Jacob Wells
Financial Controller @KLAS Research
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WORK HISTORY
Financial Controller @KLAS Research
Pleasant Grove, UT, US
Led transformation of accounting systems and processes, including migration from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, enabling scalable integrations and improved financial infrastructureRedesigned revenue recognition processes, reducing file complexity by 75% and cutting reporting time from hours to minutes while establishing a reliable audit trailConsolidated expense management by transitioning from SAP Concur to Brex, reducing costs by 77% and centralizing travel, AP, and corporate card workflowsPartnered cross-functionally with IT and Sales to implement Salesforce enhancements (invoice tracking, bill-to-date), improving visibility, accelerating deal cycles, and strengthening forecastingBuilt a cost projection model to replace ad hoc estimates, enabling more accurate forecasting and alignment with budget planningEstablished and enforced a structured travel process, improving ROI on spend and setting clear expectations for employeesImplemented a Jira-based month-end close process, increasing visibility, accountability, and consistency across the teamAutomated key accounting workflows, including insurance allocations and prepaid schedules, improving accuracy and reducing manual effortIntroduced prepaid travel and customer prepayment processes to ensure proper revenue and expense recognitionDeveloped executive-level financial reporting, transforming static reports into a monthly financial deck used for strategic decision-makingBuilt and documented fixed asset processes, improving tracking, accuracy, and audit readinessCreated a commissions calculator with validation checks, improving accuracy and identifying missed payoutsStrengthened accrual processes to improve timing and accuracy of expense recognitionEliminated manual reimbursements by enforcing corporate card usage, saving ~90 hours per month
EDUCATION
University of Utah
Bachelor's degree, Accounting
Orem High School
High School Diploma, General Studies
University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business
Master of Accounting, Audit + Accounting Information Systems
Ensign College
AAS, AS, Financial/Managerial Accounting
ABOUT JACOB WELLS
I’m a CPA and Controller focused on building accounting functions that do more than report the past, they help drive the future. With over a decade of experience across healthcare market research and global consumer goods, I specialize in transforming finance teams into strategic partners through better systems, stronger processes, and clearer insights. My work centers on creating structure where it’s missing, simplifying complexity, and giving leaders the visibility they need to make confident decisions. In my current role, I’ve led end-to-end transformation across accounting and finance, including reducing the monthly close from a 7-day scramble to a consistent 4-5 day process. That shift didn’t just improve efficiency, it created space for real partnership with budget owners and leadership. I oversee 10+ departmental budgets, lead company-wide planning and reporting, and work cross-functionally with operations, research, marketing, tech, and HR to connect financials to business outcomes. I’ve implemented and optimized systems including QuickBooks Online, Brex, Salesforce integrations, and process automation tools, always with a focus on scalability, accuracy, and usability for the team. Just as important, I invest heavily in people, coaching team members, building ownership, and helping non-financial leaders understand the “why” behind the numbers. At the core, I believe great accounting is about trust, clarity, and service. I approach budget owners like clients and see my role as translating financial data into direction, alignment, and better decisions.
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