Controller

Liquid-Ai; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Liquid AI is seeking a Controller to own the close, set technical accounting positions, and build a controls environment as we scale toward public company rigor. You will lead monthly and quarterly closes, manage equity compensation, coordinate with FP&A and Legal, and drive ERP system improvements.

The right candidate has 12+ years in accounting, CPA, US GAAP depth, and a track record with SOX-ready processes at high-growth tech firms. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-moving unicorn.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience across public accounting and industry.
• Active CPA preferred or required.
• Strong US GAAP knowledge, with ASC 606 and ASC 718 experience.
• Experience managing external auditors and building SOX-ready controls.
• Implemented or managed NetSuite integrations with finance tools.

Responsibilities

• Own the close: run monthly and quarterly close end-to-end with accurate, documented results.
• Set technical accounting positions on complex areas like ASC 606 and ASC 718.
• Own equity compensation accounting, 409A coordination, and cap table reconciliation.
• Architect internal controls and drive SOX readiness as the company scales.
• Lead outsourced tax vendor relationships for income and sales/use tax.
• Lead the external annual audit and manage PBC lists and testing.
• Drive systems and automation for ERP and finance tools; partner with FP&A and Legal.

Skills

Technical accounting

Infrastructure design

Audit readiness

ERP / NetSuite

Adaptability

Education

CPA

Tools

NetSuite

ERP systems

Job description

Controller

About Liquid AI

Spun out of MIT CSAIL, we build general-purpose AI systems that run efficiently across deployment targets, from data center accelerators to on-device hardware, ensuring low latency, minimal memory usage, privacy, and reliability. We partner with enterprises across consumer electronics, automotive, life sciences, and financial services. We are scaling rapidly and need exceptional people to help us get there.

The Opportunity

As a unicorn-stage company, we're building the accounting infrastructure that will support us through our next stage of growth — larger financing events, an expanding audit scope, and eventually the rigor of a public company. This role is the technical and operational backbone of that effort: owning the close, setting our accounting policy positions, and building the controls environment from the ground up. This is not a maintenance role; it's an opportunity to architect the systems and processes a much larger company will run on.

What We're Looking For

• Has deep technical accounting judgment: Comfortable taking positions on complex revenue recognition (ASC 606) and equity compensation (ASC 718) matters, and can document and defend them.
• Builds infrastructure, not just reports: Excited to design controls, close processes, and systems from a lean starting point rather than inherit something fully built out.
• Is audit- and controls-minded: Has driven external audits and built SOX-ready processes, even before SOX was required.
• Is systems-fluent: Has stood up or significantly improved an ERP (e.g., NetSuite) and the integrations around it.
• Thrives in ambiguity: Prefers building the playbook to following one, and can move at the speed of an AI company.

The Work

• Own the Close: Run the monthly and quarterly close process end-to-end, delivering accurate, well-documented, and increasingly timely financials.
• Set Technical Accounting Positions: Research and memo complex areas — revenue recognition under ASC 606, equity compensation under ASC 718, and other non-standard transactions — and ensure consistent application.
• Own Equity Compensation Accounting: Manage stock compensation expense, 409A coordination, and cap table reconciliation, partnering closely with FP&A and Legal.
• Architect Controls: Design and implement internal controls that scale with the company, building toward audit and SOX readiness ahead of when it's required.
• Own the Tax Process: Manage our outsourced tax vendor relationship end-to-end, covering both income tax and sales & use tax compliance, and ensure tax positions are properly reflected in the books.
• Lead the Annual Audit: Own the external audit relationship end-to-end — PBC lists, testing support, and timely resolution of open items.
• Drive Systems & Automation: Evaluate, implement, and optimize ERP and adjacent finance systems, and automate manual accounting workflows as the company scales.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Work closely with FP&A, Legal, and GTM Finance to ensure deal terms, equity grants, and revenue contracts are reflected correctly in the books.

Desired Experience

• Sustained Track Record: 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, spanning public accounting (Big 4 or equivalent) and industry, ideally including time at a high-growth or pre-IPO technology company.
• CPA: Active CPA required or strongly preferred.
• Technical Depth: Strong working knowledge of US GAAP, with particular depth in revenue recognition (ASC 606) and stock-based compensation (ASC 718).
• Audit & Controls Experience: Has managed external auditors directly and built or matured a controls environment (SOX experience a plus, even if not previously mandated).
• Systems Experience: Has implemented or owned an ERP system (NetSuite or similar) and the integrations connecting it to other finance tools.
• Communication: Comfortable presenting technical accounting positions and close results to the CFO, board, and audit committee.