Senior Accountant, Finance

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative•Redwood City, CA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is seeking a Senior Accountant to join its Finance team. The Finance team is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of financial information across CZI, Biohub, and Learning Commons. They are building a world-class accounting function and aim to maximize systems like Workday and Salesforce, while leveraging AI to streamline processes and deliver high-quality reporting. This role will report to the Director of Accounting Close & Consolidation and will be instrumental in preparing and reviewing month-end close transactions, including payroll, cash, accruals, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, leases, intercompany payables/receivables, AP, and T&E accruals. Familiarity with a multi-entity organization is preferred. In addition to month-end close responsibilities, the Senior Accountant will assist with internal reporting, process documentation, accounting memorandums, and audit support. The role requires familiarity with and the ability to troubleshoot ERP software, with Workday experience being a plus. Collaboration with various internal teams (FP&A, Accounting Operations, Payroll, Corporate Accounting, Legal, Facilities, IT) and external partners is essential. The ideal candidate will have experience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, be comfortable with creating new processes, and ideally have experience from a top public accounting firm and the tech industry or another fast-paced, high-growth industry. A CPA license is required. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, experience in independent project management, and demonstrated experience using AI tools in a professional accounting context. CZI is looking for someone who is intellectually curious and eager to leverage AI and automation to improve close processes.

Requirements

5+ years of relevant accounting experience
CPA license required (active or inactive)
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP
Intellectual curiosity and the ability to ask thoughtful, probing questions
Experience operating in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with competing priorities
A collaborative approach and experience partnering cross-functionally
Experience with month-end close activities, detailed review and analysis
Strong excel skills, ability to prepare complex formulas, pivot tables, etc.
Demonstrated experience using AI tools in a professional accounting context—such as AI-assisted reconciliations, automated journal entry support, or AI-powered analytics
Experience in independent project management and be able to execute a project from start to finish

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with a multi-entity organization is preferred
Experience with Workday is a plus but not required
Experience at a top public accounting firm
Additional experience with month-end close in the tech industry or another fast-paced, high-growth industry
Genuine interest in continuing to leverage AI and automation to improve close processes

Responsibilities

Prepare complex journal entries and reconciliations for multiple entities, manage detailed workbooks and perform analytics, detailed review of month-end transactions
Assist with review and maintenance of general ledger and month-end journal entries; help monitor accuracy and compliance with GAAP and accounting regulations
Leverage Workday, Salesforce, and other systems—including AI-powered tools—to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of month-end close and reporting processes
Identify opportunities to automate repetitive accounting workflows using AI or scripting, and partner with IT/BST to implement them