Assistant Controller

Handshake
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience in high-growth environments and leading teams. This role is suited for candidates with a background in complex financial processes and a history of working with accounting systems like NetSuite, in the San Francisco area.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in building processes from the ground up in high-growth companies
    — “proven ability to build processes from the ground up
  • Individuals with Big-4 experience and leadership in accounting teams
    — “experience at a Big-4 accounting firm
  • Professionals with technical accounting expertise and a track record in M&A integration
    — “integrate recent M&A activity into accounting systems and structure

Things to consider

  • This role requires a high degree of autonomy and initiative in ambiguous settings
    — “comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment
  • The role demands deep integration with AI-native tools and systems
    — “standing up a new AI-native close management tool

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in automating month-end close processes with NetSuite
    — “NetSuite experience, with knowledge of accounting systems supporting month close
  • Emphasize your leadership in driving process improvements and team development
    — “Build and develop the accounting team, coaching and mentoring staff
  • Demonstrate your ability to influence cross-functional teams on complex accounting topics
    — “ability to drive consensus across cross-functional teams and influence decision-making
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • owned month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting
  • led the rollout of a new AI-native close management tool
  • integrated recent M&A activity into accounting systems
Typical background
8+ years of relevant experience in high-growth, complex environmentsCPA designation

Skills & requirements

Required

General AccountingMonth-end CloseConsolidationFinancial ReportingAccounting SystemsPeople Leadership

Preferred

Ai-native Close Management ToolM&A Integration

Stack & domain

CPAFinanceAccounting

About the role

Original posting from Handshake via Ashby

ABOUT HANDSHAKE

Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.

In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We've grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.

Why join Handshake now:

  • Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
  • Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world's top educational institutions
  • Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
  • Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance, the Assistant Controller owns general accounting — month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting — for a rapidly growing company, including two initiatives that will define the role's first stretch: standing up a new AI-native close management tool and integrating recent M&A activity into close management and procure-to-pay. You'll thrive here if you're comfortable operating in ambiguous, ever-changing environments and building process where little exists today.

  • Own month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting, including treasury, foreign subsidiaries, and inter-company transactions, to keep the business on accurate, audit-ready footing
  • Lead the rollout of a new AI-native close management tool, driving better automation across NetSuite and the broader close process
  • Integrate recent M&A activity into accounting systems and structure, combining technical accounting work with operational transition across close management and procure-to-pay
  • Build and develop the accounting team, coaching and mentoring staff while partnering closely with FP&A, Payroll, and HR on complex accounting treatment

YOU HAVE

  • 8+ years of relevant experience in high-growth, complex environments, ideally with a combination of experience at a Big-4 accounting firm
  • 3+ years of relevant experience as a people leader
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (or equivalent)
  • CPA designation, or internationally recognized equivalent, and strong knowledge of US GAAP
  • NetSuite experience, with knowledge of accounting systems supporting month close, reporting, general ledger, and procurement
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to drive consensus across cross-functional teams and influence decision-making
  • Exceptional problem-solving and ownership, with a highly analytical, inquisitive work style and strong attention to detail — proven ability to build processes from the ground up
  • Comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment

Bonus Points:

  • IPO readiness experience

WE OFFER

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching

🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching

💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend

📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development

💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office

🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days

🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers http://joinhandshake.com/careers.

Source: Handshake careers (Ashby)

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