Accountant & Bookkeeper

About this role

ABOUT ALPHA DESIGN AI

Alpha Design AI builds ChipAgents™, the industry's first AI-agent platform that accelerates RTL design and verification. We serve semiconductor innovators - from fast-growing startups to top-10 chipmakers - helping them ship silicon faster, with higher quality and lower cost. Backed by top-tier investors and leading AI researchers, we are scaling rapidly and expanding our operations team.

About the Role

We're hiring an in-house accountant and bookkeeper to own day-to-day GL accounting and the monthly close while keeping our books fully GAAP-compliant. You'll move from external audit into a hands-on operating role: instead of testing other companies' numbers, you'll produce ours. This is a high-ownership seat for someone ready to step out of public accounting and build deep expertise in how a real business runs its books.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Own full-cycle bookkeeping: AP, AR, payroll journal entries, expense coding, bank and credit card reconciliations, and fixed asset / prepaid schedules.

- Drive the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including accruals, deferrals, revenue recognition (ASC 606), lease accounting (ASC 842), and stock-based comp entries as applicable.

- Prepare GAAP-compliant financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) and supporting schedules with audit-ready workpapers.

- Reconcile balance sheet accounts monthly and investigate variances against budget and prior period.

- Maintain the chart of accounts and accounting policies; document procedures so the close runs the same way every month.

- Serve as the primary point of contact for our external auditors during the annual audit, including PBC list management and technical memos.

- Support sales tax filings, 1099 prep, and coordination with our tax preparers.

- Partner with FP&A on month-end reporting packages and ad-hoc analysis for leadership.

- Help evaluate and implement improvements to our accounting tech stack (ERP, AP automation, expense management).

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.

- 2–6 years of audit experience at a Big 4 or strong mid-tier firm (BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM, Moss Adams, Crowe, Baker Tilly, or similar).

- Working knowledge of US GAAP, including hands-on exposure to ASC 606 and ASC 842.

- CPA license or active candidate (passed at least two sections).

- Strong Excel skills (pivots, lookups, SUMIFS, basic modeling); comfort working in an ERP such as QuickBooks Online.

- Audit-trained attention to detail, with the judgment to know when "good enough" is appropriate for an operating company.

- Clear written communication — you can write a memo explaining a technical position to non-accountants.

- Self-directed; you don't need a senior to assign tasks to know what month-end requires.

NICE TO HAVE

- Industry experience relevant to SaaS, manufacturing, or professional services.

- Exposure to system implementations or migrations.

- Experience supporting a financial audit from the client side.

COMPENSATION

Base salary depends on experience, CPA status, and exact scope. Posting-specific ranges:

- Santa Barbara, CA: $80,000 – $120,000 base, plus annual bonus

- Santa Clara, CA: $100,000 – $150,000 base, plus annual bonus and equity

Candidates with a CPA license and direct ASC 606 / 842 experience should expect the upper half of the range. Total comp also includes health/dental/vision, 401(k) with match, PTO, and CPE / CPA renewal support.