Roles
The canonical roles within Finance.
Financial Planning & Strategy
Financial Planning & Strategy roles at AI companies build and run the financial planning function—forecasting models, KPI frameworks, planning and budget cycles, board and investor materials, and the cross-functional partnership that turns financial signal into operating decisions. The day-to-day is classical FP&A: building and maintaining models, running variance analysis, partnering with business owners on plans and reviews, and helping executives think through unit economics and capital allocation. Specific economic structure varies by business model—software-heavy AI companies focus on SaaS unit economics and pipeline-to-revenue conversion; infrastructure-heavy companies model GPU capacity, energy costs, and site deployments; vertical AI companies follow the financial pattern of the underlying industry. These roles typically sit within finance, reporting to a Head of FP&A or CFO, and partner across functions to ensure planning supports both day-to-day execution and longer-term strategy.
Accountant
Accountants in AI companies handle the financial foundations that enable rapid scaling of compute infrastructure and research operations. They manage general ledger entries, reconciliations, and month-end close cycles while working across specialized domains—from lease accounting and joint venture consolidations to fixed asset tracking for GPU fleets and data center buildouts. These roles sit within corporate accounting teams that partner closely with infrastructure, operations, and finance leadership to ensure GAAP compliance and accurate reporting as the business expands globally and acquires new entities.
Controller
Controllers at AI companies lead the full accounting function—from monthly close and financial reporting to tax compliance and internal controls—while building scalable infrastructure that supports rapid growth and eventual public company standards. Unlike accounting managers who focus on operational execution, Controllers set accounting strategy, establish policies, and oversee multi-entity or multi-GAAP environments, often managing technical accounting for AI-specific revenue models like consumption-based billing and hardware-software bundles. They typically report to the CFO and partner closely with finance leadership, legal, and audit to ensure the accounting foundation keeps pace with scaling AI operations across new geographies and business lines.
Revenue Accountant
Revenue Accountants at AI companies execute the operational backbone of the order-to-cash cycle, managing billing systems, revenue recognition entries, and account reconciliations in accordance with ASC 606. Unlike broader finance roles, they specialize in translating complex contractual terms—particularly usage-based and consumption pricing models common in AI products—into accurate accounting treatment and automated billing flows. These professionals typically sit within dedicated revenue or technical accounting teams, partnering closely with product, sales operations, and finance systems to ensure revenue data flows cleanly from deal execution through financial reporting while maintaining strong internal controls in fast-scaling environments.
Accounts Payable & Payroll Specialist
This role manages the complete accounts payable and payroll cycle for AI-driven companies, processing vendor invoices, employee expenses, and compensation transactions while maintaining accuracy across multi-entity and multi-jurisdictional operations. Unlike pure transactional accounting roles, this position increasingly owns process automation and system optimization, leveraging AI tools and modern platforms to eliminate manual work and strengthen controls as the organization scales. The specialist typically sits within Finance teams at growth-stage AI companies, partnering closely with Procurement, HR, and Treasury to ensure timely payments, regulatory compliance, and audit readiness while serving as the primary support resource for vendors and employees.
Tax Manager
Tax Managers at AI companies manage corporate tax compliance and strategy across a growing portfolio of complex transactions—from large-scale infrastructure investments and data center deployments to acquisitions, international expansion, and novel financing structures. They distinguish themselves by combining deep technical tax expertise with commercial acumen, translating intricate tax concepts into practical business solutions that support rapid scaling. These roles typically sit within the Finance or Controller organization, reporting to a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, or Director of Tax, and work closely with Legal, Accounting, Treasury, FP&A, and external advisors to ensure defensible tax positions while identifying planning opportunities that align with business objectives.
Technical Accounting Manager
This role serves as the technical accounting authority for AI companies navigating rapid scaling and complex transactions. The Technical Accounting Manager researches and documents accounting positions on non-routine matters—from revenue recognition under ASC 606 to stock-based compensation, lease accounting, and M&A implications—while translating intricate GAAP guidance into practical operational solutions. What distinguishes this function is its strategic partnership across the business: rather than simply maintaining compliance, these professionals advise Sales, Legal, and Deal Desk on structuring commercial arrangements, guide Finance through novel accounting scenarios, and ensure technical conclusions embed cleanly into close processes and systems. The role typically sits within Finance operations, reporting to a Controller or Finance Director, and works closely with auditors, tax advisors, and cross-functional stakeholders to build defensible accounting frameworks that scale with the company's growth.
Treasury Manager
This role oversees global cash positioning, liquidity management, and banking relationships for high-growth AI infrastructure and software companies, managing everything from daily cash operations to long-term forecasting across multiple currencies and jurisdictions. Treasury Managers in this context distinguish themselves by balancing hands-on operational execution—cash positioning, bank account administration, payment controls—with strategic involvement in capital structure decisions and complex financing transactions that support the company's rapid scaling. They typically sit within the Finance organization reporting to the CFO or Treasurer, working closely with FP&A, Accounting, Legal, and Tax teams to ensure the treasury function provides the financial infrastructure and liquidity visibility that powers ambitious AI companies' growth trajectories.
Billing, AR & Collections
This role owns the complete order-to-cash lifecycle for AI companies, managing invoicing, accounts receivable, collections, and increasingly complex usage-based billing models that scale with AI product consumption. Professionals in this function distinguish themselves through mastery of both operational execution and revenue accounting, often working at the intersection of billing systems, customer finance, and financial close procedures. They typically sit within Finance or Order-to-Cash teams alongside revenue accounting and cash application specialists, partnering closely with Sales, Customer Success, and RevOps to ensure billing accuracy, optimize cash conversion, and maintain controls as transaction volumes and deal complexity grow.
Recent Jobs
The latest Finance openings across the AI industry.