{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"bfd392bb3f709cf592d0dbab","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bfd392bb3f709cf592d0dbab","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bfd392bb3f709cf592d0dbab","title":"Controller","description":"About AfterQuery\n\nAfterQuery is an applied research lab curating data solutions for foundation model development. We serve every frontier AI lab with the mission of delivering the best data to power the best models. In doing so, we can make expertise that once took a lifetime to build available to anyone who needs it.\n\nOur customers are the ones building the foundation models themselves and our work sits directly in the loop of how those systems improve. This is a rare opportunity to join a company at a defining moment in AI. Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation. We're based in San Francisco and backed by leading investors including Altos Ventures, BoxGroup, and Y Combinator and angels from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Superintelligence Labs, and Microsoft AI.\n\nWhy Apply\n\nMassive Opportunity: Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation, and we're not slowing down.\n\nFounding Impact: You will own and architect core infrastructure systems that power our platform from the ground up.\n\nEquity & Growth: Competitive salary and meaningful equity. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the engineering organization and lead major technical initiatives.\n\nStrong Team: Our founding team has experience from Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, and Morgan Stanley — work alongside world-class engineers and researchers.\n\nAbout the role\n\nThis is our first accounting hire, reporting to the Head of Finance & Accounting. You will own the close, revenue recognition, cost matching and our first audit, choose the ERP, and build the accounting function AI-native from the start.\n\nThis is a hands-on role for someone who wants to get into the weeds and build. You start as the only in-house accountant, working with our fractional accounting team, and grow the team as the function grows. A prior Controller title is not required. We weigh what you have built over the titles you have held.\n\nWhat you'll do\n\nOwn the books\n\nOwn the general ledger and the monthly close end to end, including reconciliations and journal entry review.\n\nOwn revenue recognition under ASC 606 for large, non-recurring contracts with acceptance terms.\n\nOwn the revenue and cost tie-out from delivery and billing data to the ledger.\n\nDefine cost of goods sold, variable costs and cost matching, including expert and contractor payments and inference.\n\nDirect the fractional accounting team on operational accounting, including AR, AP, cash and equity.\n\nOwn stock-based compensation accounting and 409A coordination with external valuation specialists.\n\nMake the numbers audit-ready\n\nLead the move to accrual-basis US GAAP financials and our first external audit.\n\nBuild the controls and evidence a first audit requires.\n\nDocument material accounting judgments in policies and memos.\n\nBuild with AI\n\nAutomate the close with AI and agentic workflows, with review controls that keep it auditable.\n\nRun the bake-off for an AI-forward ERP and own the implementation.\n\nSet the roadmap for when to automate, outsource to a vendor, or expand headcount.\n\nSupport the company\n\nOwn tax compliance with external tax advisors, including federal and state filings, estimated payments and contractor information reporting.\n\nOwn the income tax provision and support tax planning, including credits and incentives.\n\nOwn the monthly financial statements and the accounting package for the board.\n\nReview non-standard contracts with commercial legal and Sales before they are signed.\n\nPartner with Revenue Operations and People on expert payments and payroll.\n\nBuild the team as the function grows.\n\nWhat we're looking for\n\nAutomation you built that replaced accounting work, with results you can quantify.\n\nASC 606 experience, ideally with services or usage-based revenue and acceptance terms.\n\nIndependent judgment on accounting policy, backed by memos that hold up with auditors.\n\nCost accounting experience, including cost matching for a contractor or expert workforce.\n\nAdvise founders on the accounting impact of deals and decisions before they are made.\n\nHands-on experience running a monthly close end to end.\n\nA Big Four audit foundation and hands-on industry experience.\n\nA builder who can go from a blank page to a running process without slowing the company down.\n\nHigh ownership, low ego, and comfort with direct feedback. You stay accountable for both the monthly grind and the year-long build.\n\nComfortable in a 5-day in-office SF environment that prizes speed and direct feedback.\n\nBonus\n\nExperience on the company side of an audit.\n\nERP selection or implementation, ideally an AI-forward system.\n\nIncome tax provision (ASC 740) or corporate tax experience.\n\nSQL, Python, BigQuery or Claude Code.\n\nCPA.\n\nCompany Benefits (For Eligible Employees):\n\nHealth Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental\n\n401(k) with Employer Match\n\nDaily Meals: Daily UberEats Stipend\n\nMonthly Wellness Stipend\n\nWe are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.\n\nWe comply with applicable pay transparency requirements and provide compensation ranges based on the position, qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. We reserve the right to modify this job description as business needs change.\n\nCompensation Range: $220K - $250K","company":"Afterquery","rawCompany":"afterquery","city":"Millbrae","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-11-12T09:41:22.726Z","occupations":[{"code":"13-2011.00","title":"Accountants and Auditors","slug":"accountants-and-auditors"},{"code":"11-3031.01","title":"Treasurers and Controllers","slug":"treasurers-and-controllers"},{"code":"43-3031.00","title":"Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks","slug":"bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks"}],"industries":[{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"},{"code":"541511","title":"Custom Computer Programming Services","slug":"custom-computer-programming-services"},{"code":"541690","title":"Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services","slug":"other-scientific-and-technical-consulting-services"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Controller","description":"About AfterQuery\n\nAfterQuery is an applied research lab curating data solutions for foundation model development. We serve every frontier AI lab with the mission of delivering the best data to power the best models. In doing so, we can make expertise that once took a lifetime to build available to anyone who needs it.\n\nOur customers are the ones building the foundation models themselves and our work sits directly in the loop of how those systems improve. This is a rare opportunity to join a company at a defining moment in AI. Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation. We're based in San Francisco and backed by leading investors including Altos Ventures, BoxGroup, and Y Combinator and angels from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Superintelligence Labs, and Microsoft AI.\n\nWhy Apply\n\nMassive Opportunity: Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation, and we're not slowing down.\n\nFounding Impact: You will own and architect core infrastructure systems that power our platform from the ground up.\n\nEquity & Growth: Competitive salary and meaningful equity. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the engineering organization and lead major technical initiatives.\n\nStrong Team: Our founding team has experience from Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, and Morgan Stanley — work alongside world-class engineers and researchers.\n\nAbout the role\n\nThis is our first accounting hire, reporting to the Head of Finance & Accounting. You will own the close, revenue recognition, cost matching and our first audit, choose the ERP, and build the accounting function AI-native from the start.\n\nThis is a hands-on role for someone who wants to get into the weeds and build. You start as the only in-house accountant, working with our fractional accounting team, and grow the team as the function grows. A prior Controller title is not required. We weigh what you have built over the titles you have held.\n\nWhat you'll do\n\nOwn the books\n\nOwn the general ledger and the monthly close end to end, including reconciliations and journal entry review.\n\nOwn revenue recognition under ASC 606 for large, non-recurring contracts with acceptance terms.\n\nOwn the revenue and cost tie-out from delivery and billing data to the ledger.\n\nDefine cost of goods sold, variable costs and cost matching, including expert and contractor payments and inference.\n\nDirect the fractional accounting team on operational accounting, including AR, AP, cash and equity.\n\nOwn stock-based compensation accounting and 409A coordination with external valuation specialists.\n\nMake the numbers audit-ready\n\nLead the move to accrual-basis US GAAP financials and our first external audit.\n\nBuild the controls and evidence a first audit requires.\n\nDocument material accounting judgments in policies and memos.\n\nBuild with AI\n\nAutomate the close with AI and agentic workflows, with review controls that keep it auditable.\n\nRun the bake-off for an AI-forward ERP and own the implementation.\n\nSet the roadmap for when to automate, outsource to a vendor, or expand headcount.\n\nSupport the company\n\nOwn tax compliance with external tax advisors, including federal and state filings, estimated payments and contractor information reporting.\n\nOwn the income tax provision and support tax planning, including credits and incentives.\n\nOwn the monthly financial statements and the accounting package for the board.\n\nReview non-standard contracts with commercial legal and Sales before they are signed.\n\nPartner with Revenue Operations and People on expert payments and payroll.\n\nBuild the team as the function grows.\n\nWhat we're looking for\n\nAutomation you built that replaced accounting work, with results you can quantify.\n\nASC 606 experience, ideally with services or usage-based revenue and acceptance terms.\n\nIndependent judgment on accounting policy, backed by memos that hold up with auditors.\n\nCost accounting experience, including cost matching for a contractor or expert workforce.\n\nAdvise founders on the accounting impact of deals and decisions before they are made.\n\nHands-on experience running a monthly close end to end.\n\nA Big Four audit foundation and hands-on industry experience.\n\nA builder who can go from a blank page to a running process without slowing the company down.\n\nHigh ownership, low ego, and comfort with direct feedback. You stay accountable for both the monthly grind and the year-long build.\n\nComfortable in a 5-day in-office SF environment that prizes speed and direct feedback.\n\nBonus\n\nExperience on the company side of an audit.\n\nERP selection or implementation, ideally an AI-forward system.\n\nIncome tax provision (ASC 740) or corporate tax experience.\n\nSQL, Python, BigQuery or Claude Code.\n\nCPA.\n\nCompany Benefits (For Eligible Employees):\n\nHealth Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental\n\n401(k) with Employer Match\n\nDaily Meals: Daily UberEats Stipend\n\nMonthly Wellness Stipend\n\nWe are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.\n\nWe comply with applicable pay transparency requirements and provide compensation ranges based on the position, qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. We reserve the right to modify this job description as business needs change.\n\nCompensation Range: $220K - $250K","datePosted":"2026-11-12T09:41:22.726Z","dateModified":"2026-11-12T09:41:22.726Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Afterquery","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Millbrae","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"bfd392bb3f709cf592d0dbab"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bfd392bb3f709cf592d0dbab"}}