Controller

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 178,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Controller for Technical Accounting & Policy to lead the global accounting policy framework and provide expert guidance on significant transactions and new standards.

The role offers broad exposure across Cisco, including interaction with external auditors and senior finance leadership. This highly visible position requires deep US GAAP knowledge, strong communication, and the ability to translate complex guidance into practical recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting or Finance.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including strong time in public accounting or technical accounting roles at a large public company.
• Active CPA license.
• Deep knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and document accounting conclusions for complex transactions (ASC 606, ASC 805, ASC 842, ASC 810).
• Prepare and review technical accounting memoranda and position papers for significant judgments and estimates.
• Own Cisco’s global accounting policy manual and communicate policies across regions.
• Monitor FASB, SEC, and IASB agendas; assess impact of new standards and lead adoption and implementation.
• Partner with Legal, Treasury, Tax on deals to evaluate accounting implications of M&A and financing transactions.
• Provide accounting training and guidance to finance and business partners; promote automation and AI in policy governance.

Skills

US GAAP knowledge

SEC reporting knowledge

Financial memo writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting or Finance

Active CPA license

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/29/2026

Members of the Finance organization at select locations will generally be expected to follow a hybrid work model, which includes two days of in-office attendance each week, with limited exceptions.

Meet the Team

Join the Technical Accounting & Policy team within Cisco's Corporate Controller Group (CCG)!

We are a dynamic team dedicated to supporting business processes with integrity, credibility, and global financial policy leadership! Our team serves as the company's center of excellence for US GAAP matters, partnering with SEC Reporting, Revenue, Treasury, Tax, Legal, Corporate Development, and business finance to reach well-supported accounting conclusions for Cisco's most complex and non-routine transactions. We are committed to developing and implementing effective global financial policies and forging impactful collaborations across Cisco.

Your Impact

As the Controller of Technical Accounting & Policy, you will lead Cisco's technical accounting function and own the company's global accounting policy framework. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior finance leadership, delivering clear, timely, and practical accounting guidance on significant transactions, and new accounting standards. This highly visible role offers broad exposure across the company and with Cisco’s external auditors, and positions you as the go-to expert for complex accounting judgments.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and document accounting conclusions for complex and non-routine transactions, including revenue recognition (ASC 606), business combinations and divestitures (ASC 805), leases (ASC 842), consolidation (ASC 810), financial instruments, derivatives and hedging (ASC 815), debt and equity, stock-based compensation (ASC 718), and impairments. Prepare and review technical accounting memoranda and position papers supporting significant judgments and estimates, and present conclusions to senior leadership. Own Cisco’s global accounting policy manual; draft, update, and communicate accounting policies and ensure consistent application across regions and business units. Monitor the FASB, SEC, and IASB standard-setting agendas; assess the impact of new and proposed accounting standards and lead adoption and implementation efforts. Partner with Corporate Development, Legal, Treasury, and Tax early in the deal cycle to evaluate the accounting implications of M&A, strategic investments, financing transactions, and other strategic initiatives, including review of contract terms before execution. Provide accounting training and guidance to finance and business partners, and champion the use of automation and AI tools to scale accounting research and policy governance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Accounting or Finance.
• At least 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including strong time in public accounting (including roles in National Office or Accounting Advisory) and/or technical accounting roles at a large public company.
• Active CPA license.
• Deep knowledge of US GAAP and SEC reporting requirements, with validated experience authoring and reviewing technical accounting memos.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to translate complex accounting guidance into clear, practical recommendations for non-accounting audiences.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with executive presence and comfort presenting to senior leadership and external auditors.
• Proactive, collaborative leader with sound judgment, comfortable navigating ambiguity and integrating information from multiple sources.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada: The starting salary range posted for this position is $178,300.00 to $233,900.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process. U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies: 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations) 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows: .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota; 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%; 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation. For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below: New York City Metro Area: $178,300.00 - $269,000.00 Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $158,700.00 - $243,800.00 * For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined. ** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements. Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn.

We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.