Head of Accounting Policy

Anthropic•San Francisco, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Anthropic is growing quickly, and the transactions we enter into are often unlike anything the accounting literature directly contemplates. We're hiring a senior leader to own accounting policy and technical accounting. In this role, you will be the company's authority on how we account for what we do: usage-based and enterprise revenue arrangements, large compute and infrastructure transactions, complex financing and equity instruments, and M&A and investment activity. You'll build the technical accounting function from a strong foundation into one that operates at public-company grade — establishing the whitepaper and position-memo discipline that lets us take well-supported positions on novel, first-of-kind transactions, defend them with our external auditors (including their national office), and be ready for public-company-grade reporting when the company needs it. This is a high-judgment, high-trust role. You'll work closely with the Controller and CFO organization, Legal, Tax, and deal teams across the company, and you'll often be the first accountant in the room when a new kind of transaction is being designed.

Requirements

Active CPA license
Public accounting tenure at a top firm that reached at least Director, Managing Director, or Partner — or national office Senior Manager selected into the SEC's Professional Accounting Fellow program
Deep US GAAP expertise and strong command of SEC reporting requirements
Experience leading a technical accounting and/or accounting policy function at a high-growth technology company
Demonstrated ability to research, conclude, and document positions on complex and novel accounting issues, and to defend them with external auditors
Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain complex accounting matters to non-accountants and senior leadership

Nice To Haves

15+ years of combined experience across public accounting and industry
Service at the US Securities and Exchange Commission — in particular, the Office of the Chief Accountant's Professional Accounting Fellow (PAF) program (an approximately two-year fellowship), or comparable senior SEC staff roles such as Associate Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant or senior roles in the Division of Corporation Finance
FASB, EITF, or other standard-setting exposure (task force membership, fellowships, or substantive comment-letter and liaison work)
Public speaking on technical accounting topics, such as remarks at the AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments or similar venues
National office experience at a major firm (accounting standards, accounting consultation, or professional practice groups)
Experience preparing a private company for public-company-grade reporting

Responsibilities

Own the company's accounting policy framework: establish, document, and maintain US GAAP accounting policies across all significant areas, and keep them current as the business and the standards evolve
Serve as the lead technical advisor on novel and first-of-kind transactions, including usage-based and enterprise revenue arrangements (ASC 606), large compute and infrastructure commitments, complex financing and equity instruments, and M&A and investments
Build and institutionalize a whitepaper and position-memo discipline: rigorous, well-cited technical memos that document the company's accounting conclusions and stand up to auditor and regulator scrutiny
Lead technical discussions with our external auditors and SEC, including engagement on complex or unsettled issues, and drive timely resolution of technical matters
Prepare the company for public-company-grade external reporting: SEC-style financial statements, disclosures, and the supporting close and reporting processes and controls
Monitor, assess, and lead adoption of new FASB standards and SEC rules, including impact assessments, implementation plans, and cross-functional execution
Partner with Legal, Tax, FP&A, and business and deal teams early in transaction design, so accounting consequences are understood — and where appropriate, shaped — before deals are signed
Advise on equity, financing, and capital-markets transactions, including the accounting for complex instruments and arrangements
Lead, and develop a high-caliber technical accounting and accounting policy team as the function scales
Support reporting to company leadership and the Audit Committee on significant accounting positions, judgments, and estimates
Help design and strengthen controls over complex-area accounting in support of a SOX-ready control environment
Represent the company externally where useful, including in comment letters and engagement with standard setters and industry groups