Fast Facts

Handshake is seeking an Accounting Lead to oversee general ledger management and month-end close processes in a high-growth environment, with a focus on compliance and financial reporting.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include managing monthly and quarterly closing processes, preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and contributing to audits and financial statements.

Skills: Candidates must have 6+ years of accounting experience, knowledge of US GAAP, and proficiency in ASC 340 and ASC 842, alongside exceptional communication skills.

Qualifications: A CPA designation or public accounting experience is preferred; experience with NetSuite or ERP systems and SaaS revenue is desirable.

Location: The position is based in San Francisco, California, United States and is hybrid.

Compensation: $120000 - $150000 / Annually

Fast Facts

Handshake is seeking an Accounting Lead to oversee key components of the general ledger and month-end close processes within a high-growth environment. This role involves managing financial reporting and compliance while optimizing accounting processes and controls.

Responsibilities: Manage monthly and quarterly closing processes, write journal entries, reconcile accounts, and prepare reports. Ensure compliance with accounting standards and contribute to audits and financial statement preparation.

Skills: 6+ years of accounting experience, knowledge of US GAAP, proficiency with ASC 340 and ASC 842, and strong communication skills. Experience with accounting in high-growth tech or SaaS environments is preferred.

Qualifications: CPA or experience in public accounting is a plus. Experience with NetSuite or ERP systems and a background in SaaS revenue is also desirable.

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Compensation: $120000 - $150000 / Annually

About Handshake

Handshake is building the career network for the AI economy, backed by the largest and most trusted job network on the internet. As the only three-sided job marketplace connecting 18 million knowledge workers, 1,500 educational institutions, and 1 million employers, Handshake powers career discovery, hiring, and upskilling—from first internships to full-time roles, freelance work to gig work, and beyond.

Founded in 2014, we’ve built the most trusted platform for early talent—owning the college-to-career market and powering nearly every career center. Today we’re building on that foundation to help students and early professionals upskill or reskill for the future.

Now’s a great time to join Handshake. Here’s why:

• Category Leader: Over 92% coverage across US universities & 77% of total US university student population.
• Proven Market Demand: Deep employer partnerships across Fortune 500s and the world’s leading AI research labs.
• World-Class Team: Leadership from Scale AI, Open AI, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, just to name a few.
• Capitalized & Scaling: $434M raised with a $175M+ run rate.

About the Role

As an Accounting Lead 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.

• 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

Desired Capabilities

• 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

Extra Credit

• 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

Perks

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching

🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching

💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, wellness stipend

📚 Growth: Learning stipend, ongoing development

💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office

🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days

🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.