Accounting Manager

Handshake•San Francisco, CA

17d

About The Position

As an Accounting Manager at Handshake, you’ll take ownership of critical components of our general ledger and month-end close. This role is ideal for someone who genuinely enjoys the functional craft of accounting—reconciling accounts, preparing journal entries, refining processes—and wants to pair that with management and influence. You’ll report to the Assistant Controller and partner closely across AP, FP&A, and Revenue, and ensure our financials are precise, timely, and built for both internal and external stakeholders. You’ll also help build the processes, controls, and systems that let us scale with confidence—keeping us SOX- and audit-ready while balancing pace with precision as the company grows.

Requirements

6+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on ownership of GL and close activities in a high-growth or multi-entity environment
Robust US GAAP knowledge with experience in month-end close, consolidations, and reconciliations—ideally within a technology or SaaS company
Experience applying accounting guidance in areas like ASC 340 and ASC 842
A track record of improving close processes—shortening timelines, increasing accuracy, and strengthening controls
Experience partnering with FP&A and business leaders to explain results, address issues, and translate accounting impacts into business terms
Comfort operating as a hands-on individual contributor while providing clear guidance to remote contractors or external partners
A systems-first mindset (ERP and related tools), with the ability to design and optimize workflows, documentation, and controls
Top-notch communication skills and the ability to operate in a dynamic, evolving environment without losing the thread on quality

Nice To Haves

Experience with NetSuite or another modern cloud ERP
CPA (active or inactive) and/or public accounting experience (Big 4 or similar)
Background in SaaS revenue, equity accounting, or complex consolidations
Experience collaborating with accounting teams in other countries or with offshore/shared-service centers.
Experience implementing or optimizing an ERP or close-management tool

Responsibilities

Handle key tasks in the monthly and quarterly financial closing processes. Write journal entries, reconcile accounts, analyze variances, and prepare reports. Take charge of managing cash, property, equipment, and consolidated reports.
Apply proficient working knowledge of ASC 340 (Deferred Contract Acquisition Costs) and ASC 842 (Leases) to ensure consistent, GAAP-compliant accounting with well-supported documentation
Assist in the preparation of financial statements and management reporting, giving leaders clear visibility into performance
Support annual audits and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal filing requirements while maintaining impeccable controls and documentation
Partner with accounting teams globally to deliver high-quality, on-time work across entities and jurisdictions
Identify and implement improvements to accounting processes, workflows, and controls to boost efficiency, scalability, and audit readiness
Jump into special projects and ad hoc analyses as the business evolves, bringing structure and clarity to new problem spaces