Director, Accounting Operations Job at Anthropic in San Francisco

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About Anthropic

Anthropic’s mission is to create reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. We want AI to be safe and beneficial for our users and for society as a whole. Our team is a quickly growing group of committed researchers, engineers, policy experts, and business leaders working together to build beneficial AI systems.

About The Role

Anthropic is seeking an exceptional Director of Corporate Accounting to lead our Corporate Accounting organization as we scale our financial operations to support frontier AI development. In this pivotal leadership role, you will own the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our core accounting infrastructure across workplace, workforce, and corporate operations. You will build and lead a world‑class team that ensures accuracy, control, and efficiency while supporting Anthropic’s rapid growth.

This role sits at the intersection of technical accounting expertise, systems, and operational excellence. You’ll partner closely with Finance & Strategy, Tax, Revenue Accounting, and cross‑functional stakeholders to establish scalable processes and controls. As a key leader in the Accounting organization, you will drive strategic initiatives including system selection and implementation, close acceleration, and the buildout of our control framework. Your work will be essential in providing the financial foundation that enables Anthropic to focus on its mission of developing safe, transformative AI systems.

Responsibilities

• Accounting Leadership & Operations
  • Own end‑to‑end accounting for workplace and workforce, including real estate leasing (ASC 842), fixed assets, cash and treasury, operating expenses, prepaids and accruals, payroll, taxes and benefits, commissions, and stock‑based compensation support.
  • Drive month‑end and quarter‑end close processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and continuous acceleration of close cycles.
  • Establish and maintain the Chart of Accounts and master data governance structure, ensuring it supports current operations and scales for future complexity.
  • Design and implement allocation methodologies that provide clear cost visibility across the organization.
  • Ensure compliance with US GAAP, internal policies, and regulatory requirements across all corporate accounting areas.
  • Lead process improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce manual work, and enhance data quality.
• Systems & Infrastructure
  • Serve as a key stakeholder in ERP design, selection, and implementation, translating business requirements into system specifications.
  • Lead selection and implementation of specialized systems for lease accounting and commissions management.
  • Own master data governance, ensuring data integrity and consistency across financial systems.
  • Drive adoption of close management tools to streamline workflows and enhance visibility.
  • Partner with Finance Systems team to optimize integrations and automation opportunities.
• Team Building & Leadership
  • Build, coach, and lead a world‑class corporate accounting team capable of supporting Anthropic’s growth trajectory.
  • Recruit top accounting talent with both technical expertise and a growth mindset.
  • Provide mentorship and career development opportunities, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
  • Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations as the team scales.
  • Create an environment that balances rigorous controls with operational agility.
• Strategic Partnership
  • Collaborate with Finance & Strategy to provide accurate data and insights that inform business decisions.
  • Partner with Tax on compliance requirements and optimization opportunities.
  • Support global expansion initiatives by establishing accounting processes for new entities and jurisdictions.
  • Provide technical accounting guidance on complex transactions and new business models.

What You May Bring

• Have 15+ years of progressive accounting experience with at least 5+ years in leadership roles managing teams of 5+ people.
• Possess deep technical accounting expertise, particularly in ASC 842, ASC 718, and complex operational accounting.
• Have proven experience building and scaling accounting organizations in high‑growth technology companies.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required.
• Are a strategic thinker who can balance technical precision with business pragmatism.
• Have successfully led or played a key role in ERP implementations or major systems projects.
• Excel at building scalable processes and controls that support rapid growth.
• Are comfortable operating in ambiguous environments and building structure where none exists.
• Possess exceptional communication skills and can effectively partner with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Have a bias toward action and continuous improvement, always asking “how can we do this better?” in a constructive, forward‑looking mentality.
• Thrive in fast‑paced environments and maintain composure under tight deadlines.
• Care about building diverse, inclusive teams and creating environments where people do their best work.

Strong Candidates May Also

• Have public company accounting experience, including preparation for or execution of IPO readiness activities.
• Possess expertise in international accounting, consolidations, and multi‑entity operations.
• Have experience with NetSuite, Workday, and modern SaaS accounting platforms.
• Bring knowledge of subscription and consumption‑based revenue models.
• Have managed accounting through periods of significant organizational change.
• Possess project management skills and experience leading cross‑functional initiatives.
• Have familiarity with AI/ML business models and infrastructure accounting.
• Demonstrate thought leadership through participation in professional organizations or speaking engagements.

Compensation

Annual salary $230,000 - $300,000 USD.

Logistics

• Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Location‑based hybrid policy: staff must be in an office at least 25% of the time; some roles may require more in‑office presence.
• Visa sponsorship: we sponsor visas and are committed to supporting diversity.
• EEO statement: We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification. We value diverse perspectives and aim to create a team that does its best work.

We believe that the highest‑impact AI research will be big science. At Anthropic we work as a single cohesive team on just a few large‑scale research efforts. We value communication skills and a collaborative culture. We think AI systems like the ones we are building have enormous social and ethical implications, so we strive to include a range of diverse perspectives on our team.