Principal Accountant

Workday, Inc.; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 217,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday, Inc. in Pleasanton, CA, is seeking a Principal Accountant to own core GL close areas and to partner with FP&A and business leaders in a fast-paced environment.

This role requires a self-starter who communicates clearly and drives process improvements. The ideal candidate has 8+ years of accounting experience, strong US GAAP knowledge, and a proven track record of managing close activities for a growing organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related accounting experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Master’s degree and/or active CPA license is a plus.
• Experience with a publicly traded company in the technology or SaaS industry preferred.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP and solid understanding of general ledger accounting and financial statements.

Responsibilities

• Own core GL areas in the monthly and quarterly close for global consolidation, including journals, reconciliations, and variance analyses.
• Manage accounting and reporting for operating expenses ensuring accurate and timely recognition per US GAAP.
• Prepare and review monthly management reporting and analytics, explaining drivers, trends, and risks to Finance and business partners.
• Partner with FP&A, Real Estate, Data Center, Cloud Ops and other operations teams to ensure contracts are reflected in upstream data and downstream accounting.
• Support internal and external audits, including preparation of schedules and responding to inquiries.
• Maintain and enhance internal controls over financial reporting; design and execute controls for new processes.
• Identify and drive process improvements and automation across corporate accounting; work with Finance Systems and IT.
• Contribute to ad hoc projects, system implementations, and process redesign; communicate complex topics clearly to finance and non-finance partners.

Skills

US GAAP

Excel

Analytical

Communication

Self-starter

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree / CPA (plus)

Job description

## Principal AccountantApply: Flex: USA, CA, Pleasanton: Full Time: Posted Today: JR-0109633**Your work days are brighter here.**We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.**About the Team**We are professional accountants that go beyond to strive for operational efficiency through system optimization and process automation. We encourage team cross training to broaden knowledge and to continue to drive for motivation. We are committed to working hard, having fun while maintaining a culture of work-life balance.**About the Role**Workday is seeking a Principal Accountant who wants to make their mark on a growing organization. This is an individual contributor role with broad ownership across the corporate accounting close and a key partner to FP&A and business leaders. Reporting to the Director of Accounting, the ideal candidate is a self‐starter, an excellent communicator, and enjoys collaborating with people with a diverse set of talents in an ambitious, fast‐paced environment.**Responsibilities:*** Own core GL areas in the monthly and quarterly close for global consolidation (e.g., operating expenses, leases, compensation, and other corporate accounting areas), including preparing and reviewing journals, account reconciliations, and variance analyses.* Manage the accounting and reporting for operating expenses ensuring accurate and timely recognition of expenses in accordance with US GAAP* Prepare and review monthly management reporting and analytics for owned areas, clearly explaining drivers, trends, and risks to Finance and business partners.* Partner with key stakeholders in FP&A, Real Estate, Data Center, Cloud Ops and other operations teams to ensure contracts are accurately reflected in upstream data and downstream accounting.* Support internal and external audits for owned areas, including preparation of schedules and responding to inquiries.* Maintain and enhance internal controls over financial reporting, including design and execution of controls for new or evolving processes.* Identify and drive process improvements and automation opportunities across corporate accounting, working with Finance Systems and IT as needed.* Contribute to ad hoc projects such as system implementations, process redesign, and department initiatives, and communicate complex topics in a clear, concise way to finance and non‐finance partners.**About You****Required Qualifications:*** 8+ years of related accounting experience.* Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.**Other Qualifications:*** Master’s degree and/or active CPA license is a plus.* Experience with a publicly traded company in the technology or SaaS industry preferred.* Strong knowledge of US GAAP and solid understanding of general ledger accounting and financial statements, including operating expenses, payroll‐related costs, and variable compensation.* Demonstrated experience owning multiple areas of the close and improving processes, controls, and reporting quality.* Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with large data sets.* Excellent analytical and problem‐solving skills with high attention to detail and strong ownership mindset.* Strong communication skills; able to explain complex compensation plans and accounting conclusions clearly to diverse stakeholders.* Ability to thrive in a fast‐paced, high‐growth environment and adapt to changing priorities.* Highly productive self‐starter with a strong work ethic, curiosity, and dedication to excellence.**Workday Pay Transparency Statement**The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things. For more information regarding Workday’s comprehensive benefits, please click here.Primary Location: USA.CA.PleasantonPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $145,000 USD - $217,400 USDAdditional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $122,400 USD - $217,400 USD