1. Say nothing about the false numbers. Of course, the company will miss the projections and have to come up with a good explanation, but after all, isn't that par for the course among fledgling high-tech companies? Chances are the whole thing will blow over without a problem.
2. Go ahead and close the deal, but come clean later. Explain that the controller had been on an extended leave of absence and, because you had been on the job only a few days, you had not had time to personally do an analysis of the numbers.
3. Take swift action to notify the venture capitalists of the truth of the situation-and start cleaning house to get rid of people who would knowingly lie to close a deal.