Senior Accounting Manager

We’re looking for a Senior Accountant to join our Finance team! 

Ethena is an AI platform for Compliance. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company that’s redefining how companies build ethical and inclusive workplaces. In this role, you will get to exert a high level of autonomy, including owning end-to-end responsibilities in our accounting organization, including managing the monthly close process, performing day to day financial tasks and setting the path for new processes as we continue to scale our business. 

We’re looking for an accountant with startup experience who can step in and take full ownership of our end to end close, institutional audits, and our relationships with external accounting firms. This person will have  a high-autonomy mindset to lead our accounting team and work under our VP of Finance and Operations. We want someone with a strong orientation towards taking initiative and finding creative ways to automate processes and make our financial operations faster and smarter, including leveraging AI and other automation tools. Whether you've managed teams before or are just an autonomous powerhouse, you'll be the lead on driving our financial rigor.

Reports to

Andrew Dixon, VP of Finance and Operations

What you'll do

• Lead the monthly financial, quarterly, and year-end close to ensure efficiency and accuracy including producing consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP
• Monitor, evaluate, and implement new accounting standards and regulatory requirements, as appropriate
• Help evaluate, select, and deploy financial systems to provide appropriate infrastructure to support business growth
• Optimize existing financial systems and processes to efficiently post financial transactions
• Assist in establishing, implementing, maintaining and monitoring accounting control procedures and significant accounting policies
• Manage the order to cash process, including customer contract review, processing and invoicing, and revenue recognition implications to propose appropriate accounting treatment
• Develop and standardize accounting and operational policies and procedures with a focus on continuous improvement and systems
• Manage and assist with special projects as needed (e.g., audit preparation, system implementations, FP&A support)
• Mentor, coach, and develop one current accounting team member and others as we continue to grow 
• Provide strong technical knowledge of US GAAP: monitor, evaluate impact, and implement new accounting standards and regulatory requirements, as appropriate

What makes a great candidate

• Bachelor or Master in Accountancy, degree in Finance, or related degree or professional certification.

• CPA or CMA license a plus, but not a requirement.

• Proven track record in a finance/accounting role in a high tech startup environment. Experience with SaaS company preferred

• Knowledge of non-GAAP industry metrics applicable to SaaS companies.

• Past experience with Quickbook online or experience with ERP implementation(s)

• Working knowledge of a wide range of business systems to help build infrastructure needed for revenue recognition, integration with CRM for sales and revenue accounting, commission reporting, sales tax reporting, data reporting and analytics, etc

• Quick learner with the ability to multitask, work independently, think critically and problem solve in an ever-changing fast-paced environment

• Strong orientation towards taking initiative and finding creative ways to automate processes and make our financial operations faster and smarter, including leveraging AI and other automation tools

• Prioritize and balance multiple requests, projects, and deadlines

• Experience managing the procure to pay process 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent and proven cross-functional collaboration skills

• A self-starter who thrives in a hands-off management environment — someone who takes ownership of their work with a “roll up your sleeves mentality”, is comfortable with ambiguity, proactively identifies problems and solutions, and drives their work forward with minimal oversight.

• We’re an early-stage startup so we’re not just looking for someone to run a playbook. We want you to help build it

• Passion for what we’re building here at Ethena and a strong alignment with our core values (which includes an impeccable sense of humor)

What's going to be the hardest part

• Building structure in a moving target (not just running a close): You’re creating processes, systems, and controls while the company is scaling and changing. There’s no steady-state to rely on.

• Owning SaaS revenue complexity end-to-end: Revenue recognition, contracts, and sales integration are messy and high-risk. Getting this right requires both technical depth and strong cross-functional partnership.

• Balancing speed vs. accuracy in a high-growth environment” You need to move fast without breaking financial integrity. Knowing when “good enough” is okay vs. when precision is non-negotiable is a constant tension.