Revenue Recognition Director

Synopsys Inc; Canonsburg (Washington County); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Synopsys Inc. is seeking a Director of Revenue Recognition to lead a global center of excellence ensuring ASC 606 compliance for software, IP, and services.

You will partner with Sales, Contracts, and Order Management, defend positions with Big 4 auditors, and drive automation and process improvements across the quote-to-cash cycle. You will manage a team across time zones, build scalable solutions, and align revenue practices with corporate strategy during a time of ERP upgrades and

Qualifications

• CPA certification or MBA/postgraduate degree in business.
• Public accounting or advisory experience with Big 4 is a strong plus.
• Hands-on knowledge of ASC 606 and software revenue recognition principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the revenue recognition team to ensure ASC 606 compliance across software, IP, and services agreements.
• Structure deal terms with Sales, Contracts, and Order Management to defend revenue positions.
• Prepare quarterly revenue recognition packages with documentation for external auditors.

Skills

ASC 606 knowledge

Revenue recognition

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Auditor liaison

Education

CPA certification

MBA or postgraduate business degree

Tools

Oracle ERP

SAP (revenue/billing/AR)

Salesforce

Job description

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent years in the weeds of revenue recognition, and you know that ASC 606 is not just a compliance checkbox, it is the framework that determines whether a quarter closes clean or becomes a scramble. You have sat across the table from Big 4 auditors and walked them through your position with documentation so tight they had nothing left to ask. You think in terms of contract structure, not just accounting entries, and you can spot a revenue issue in a deal before it gets to order management.

You are comfortable leading a team while still being hands-on when a complex M&A contract lands on your desk or a sales rep needs guidance on how to structure terms that actually work. You do not wait for someone else to build the process, you see the gap, you build the solution, and you bring the team along with you. Managing a center of excellence across time zones does not intimidate you, it energizes you because you know how to scale expertise without losing quality.

At Synopsys, you will find a finance organization that values precision, a business that moves quickly, and a role where your work directly impacts how we close, forecast, and grow.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead a team responsible for ensuring all revenue recognition complies with ASC 606 across software, semiconductor IP, and services contracts
• Partner directly with Sales, Contracts, Order Management, and Revenue Accounting to structure deal terms that support accurate and defensible revenue positions
• Prepare quarterly revenue recognition packages and present your positions to external auditors, including Big 4 firms, with full documentation and justification
• Own the revenue accounting close process and ensure all associated controls are executed and documented properly
• Review M&A contracts and prepare revenue impact assessments and integration plans for acquired businesses
• Document and update Synopsys policies and procedures to reflect evolving ASC 606 guidance and business model changes
• Build and manage a center of excellence team in an overseas location, scaling capability while maintaining quality and consistency across geographies

The Impact You Will Have

• Your guidance on contract structure will prevent revenue recognition issues before deals are signed, saving time and reducing audit risk
• The quarterly packages you prepare will give auditors confidence and leadership clarity on our revenue position
• Your process improvements and automation efforts, including AI tools and agents, will reduce manual work and increase accuracy across the quote-to-cash cycle
• The training you deliver to Sales, Contracts, and Order Administration will raise the baseline understanding of revenue recognition across the company
• Your leadership of the center of excellence will expand our capacity to handle growing transaction volume without adding headcount in every geography
• Your revenue forecasting inputs will help Sales Planning and Finance make better decisions on pipeline, bookings, and guidance
• The policies and controls you document will create a repeatable, auditable framework that scales as the company grows

What You'll Need

Education & Credentials:

• You hold a CPA certification or a postgraduate degree in business (MBA, MAcc, or equivalent)
• You bring Big-4 public accounting or advisory experience—a strong plus for this role

Technical Expertise:

• You have deep, hands–on knowledge of ASC 606 and software revenue recognition principles
• You're proficient in end-to-end Quote-to-Cash processes and the systems that support them—particularly Oracle, SAP (and their revenue/billing/AR modules), and Salesforce
• You've worked in the software and/or semiconductor industry (highly preferred)

Experience & Skills:

• You bring 10+ years of progressive experience in revenue accounting or technical accounting roles
• You have a proven track record preparing and defending revenue recognition positions with external auditors
• You excel at reviewing complex contracts and translating terms into accurate revenue treatment
• You're a strong analytical thinker with exceptional attention to detail
• You communicate clearly and confidently across all levels—from sales teams to executives to auditors
• You thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and can juggle multiple priorities without missing a beat

Leadership

• You have experience leading, developing, and expanding teams—including remote or offshore resources
• You're a natural collaborator who can influence cross-functional partners without direct authority
• You're passionate about process improvement, automation, and building scalable solutions (bonus if you've worked with AI/analytics tools)

Who You Are

• You can review a contract with multiple deliverables, variable pricing, and renewal terms and walk out with a clear revenue position in 20 minutes
• You know how to explain a technical ASC 606 position to a sales leader in a way that makes sense without oversimplifying the accounting
• You are the person who sees a manual process that takes your team three days every quarter and figures out how to automate it or eliminate it entirely
• You are comfortable managing a team across time zones, and you know how to build capability in people without micromanaging every decision
• You do not wait for perfect information to make a call, you assess the risk, document your rationale, and move forward with confidence
• You push back when a contract structure creates unnecessary complexity or audit risk, and you offer a better alternative

The Team You'll Be A Part Of

You'll join Synopsys' Corporate Finance team, specifically within the Revenue Accounting & Recognition Center of Excellence. This team is the backbone of financial integrity for the company's complex software, semiconductor IP, and EDA licensing business. Your mission: ensure every deal is structured, recognized, and reported in full compliance with ASC 606—while enabling the business to move fast and scale globally.

This is a pivotal moment for the team: we're integrating the recent ANSYS acquisition, preparing for a major ERP upgrade, and building out our offshore center of excellence. You'll work closely with Sales, Contracts, Legal, Order Management, FP&A, and External Auditors—serving as the go-to expert who bridges commercial strategy and accounting precision.

As Director, you'll lead a team of 3–4 revenue recognition professionals (local and overseas), drive automation and process improvement initiatives, and play a key role in shaping how Synopsys scales its revenue operations for the future.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non‑monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.