Strong fit for candidates with hands-on accounting leadership experience who can build systems in a fast-growing, multi-entity AI and physical sciences company.
Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.
Original posting from Periodic Labs via Ashby
About Periodic Labs
We’re an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what’s scientifically possible.
About the Role
We are hiring our first in-house Controller to own the integrity and day-to-day operation of Periodic Labs’ accounting function. You will serve as the primary internal owner of accounting, financial reporting, controls, audit readiness, and compliance. This is a hands-on builder role. You will have the opportunity to not only review and conduct accounting analysis, but also shape the overall accounting function at Periodic Labs. Over time, you will build the systems and internal team needed to support a rapidly growing, multi-entity company operating across AI, physical laboratories, and scientific R&D.
What You’ll Do
- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including the general ledger, consolidations, reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and preparation of GAAP financial statements.
- Manage daily accounting operations, build and maintain robust processes across procurement, vendor management, employee expenses, revenue, and capital expenditure management.
- Develop a close and reporting cadence that gives leadership reliable visibility into the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, working capital, and material period-over-period changes. Partner with Strategic Finance to deliver clean actuals for forecasts, runway analysis, board materials, investor reporting, and operating decisions.
- Own accounting policies and technical conclusions for areas such as leases, fixed assets and leasehold improvements, prepaid services, equity and stock-based compensation, R&D arrangements, capitalization, foreign currency, and emerging commercial agreements.
- Oversee accounting for Periodic Labs’ U.S. and international entities, including intercompany activity, statutory reporting, payroll-related obligations, and coordination of U.K., Canadian, and U.S. compliance requirements.
- Continue enhancing NetSuite functionality and its integration with supporting systems to ensure scalable, flexible reporting at the appropriate level of detail as the company grows.
- Work cross-functionally with Legal, People, Operations, Lab Operations, and technical teams to evaluate the accounting and control implications of new contracts, programs, facilities, and business models.
- Be the key point of contact with external advisors (e.g. auditors, tax advisors).
You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
- 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful ownership of an end-to-end accounting function. Experience leading or playing a central role in building up a company’s accounting team from ground up.
- An active CPA license and strong command of U.S. GAAP.
- A track record leading and managing an accounting team with clear standards and accountability.
- Deep, hands-on experience with monthly close, financial-statement preparation, balance sheet reconciliations, audit support, and internal controls.
- Strong NetSuite experience and familiarity with modern finance tools such as Ramp and Rippling.
- Experience in a rapidly growing, venture-backed company where processes, systems, and responsibilities are still being built.
- The ability to move comfortably between technical accounting questions and detailed operational work. You are willing to investigate a reconciliation, review an invoice, or write an accounting memo yourself.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain accounting issues to people without accounting backgrounds.
- High integrity, strong attention to detail, and operate with agency.
Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have
- Public-accounting experience at a Big Four or nationally recognized audit firm.
- Experience with laboratory, hardware, robotics, manufacturing, infrastructure, or other capital-intensive operations.
- Experience accounting for large cloud-compute commitments, fixed assets, construction projects, or leasehold improvements.
- Multi-entity and international accounting experience, particularly involving the U.K. or Canada.
- Familiarity with ASC 842, ASC 718, ASC 606, R&D arrangements, equity financings, and complex or nonstandard contracts.
- Experience building an accounting function or hiring and developing an internal accounting team.
- Experience building an AI-native accounting function to automate processes, improve efficiency, and accelerate the month-end close.
Mechanics
- Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
- Compensation: $250,000 - $300,00 base salary, plus equity
- Visa sponsorship: Available
Source: Periodic Labs careers (Ashby)