Accounting Manager

About the Role

Cognition is an applied AI lab dedicated to building end-to-end software agents, including Devin, the first AI software engineer, and Windsurf, an AI-native IDE. These products represent a vision for collaborative AI teammates that empower engineers to concentrate on more engaging problems and enable teams to pursue ambitious goals. The team is small, talent-dense, and composed of individuals with competitive programming backgrounds, former founders, and leaders from prominent AI companies. As a foundational member of the accounting team, you will play a crucial role in maintaining financial records, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and managing payroll and procurement processes. This position also involves supporting various audits, including annual financial, tax, and workers' compensation. You will have significant autonomy to contribute to the development of finance practices, optimize existing processes, and execute at a high level. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact within a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment, with substantial potential for long-term career growth.

Responsibilities

• Month-End Close: Conduct the monthly financial close process, including preparation of journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare and review periodic financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
• Audit Support: Coordinate and support annual financial audits, tax filings, and various other audits (e.g., financial, tax, workers comp).
• Full-Cycle Accounting: Manage the billing function (A/R & subscriptions), accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and payroll processes.
• Process Improvement: Develop and implement accounting policies and procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Tax Compliance: Manage tax compliance and filings.
• Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Customer Experience, RevOps, and other departments to develop effective processes and customer engagement standards.
• Ad-Hoc Projects: Assist with special projects and ad-hoc reporting as needed to drive revenue and cost efficiencies.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 4-5+ years of professional accounting experience, preferably in high-growth tech or pre-IPO companies.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Technical Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, and accounting software tools (e.g., Netsuite, Ramp, Sequence).
• Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of GAAP, tax laws, and accounting principles.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a commitment to data accuracy.
• Effective operator in fast‑paced, startup‑style environments: Comfortable with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and limited resources; proactively builds or improves processes, documentation, and controls while balancing speed and rigor.

Qualifications

• You have experience in the tech industry, specifically SaaS, software, or fintech verticals.
• You are a builder with a track record of increasing responsibilities and expanding your skills.
• You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are willing to take initiative and problem-solve.
• You have a high level of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• You are excited about working in a rapidly growing startup and are willing to take on a lot of responsibility.