capability, accountability, and a bar for quality that scales.
• Contribute to strategic financial decision-making as a core member of the global finance team.
• Drive a scalable, efficient, AI-driven approach to accounting: apply AI to accelerate the close, automate reconciliations, and surface anomalies — with validation and control built in.
• Raise the finance team’s AI fluency; pilot and adopt tooling that improves accuracy and cycle time without compromising auditability.
• Model responsible AI use: understand what the tools can and cannot do, and validate outputs before they reach auditors, investors, or the board.

You will monitor and report on key value delivery metrics, including:

• Timeliness and accuracy of the consolidated close and IFRS financial statements.
• Control effectiveness and audit outcomes (clean audits, no material weaknesses).
• Close cycle time and process efficiency as the group scales.
• Audit committee and Investor reporting quality and timeliness.
• Team capability, engagement, and retention.

The Impact you bring to Cognite

• 10+ years of combined accounting and finance experience, including auditing and/or financial controller roles.
• Thorough knowledge of IFRS accounting principles and procedures and experience preparing financial statements.
• Strong command of general-ledger functions and the month-end / year-end close process.
• Proven leadership and team-management experience.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills — written and verbal.
• Proficiency with financial software, ERP systems, and financial reporting tools; strong accounting-software administration skills.
• Able to deliver independently with strong attention to detail, and to think creatively when solving problems.

Preferred Experience

• Proven working experience as a Financial Controller.
• Strong understanding of SaaS business models.
• Thorough knowledge of Maestro and preparing tax papers.
• Advanced degree in Accounting; CPA (Statsautorisert Revisor) preferred

A snapshot of our many perks and benefits as a Cogniter