Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting

State Affairs•Washington, DC

1d•$165,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

State Affairs is a news and policy intelligence platform focused on state governments, combining nonpartisan Statehouse coverage, government data, and AI-native tools. It is a multi-entity, acquisitive, venture-backed company seeking a technical accounting leader to own end-to-end GAAP financial reporting and build a fast, audit-ready close process. The Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting reports to the VP Finance & Operations and works onsite at the Washington, DC office five days per week. The Director owns consolidated reporting across the company’s entities, technical accounting for complex transactions, accounting operations, internal controls, audit and tax coordination, cash and liquidity reporting, and accounting systems. The role also applies AI and automation to improve the close and reporting, leads accounting workstreams for fundraising and M&A diligence, and hires, leads, and develops the accounting team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field.
Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
At least 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in audit at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm.
Hands-on financial reporting experience, including preparing GAAP financial statements and running the monthly close.
Deep technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 606 revenue recognition for subscription or recurring-revenue businesses, business combinations (ASC 805), and consolidation (ASC 810).
Ability to write technical accounting memos that hold up in audit.
Knowledge of internal controls, audit readiness, and multi-state tax compliance.
Demonstrated use of AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT to automate finance work, with examples to discuss; the posting describes AI as core infrastructure for the close.
Skills with cloud accounting and ERP systems; NetSuite is strongly preferred.
Ability to explain financial results clearly to people outside finance, including executives and board members.
Ability to manage competing deadlines accurately and handle confidential information with discretion.
Track record of leading and developing accounting teams, including distributed or offshore staff, and building processes across departments in a fast-moving environment.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future company sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Professional work experience at a venture-backed startup, media company, or SaaS business.
Experience at a multi-entity, acquisitive company, including integrating acquired entities’ books and systems.
Experience with NetSuite (multi-subsidiary), Chargebee, Rippling, Ramp, Anrok, and Carta.

Responsibilities

Own the month-end and year-end close across all entities and deliver accurate, on-time consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and board packages for the executive team, board, and investors.
Lead revenue recognition under ASC 606 for subscription, events, and advertising revenue, including deferred revenue schedules and contract reviews.
Own technical accounting for complex transactions, including acquisitions under ASC 805, purchase price allocation, goodwill and intangibles, joint ventures, and multi-entity consolidation with intercompany eliminations.
Build, document, and maintain internal controls, accounting policies, and close procedures.
Manage the annual audit, technical accounting memos, audit support, and tax filings with outside auditors and tax advisors, including multi-state sales/use and income tax compliance.
Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including AP, AR, billing, collections, payroll accounting, expense management, and fixed assets.
Deliver timely actuals and flux analysis to FP&A and explain results and trends to department heads.
Manage cash, track liquidity, maintain banking relationships, and prepare lender covenant compliance reporting.
Use AI and automation to shorten the close and scale reporting, improve finance systems, and maintain clean data across sales and operations tools.
Own equity and stock compensation accounting, support 409A valuations, and lead accounting workstreams in fundraising and M&A diligence.
Hire, lead, and develop the accounting team and manage outside accounting partners.