Associate Director, Technical Accounting

Airwallex; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Airwallex seeks an Associate Director, Technical Finance to join the Financial Controllership team in the US. You will be the primary authority for complex US GAAP accounting, translating business initiatives into robust positions that withstand scrutiny in a fast‑moving, global company.

Based in San Francisco or New York, you’ll lead the Global Technical Accounting function and ensure accurate, forward‑looking financial reporting.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in technical finance roles.
• Deep expertise in US GAAP standards with a proven ability to apply them to complex business transactions.
• Strong working knowledge of PCAOB Auditing Standards and SOX requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and thrive in a hyper‑growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the technical integrity of the monthly reporting process by providing expert US GAAP oversight on regional submissions.
• Partner with Product and Business teams to assess accounting implications of new product launches prior to go‑live.
• Own the resolution of technical accounting issues and judgemental estimates.
• Lead the expansion and evolution of the global US GAAP reporting framework and author the Global Accounting Policy Manual.
• Architect and oversee ICFR for technical accounting areas with SOX‑compliant documentation and reviewer controls.
• Lead preparation and defense of high‑quality technical memos meeting PCAOB standards.
• Spearhead automation of technical accounting workflows and adoption of AI technology and new standards.
• Provide continuous technical guidance to regional finance teams.

Skills

US GAAP expertise

PCAOB auditing standards

SOX compliance

Strategic financial leadership

independent in fast growth

ability to navigate ambiguity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Job description

About Airwallex

Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 250,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,300 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 27 offices around the globe. Valued at US$11 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.

Attributes We Value

We hire successful builders with founder‑like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role‑related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.

You’re humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end‑to‑end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.

About The Team

The Finance & Corporate Development team at Airwallex drives the company’s financial strategy and growth. Our team focuses on financial planning, analysis, and corporate transactions to ensure Airwallex’s long‑term success. We collaborate across departments to identify opportunities, manage risks, and execute strategic initiatives. Our goal is to support the company’s mission to empower businesses to operate anywhere, anytime.

What You’ll Do

We're looking for an Associate Director, Technical Finance to join our Financial Controllership team. You will be the primary authority and architect for our most complex accounting treatments. This is not a "maintenance" role; it is a strategic functional position designed for a US GAAP expert who thrives in a high‑velocity, global environment. You will be responsible for navigating the technical complexities of a rapidly scaling business, ensuring our financial narrative is robust, compliant, and forward‑looking. You will lead the Global Technical Accounting function, translating complex business initiatives into sound accounting positions that stand up to the highest level of scrutiny.

This role is based in San Francisco or New York.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the technical integrity of the monthly reporting process by providing expert US GAAP oversight on regional submissions. You will ensure that high-risk accounting areas are treated with technical precision.
• Partner with Product and Business teams. You will assess the accounting implications of new product launches (including gross vs. net revenue, embedded derivatives, cost of sales vs OPEX classification etc) before they go live.
• Own the resolution of technical accounting issues and judgmental estimates.
• Lead the expansion and evolution of our global US GAAP reporting framework. You will author and maintain the Global Accounting Policy Manual to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Architect and oversee the Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) for technical accounting areas. You will ensure that all complex accounting judgments are backed by robust, SOX‑compliant documentation and that "Reviewer Controls" are designed with sufficient precision to meet public company standards.
• Lead the preparation and defense of high‑quality technical memos, ensuring all documentation meets PCAOB auditing standards regarding management’s estimates, assumptions, and data integrity.
• Spearhead department‑wide initiatives to mature the Controllership function, focusing on the automation of technical accounting workflows and the implementation of AI technology and new accounting standards.
• Provide continuous technical guidance and training to regional finance teams, uplifting their capability to maintain high standards of financial control and reporting accuracy.

Who You Are

We're looking for people who meet the minimum qualifications for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have, but are not mandatory.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 7+ years of professional experience in technical finance roles
• Deep expertise in US GAAP standards with a proven ability to apply them to complex business transactions
• Strong working knowledge of PCAOB Auditing Standards and SOX requirements
• Demonstrated ability to work independent, navigate ambiguity, and thrive in a hyper‑growth environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Active CPA license or equivalent professional qualification
• Prior experience at a Big Four accounting firm
• Direct experience with the pre‑IPO process and scaling finance functions for public market readiness
• Strong "thought leadership" skills with a history of driving innovative solutions and influencing organizational change

Equal opportunity

Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Compensation Range: $140K - $230K