Technical Accounting Lead - AI

Vaco by Highspring; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Technical Accounting Lead in the San Francisco Bay Area. This hybrid role centers on owning technical accounting initiatives, guiding complex analyses, and supporting critical close activities in collaboration with Finance, Legal, Operations, and external advisors.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of accounting experience, CPA, and deep U.S. GAAP knowledge. You will help build scalable processes to support growth and engage in audits and policy documentation.

Qualifications

• CPA credential required.
• 8+ years of accounting experience in either public accounting or industry.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across U.S. GAAP topics such as revenue recognition, leases, stock-based compensation, software capitalization, consolidations, and business combinations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical accounting initiatives and partner cross-functionally to implement accounting policies, conclusions, and related processes.
• Own accounting and close activities related to infrastructure investments, prepaid expenses, leases, fixed assets, and other significant cost areas.
• Research, document, and support technical accounting positions across revenue recognition, leases, stock-based compensation, software capitalization, business combinations, consolidations, and other U.S. GAAP topics.
• Review and assess customer contracts, vendor agreements, and other complex business arrangements to determine appropriate accounting treatment.
• Support monthly close processes through journal entries, reconciliations, account analyses, and technical accounting reviews.
• Partner with operational teams to develop scalable controls, reporting processes, and accounting workflows.
• Support external audits and prepare technical accounting memoranda, policy documentation, and audit-ready support schedules.
• Drive process improvements, automation efforts, and accounting infrastructure enhancements to support organizational growth.

Skills

CPA

GAAP knowledge

External audits

Communication

Finance/Accounting

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance

Job description

Technical Accounting Lead

Our client, a high-growth technology company, is seeking a Technical Accounting Lead to support a rapidly expanding finance organization.

Location

This role is hybrid, with an expectation of four days per week in-office in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Job Description

This highly visible role will own key technical accounting initiatives, complex accounting analyses, and critical close activities while partnering closely with Finance, Legal, Operations, Procurement, and external advisors. The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex accounting challenges, and can help build scalable processes to support continued growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical accounting initiatives and partner cross-functionally to implement accounting policies, conclusions, and related processes
• Own accounting and close activities related to infrastructure investments, prepaid expenses, leases, fixed assets, and other significant cost areas
• Research, document, and support technical accounting positions across revenue recognition, leases, stock-based compensation, software capitalization, business combinations, consolidations, and other U.S. GAAP topics
• Review and assess customer contracts, vendor agreements, and other complex business arrangements to determine appropriate accounting treatment
• Support monthly close processes through journal entries, reconciliations, account analyses, and technical accounting reviews
• Partner with operational teams to develop scalable controls, reporting processes, and accounting workflows
• Support external audits and prepare technical accounting memoranda, policy documentation, and audit-ready support schedules
• Drive process improvements, automation efforts, and accounting infrastructure enhancements to support organizational growth

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required
• 8+ years of accounting experience, including a combination of public accounting and industry experience
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across U.S. GAAP, including revenue recognition, leases, stock-based compensation, software capitalization, consolidations, and business combinations
• Experience supporting external audits and preparing technical accounting documentation and accounting memoranda
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex accounting matters to non-finance stakeholders
• Experience in a high-growth technology, software, cloud infrastructure, or similarly complex environment preferred

Compensation

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors, including but not limited to:

• The individual's skill sets, experience, and training;
• Licensure and certifications;
• Office location and other geographic considerations;
• Other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco by Highspring notes that the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).