Karen Wu
About Karen Wu
Karen Wu is a Corporate Controller at Nuro, with a background that includes significant roles at Google, Uber, and FireEye. She holds multiple degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Engineering, and has extensive experience in financial management and internal controls.
Work at Nuro
Karen Wu currently serves as the Corporate Controller at Nuro, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she leads financial operations and oversees accounting practices. Prior to this, she worked as the Assistant Controller from 2020 to 2022. During her tenure, she initiated significant improvements in internal controls, including budget enforcement and purchase approval hierarchy. Wu also spearheaded the adoption of ASC 606 and ASC 842 standards, enhancing compliance and financial reporting accuracy. She played a key role in selecting and implementing ERP tools and driving continuous system and process improvements.
Previous Experience at Google and Uber
Karen Wu has extensive experience in the tech industry, having worked at Google Inc. as an accountant from 2004 to 2013. She contributed to various financial operations during her nine years there. Following her time at Google, she joined Uber as a Senior Accounting Manager from 2018 to 2020. In this role, she managed accounting functions and supported financial reporting processes. Wu's background in these major tech companies has equipped her with a strong foundation in corporate finance and accounting practices.
Education and Expertise
Karen Wu holds a Bachelor of Science in Cryogenics and Chemical Engineering from Zhejiang University. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso. Additionally, she earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Zhejiang University. This diverse educational background provides her with a solid understanding of both technical and financial disciplines, enhancing her expertise in corporate finance.
Background in Accounting and Finance
Karen Wu has a robust background in accounting and finance, having held various roles across multiple organizations. Before her time at Nuro, she worked as a Technical/SEC Accounting Director at FireEye Inc. from 2013 to 2015. She also served as a Senior Revenue Consultant for Microsoft Inc. in 2003. Throughout her career, she has managed financial statement audits and collaborated with cross-functional teams to support business growth and strategic initiatives.
Achievements in Financial Management
Throughout her career, Karen Wu has achieved notable milestones in financial management. She led the three-year financial statement audits conducted by Ernst & Young (E&Y) at Nuro, ensuring compliance and accuracy in financial reporting. Wu effectively leveraged third-party services to scale operations and support business growth. Her strategic collaboration with sales and legal teams on customer agreements has ensured predictable revenue recognition, contributing to the overall financial health of the organizations she has worked with.