Controller

AfterQuery•San Francisco, CA

17h•$220,000 - $250,000•Onsite

About The Position

AfterQuery is an applied research lab that curates data solutions for foundation model development, serving frontier AI labs. The company is based in San Francisco and is backed by leading investors and technology-industry angels. The Controller will be AfterQuery’s first accounting hire and report to the Head of Finance & Accounting. This hands-on role owns the accounting close, revenue recognition, cost matching, and the company’s first external audit. The Controller will select and implement an AI-forward ERP and build the accounting function and its workflows from the ground up. Initially, the role is the only in-house accounting position and works with a fractional accounting team; the function and team are expected to grow as the company grows. A prior Controller title is not required. The role includes establishing accrual-basis US GAAP financials, audit-ready controls and documentation, and AI-enabled accounting automation with appropriate review controls. It also supports the company through tax compliance and planning, board reporting, contract review, and partnership with Revenue Operations and People on expert payments and payroll.

Requirements

Have built automation that replaced accounting work and be able to quantify its results.
Have ASC 606 experience; services or usage-based revenue and acceptance terms are preferred.
Exercise independent judgment on accounting policy and document it in memos that hold up with auditors.
Have cost accounting experience, including cost matching for a contractor or expert workforce.
Have hands-on experience running a monthly close end to end.
Have a Big Four audit foundation and hands-on industry experience.
Be able to build processes from a blank page and put them into operation without slowing the company down.
Demonstrate high ownership, low ego, and comfort with direct feedback; remain accountable for both monthly accounting work and longer-term development.
Be comfortable working five days per week in the San Francisco office.

Nice To Haves

Experience on the company side of an audit.
ERP selection or implementation experience, ideally with an AI-forward system.
Income tax provision (ASC 740) or corporate tax experience.
SQL, Python, BigQuery, or Claude Code experience.
CPA.

Responsibilities

Own the general ledger and the monthly close end to end, including reconciliations and journal entry review.
Own revenue recognition under ASC 606 for large, non-recurring contracts with acceptance terms.
Tie out revenue and costs from delivery and billing data to the ledger.
Define cost of goods sold, variable costs, and cost matching, including expert and contractor payments and inference costs.
Direct the fractional accounting team on operational accounting, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash, and equity.
Own stock-based compensation accounting and coordinate 409A work with external valuation specialists.
Lead the transition to accrual-basis US GAAP financials and the company’s first external audit.
Build the controls and evidence required for the first audit.
Document material accounting judgments in policies and memos.
Automate the close using AI and agentic workflows, with review controls to maintain auditability.
Evaluate AI-forward ERP options and own the ERP implementation.
Set the roadmap for whether work should be automated, outsourced to a vendor, or handled through additional headcount.
Own tax compliance with external tax advisors, including federal and state filings, estimated payments, and contractor information reporting.
Own the income tax provision and support tax planning, including credits and incentives.
Prepare monthly financial statements and the accounting package for the board.
Review non-standard contracts with Commercial Legal and Sales before signing.
Partner with Revenue Operations and People on expert payments and payroll.
Build the accounting team as the function grows.
Advise founders on the accounting impact of deals and decisions before they are made.