The Role
The Senior Manager will lead Accounting Operations, overseeing accounts payable, payroll, and compliance while improving processes and managing staff development.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised nearly $3 billion in capital, making us the largest and leading private fusion company in the world.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement Senior Manager, Accounting Operations
The Senior Manager, Accounting Operations will own Accounting Operations across accounts payable, payroll, expense reporting, and state filing compliance. This role will serve as the manager-level owner for issue triage, escalation handling, process discipline, staff development, and cross-functional coordination across expense reporting, procure-to-pay, and payroll workflows. The role is structural in nature: it creates one clear owner for work that is currently fragmented across staff, consultants, and senior accounting leadership, reducing operational bottlenecks and helping the Accounting organization scale as CFS grows.
What you'll do:
- Lead the Accounting Operations function for a rapidly growing organization, including AP, payroll, expense reporting, and state filing compliance
- Serve as the first-line manager-level owner for operational accounting issue triage, escalation handling, root-cause follow-up, and process discipline
- Manage and develop the AP, payroll, expense reporting, and state filing compliance team; build role clarity, cross-training, backup coverage, and accountability
- Oversee accounts payable operations, including invoice processing, vendor bill flow, payment preparation, vendor-related issue resolution, and adherence to procure-to-pay processes
- Partner with Supply Chain, FP&A, and Buyers on PO creation, PO management, receiving discipline, buyer/category accuracy, invoice flow, and process improvement
- Oversee payroll operations in partnership with People Ops, including timelines, controls, handoffs, issue resolution, and backup coverage
- Own expense reporting and corporate card process compliance, including policy adherence, approval discipline, supporting documentation, and issue resolution
- Own state filing compliance execution, including filing calendars, registrations, external provider coordination, documentation, and timely completion of required deliverables
- Partner with ERP/IT and business process owners to identify workflow gaps, improve Odoo-enabled processes, support automation, and strengthen transaction traceability
- Document key operating procedures, create scalable SOPs and training materials, and ensure process changes are communicated and adopted across impacted functions
- Monitor operational accounting metrics and recurring issues to identify trends, reduce rework, and improve processing accuracy and cycle time
- Support monthly close activities related to AP, payroll, expenses, accruals, payments, and compliance areas, ensuring activities are completed timely and accurately
- Support internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance activities related to AP, payroll, expense reporting, and state filings
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Accounting or similar field preferred
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant accounting, accounting operations, or finance operations experience
- Minimum of 5 years of supervisory, team lead, or process-owner experience in a finance/accounting environment
- Hands-on experience with AP, payroll coordination, expense reporting, state filing compliance, or related operational accounting workflows
- Demonstrated experience improving processes, resolving operational bottlenecks, documenting procedures, and driving accountability across functions
- Experience working cross-functionally with teams such as Supply Chain, FP&A, People Ops/HR, ERP/IT, operations, or procurement
- Strong process ownership, issue triage, prioritization, and root-cause problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage ambiguity, create structure, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication skills and ability to partner with non-accounting stakeholders while maintaining compliance and control discipline
- People leadership, coaching, staff development, and accountability management
- Strong Excel and ERP fluency; ability to use data to identify exceptions, trends, and process gaps
Bonus points for:
- Experience in a high-growth, manufacturing, R&D, project-based, or operationally complex environment
- Experience with Odoo or similar ERP systems
- Experience managing external providers for state filings, compliance, payroll support, or related services
- Experience with corporate card programs, travel and expense systems, procure-to-pay workflows, or payroll systems
- CPA, CPP, or other relevant professional certification
- Experience building SOPs, training materials, controls documentation, and audit-ready support
Must-have Requirements:
- Perform extended activities such as typing, standing, sitting, walking, etc.
- Occasional nights/weekends/on-call may be required during payroll processing, month-end close, audit, compliance deadlines, system issues, or urgent operational escalations.
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
#LI-Onsite
At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.
This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Accounting or similar field
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant accounting, accounting operations, or finance operations experience
- Minimum of 5 years of supervisory, team lead, or process-owner experience in a finance/accounting environment
- Hands-on experience with AP, payroll coordination, expense reporting, state filing compliance, or related operational accounting workflows
- Demonstrated experience improving processes, resolving operational bottlenecks, documenting procedures, and driving accountability across functions
- Strong communication skills and ability to partner with non-accounting stakeholders while maintaining compliance and control discipline
- People leadership, coaching, staff development, and accountability management
- Strong Excel and ERP fluency; ability to use data to identify exceptions, trends, and process gaps
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The Company
What We Do
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy. CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. CFS is now building SPARC, the world's first commercially relevant, net energy fusion demonstration device. SPARC will pave the way for the first fusion power plant, ARC, that will produce power on the grid. The ultimate mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. If you are interested in joining our team, check out cfs.energy/careers for more information.
