1. Requirements, Experiences and Skills
- Bookkeeping & Transaction Recording
Daily tracking of income, expenses, and capital contributions. - Financial Reporting
Preparation of monthly/quarterly financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow). - Tax Compliance & Planning
Entity‐level income tax filings, sales/use tax, payroll tax, and R&D tax credit studies. - Payroll & Benefits Administration
Payroll processing, benefits withholding, contractor 1099s. - Budgeting & Cash‐Flow Forecasting
Support for modeling burn rate, runway, and fundraising scenarios. - Accounting Policy & Controls
Chart of accounts design, expense approval workflows, internal controls.
2. Accountant Qualifications & Expertise
- Professional Credentials
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or at minimum a strong background in public accounting. - Startup & Tech Experience
Familiarity with early‐stage companies and funding transactions (SAFE, convertible notes, equity rounds). - GAAP & ASC 606 Knowledge
Understanding of revenue recognition standards, capitalization of software development costs, and R&D expense treatment. - Software Proficiency
Prefered with cloud accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, or NetSuite; integration with Stripe, Gusto, Carta, etc.
3. Engagement Model & Fees
- Billing Structure
Hourly rates vs. fixed‐fee monthly retainer vs. project‑based (e.g., year‑end close). - Scope Clarity
Specify which services are included (bookkeeping vs. full CFO support vs. tax only). - Budget Alignment
Ensure fees align with your runway; some firms offer “startup packages” or deferred billing.
4. Compliance & Jurisdiction
- State and Federal Filings
Tax registrations, quarterly payroll filings, annual reports in your state of incorporation. - Industry‐Specific Requirements
If you handle health or financial data, ensure the accountant understands any industry compliance (e.g., SOC 1/SOC 2 related disclosure support).
5. Systems & Processes
- Chart of Accounts Design
Tailored to track R&D, grants, investor capital, and operating expenses separately. - Automation & Integrations
Connect your accounting software with bank feeds, payment processors, and expense‐management tools (e.g., Expensify). - Document Management
A shared, secure repository for invoices, receipts, cap table updates, and tax documents.
6. Communication & Deliverables
- Regular Cadence
Agree on monthly close dates, reporting deadlines, and check‑in meetings. - Point of Contact
Define who handles day‑to‑day questions vs. escalation to a senior partner or virtual CFO. - KPIs & Dashboards
Reporting on burn rate, headcount costs, gross margin, and other metrics critical for board updates and fundraising.
7. Preparation for Onboarding
- Organizational Documents
Entity formation docs, capitalization table, previous year’s tax returns (if any). - Bank & Payment Access
Read‑only banking logins, credit‑card statements, payment‑processor reports. - Expense Policies
Reimbursement guidelines, travel policies, and approval thresholds.
Full-Time Salary Range: $100K – $300K depends on experience.
Plus; Stock options:
Benefits
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Vision insurance
Location:
San Francisco Bay Area
Submit Application at;
https://aisystemgloble.com/resume-submission/