Head of Accounting

Mason & Blair, LLC. A premier Accounting and Finance search firm in the Bay Area, has teamed with a great startup client of ours for their first accounting hire, a Head of Accounting.This role is hybrid work on the Peninsula.

This role is a hands-on accounting leader who will manage the accounting function end to end as we scale. You will work closely with the VP Finance and the broader leadership team, and you will help shape the processes, systems, and culture of our finance organization as it matures from scrappy to scalable.

• Close and reporting: Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close across the general ledger, AP, AR, payroll, and fixed assets, and deliver accurate, timely financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
• Technical accounting: Serve as the company's technical accounting resource, researching and documenting positions on areas most relevant to us, including lease accounting (ASC 842), revenue recognition (ASC 606), stock-based compensation (ASC 718), and grant and collaboration accounting tied to our funded research and partnerships.
• Audit and tax: Manage the annual financial statement audit end to end, own auditor relationships and PBC schedules, and coordinate federal, state, and local tax compliance with our external advisors.
• Oversee and direct our outsourced accounting partner, holding them to a high standard on the close, reconciliations, and reporting, and owning the internal work that feeds them.
• Controls and process: Design and document internal controls, accounting policies, and repeatable procedures that fit a fast-growing company and will hold up under scrutiny.
• Cash, treasury, and runway: Own cash management, the weekly cash flow cycle, banking relationships, working capital, and burn and runway visibility that leadership can rely on.
• Lender and covenant reporting: Prepare and deliver reporting to our lenders and manage covenant compliance and draw mechanics on our debt facility.
• Board and investor support: Partner with the VP Finance & Accounting on board and investor reporting, financing readiness, and clean, consistent metrics that make the story and the numbers match.
• Systems and automation: Lead the selection and implementation of a scalable ERP, rationalize the chart of accounts, tighten the close, and bring in automation and AI-enabled tools to make the function faster and more reliable.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and over 10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including time in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or Director-level role.
• Strong command of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls, with real facility in the technical areas that matter to us (ASC 842, 606, and 718, plus grant and collaboration accounting).
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable accounting processes and systems in a growing company, including ERP selection or implementation experience.
• Hands-on systems experience. Currently on QuickBooks Online but need to migrate to an ERP. Experience with a modern AI ERP