Careers
Controller
STARCH CREATIVE: Better Brand Experiences, Made Together.
Starch is a full-service experiential design agency and fabrication company based in Irvine, CA. We create culturally resonant experiences for the fans of the brands we love, led by a team of innovative thinkers, builders, strategists, designers, and producers united by a shared love for creating. From the big picture to the finest detail, we manage ideas from concept to completion.
We are hiring people who are motivated, self-driven, and collaborative, and who work just as well independently. We hope you’re inspired to learn more.
Controller
Location: Irvine, CA, in our new state-of-the-art corporate headquarters
Schedule: Hybrid, three days per week onsite
Team: Leads two experienced accounting staff
What You Will Accomplish
As Controller, you will lead accounting and financial reporting across both Starch Creative and Starch Fabrication. You will own the monthly close, divisional reporting, cash flow, and project accounting, giving leadership clear, reliable information for business decisions. This is a hands-on role for someone equally comfortable in the details and in the bigger financial picture.
How You Will Be Successful
• Own financial reporting and close: Manage KPIs, monthly, quarterly, and year-end close, and deliver accurate P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reporting company-wide and by division. • Report by division: Oversee shared expenses, cost allocations, and reconciliations so Starch Creative and Starch Fabrication results are accurate and comparable.
• Lead project and job-cost accounting: Manage revenue recognition, job costing, project profitability, deposits, and progress billings.
• Oversee AP, AR, and cash flow: Ensure accurate vendor payments, client invoicing, collections, cash management, and visibility into upcoming obligations.
• Drive budgeting and forecasting: Lead annual budgets, cash flow forecasts, and budget-to-actual reporting with clear explanations of significant variances.
• Own the annual audit and outside relationships: Serve as primary contact for our outside accountants, tax advisors, and insurance partners, and manage the annual audit from preparation through completion.
• Maintain strong controls and improve process: Keep reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, payroll accounting, and balance sheet accounts accurate while strengthening workflows for efficiency and scale. Handle sensitive financial information with discretion.
• Lead and develop the team: Manage, coach, and develop two experienced accounting staff.
• Partner with leadership: Translate results into insight on profitability, margins, trends, risks, and cost saving opportunities.
Skills for Success
Experience:
10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including prior service as an Assistant Controller, Controller, Finance Manager, or similar. Experience managing an annual audit and leading a small team is required.
Education and Credentials:
Four-year bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Active CPA license required.
Location:
Based full-time out of our Irvine headquarters on a hybrid schedule, three days per week onsite. Candidates should reside within a reasonable commute of the office.
What you already know:
GAAP, financial reporting, revenue recognition, job costing, cash flow, AP/AR, payroll accounting, and budgeting and forecasting. Experience in project-based or job-cost businesses is strongly preferred. Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Excel/Google Sheets.
What we will teach you:
Our internal systems, project workflows, and how Starch Creative and Starch Fabrication work together to move projects from creative concept through fabrication and execution.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Starch is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion or religious creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision-making, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the California Fair Chance Act, we will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs and practices. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at Hireme@starchcreative.com.
Our positions go quickly. Apply today: Hireme@starchcreative.com
Account Director
STARCH CREATIVE: Better Brand Experiences, Made Together.
Starch is a full-service experiential design agency and fabrication company based in Irvine, CA. We create culturally resonant experiences for the fans of the brands we love, led by a team of innovative thinkers, builders, strategists, designers, and producers united by a shared love for creating. From the big picture to the finest detail, we manage ideas from concept to completion.
We are hiring people who are motivated, self-driven, and collaborative, and who work just as well independently. We hope you’re inspired to learn more.
Account Director
Location: Portland, OR or Irvine, CA
Reports to: VP, Account Director
Status: Full Time Employee
What You Will Accomplish
As an Account Director at Starch, you will serve as a team leader, advisor, and trusted partner to both clients and internal teams. You will build strong client relationships, guide integrated creative programs, onboard new work, and identify opportunities to expand existing partnerships. This role is ideal for someone who combines strategic thinking, exceptional client service, and a collaborative approach to leading work from engagement through delivery.
How You Will Be Successful
• Grow and maintain client relationships: Provide strategic and tactical leadership while building trusted relationships with client stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted client partner: Bring a proactive, solution-oriented approach, communicate clearly, and help clients navigate decisions throughout the engagement.
• Lead cross-functional programs: Plan, strategize, and guide integrated programs and campaigns with a strong understanding of Starch capabilities and process.
• Define scopes and engagement models: Partner with Project Management and Creative leads to shape scopes of work, establish expectations, and educate clients on our process.
• Keep teams aligned: Create strong working relationships across project management, creative, and client teams so priorities, expectations, and deliverables remain clear.
• Proactively manage risk and client satisfaction: Identify issues, conflicts, or disruptions early and drive effective solutions that protect the client relationship and the work.
• Forecast and report on client programs: Track program performance and provide useful insights to leadership to support business operations and strategic planning.
• Identify and drive growth: Assess opportunities with existing clients and support new business efforts as needed.
• Lead and mentor teams: Motivate and support internal teams while contributing positively to agency culture and overall business success.
Skills for Success
Experience:
6+ years of account management experience, including managing creative teams and/or outside creative resources, leading internal project teams, and working directly with senior-level client contacts to define program engagements.
Location:
Based in Portland, OR or Irvine, CA.
What you already know:
How to lead client relationships, present with confidence, communicate clearly in writing and verbally, and guide integrated creative work through development cycles and best practices. Experience with new business development and a strong understanding of agency capabilities and workflows are important for success in this role.
What we will teach you:
Our internal systems, project workflows, and how Starch Creative and Starch Fabrication work together to move projects from creative concept through fabrication and execution.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Starch is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion or religious creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision-making, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the California Fair Chance Act, we will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs and practices. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at Hireme@starchcreative.com.
Our positions go quickly. Apply today: Hireme@starchcreative.com
DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
Submit a general request and we will reach out if a position opens up in the near future:
Starch is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our employees, customers, suppliers and the communities in which we live and conduct business. Starch is an equal employment opportunity. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, and treating all associates and applicants without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, HIV/AIDS status, or any other legally protected factor.
If you are applying for a job and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email us at ADA@starchcreative.com or mail us at 1010 W 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 and let us know the nature of your request and contact information. Please note that this e-mail address is dedicated only for inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation.