Watershed is a software platform for running a world-class climate program. We measure our success in the carbon reduction achievements of our customers. We are looking for team members who love product-building, want to work hard at a mission-oriented startup, and will collaborate with us in shaping the culture of a growing team.
We have offices in San Francisco, New York and London and remote team members across the US and Europe. We hope that you'll be interested in joining us!
The role
The role: The Senior Accounting Manager will be a critical leader within Watershed’s finance team and the founding member of our accounting organization. You will be instrumental in building and scaling our accounting and financial operations, implementing best practices, and ensuring the integrity of our financial reporting. This role will be crucial in providing strategic financial insights that drive the company’s continued growth and success. You will oversee the development and implementation of key internal and financial controls, manage the monthly and quarterly close processes, and ensure compliance with state and corporate tax requirements. Your leadership and expertise will be essential as we navigate rapid growth and prepare for a potential transition from a private to public company.
You should have an owner’s mentality and be passionate about building and scaling functions from the ground up. You should also have a track record as an excellent collaborator and communicator. This role will be based in our San Francisco HQ.
You will:
- Oversee all aspects of corporate and technical accounting and reporting, including general ledger management, international accounting and consolidations. This includes managing relationships with external accounting consultants and advisors.
- Lead the financial close process, ensuring the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements are accurate, complete, and compliant with U.S. GAAP and company policies.
- Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors, coordinating and managing financial audit processes and preparing audit schedules where required.
- Develop and implement robust internal controls. Identify and drive process improvements and efficiencies to streamline operations and enhance the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting.
- Stay current with and implement new accounting standards and regulatory requirements as the business evolves, ensuring Watershed remains compliant and well-positioned for future growth.
- Work closely with the broader finance team to analyze financial results, support budgeting and forecasting processes, and provide insights that inform strategic decision-making.
- Oversee the management of accounting systems and tools, ensuring successful integration with other business platforms and adding capabilities to improve productivity, accuracy, and control as needed.
- Collaborate with key departments (e.g., RevOps, Legal, People/HR) to scale company-wide systems and processes, with a focus on meeting the stringent requirements of a public company over time.
- Lead, develop, and mentor a growing accounting team, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and high performance.
You might be a fit if you have:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. CPA license required (inactive status considered).
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a managerial role. A combination of “Big 4” public accounting and industry experience is highly preferred.
- Strong foundation in technical accounting (US GAAP) and financial reporting, including demonstrated proficiency in ASC 606/revenue recognition, entity establishment and consolidations, acquisitions, purchase price accounting, and other complex technical accounting areas.
- Advanced proficiency in accounting software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP) and Excel. Experience implementing new finance and accounting systems to support scaling is a plus.
- Proven track record in managing and scaling accounting operations within a high-growth private or public technology company, preferably in the enterprise SaaS space.
- Extensive experience in developing and implementing internal controls, and establishing accounting policies, procedures, and best practices that scale to public company standards.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide actionable insights in an innovative, fast-paced, and rapidly evolving environment.
- Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing global accounting teams, particularly in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Ability to present financial information clearly and concisely to both financial and non-financial stakeholders
At Watershed, we strive to design consistent, fair, and competitive compensation programs. The total cash compensation range may be inclusive of several levels at Watershed and final offer will be determined by a number of factors, including the candidate’s skills, capabilities, and location, as well as scope of the role.
The anticipated cash compensation range is in addition to a total rewards benefit package including equity, health/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), unlimited paid time off, paid parental leave, fertility, and mental health programs etc.
Salary Range
$180,000—$225,000 USD
Where does Watershed work?
We have hub offices in San Francisco, New York and London, and some remote team members in the US and EU. Most of our jobs need to be in San Francisco / New York / London, but certain jobs are open to being remote and will be specifically noted on the jobs page and in the job description.
What’s the interview process like?
It starts the same for every candidate: getting to know the team members through 1 to 2 conversations about Watershed, your experience, and your interests. Next steps can vary by role, but usual next steps are a skill or experience screen (e.g. a coding interview for an engineer, a portfolio review for a designer, deeper experience call for other roles) which leads to a virtual or in person interview panel after that if the screens go well. We prioritize transparency and lack of surprise throughout the process.
What We Do
Watershed is the enterprise climate platform. Leading companies like Walmart, Stripe, Spotify, Klarna, and Twitter use Watershed's software to measure, reduce, and report their carbon emissions. With its state-of-the-art carbon data engine, in-house climate experts, and marketplace of high-quality decarbonization initiatives, Watershed provides audit-grade emissions data to power business value creation, regulatory compliance, and global climate impact. Watershed’s advisors and investors include Mark Carney, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Sequoia, and Kleiner Perkins. Watershed is based in San Francisco, Calif., and London, U.K.
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