Remote Accountant Jobs in Palo Alto, California

• *Job Title:** Remote Remote Accountant

• *Location:** Remote — based in Palo Alto, California

---

About the Role

We are seeking a meticulous, proactive

Remote Accountant

to join our fast‑growing finance team. In this role you will be the financial backbone for our SaaS‑driven product line, ensuring that every transaction posted from our sales, subscription, and operations pipelines in Palo Alto, California is accurate, compliant, and timely. Reporting directly to the

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

, you will partner with product managers, senior analysts, and the global payroll team to translate raw data into actionable insights that drive profitability and strategic decision‑making. Your work will directly impact cash flow forecasting, month‑end close efficiency, and the overall financial health of the company, while you enjoy the flexibility of a fully remote setup anchored in Palo Alto, California. --- Key Responsibilities -

Month‑end & quarter‑end close

– lead the entire close process for the Palo Alto entity, delivering a full set of financial statements within 5 business days of month‑end using

NetSuite

and

QuickBooks Online

. -

General ledger stewardship

– reconcile over 1,200 journal entries per month, ensuring accuracy across accounts payable, receivable, payroll, and fixed assets. -

Cash flow management

– produce weekly cash position reports and 13‑week cash forecasts for senior leadership, employing

Microsoft Excel

models with advanced pivot tables and VBA macros. -

Tax compliance

– prepare and file quarterly sales tax returns for California and manage annual state income tax filings in collaboration with our external CPA firm. -

Payroll oversight

– administer bi‑weekly payroll for 150+ employees through

ADP

and

Gusto

, verifying tax withholdings, benefits deductions, and overtime calculations. -

Audit support

– compile audit schedules, respond to auditor requests, and maintain a ready‑to‑go document repository in

Google Drive

. -

Process automation

– design and implement at least two workflow automations per year using

Zapier

and

Asana

to reduce manual data entry time by 20% or more. -

Financial analysis

– partner with the senior financial analyst to perform variance analyses, profitability reporting, and scenario modeling, visualizing results in

Tableau

dashboards. -

Cross‑functional collaboration

– attend weekly syncs with product, sales, and ops teams (via

Zoom

) to align on revenue recognition, expense approvals, and budget amendments. -

Policy & documentation

– update and maintain accounting SOPs, ensuring compliance with GAAP and California regulatory standards. --- Required Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field

or

an equivalent combination of education and experience. -

3–5 years

of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a SaaS or technology environment. - CPA certification

or

active pursuit of CPA licensure (must be in good standing with the California Board of Accountancy). - Proficiency with

QuickBooks Online

,

NetSuite

, and

Xero

(at least two of the three). - Advanced knowledge of

Microsoft Excel

(pivot tables, Power Query, VBA) and experience building financial models. - Hands‑on experience processing payroll through

ADP

or

Gusto

, including tax filings for California. - Strong understanding of GAAP, revenue recognition (ASC 606), and state tax regulations. - Ability to work independently in a remote setting while meeting tight monthly close deadlines. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting financial results to non‑financial stakeholders. --- Preferred Qualifications - Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration. - Additional certifications such as CMA, CMA, or a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. - Prior experience with

Tableau

or

Power BI

for financial reporting dashboards. - Familiarity with

Zapier

,

Automation Anywhere

, or other RPA tools for process automation. - Demonstrated leadership in mentoring junior accountants or bookkeepers. - Experience managing multi‑state tax compliance (especially for states with complex sales tax rules). --- Compensation & Benefits -

Salary:

$78,000 – $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience and certifications. -

Healthcare:

Full medical, dental, and vision coverage (company pays 80% of premiums). -

Retirement:

401(k) with 4% company match. -

Paid Time Off:

20 days PTO + 12 paid holidays (including floating holidays for California observances). -

Remote Stipends:

$200 monthly home‑office allowance (wifi, ergonomic chair, desk). -

Professional Development:

$2,000 annual learning budget for courses, conferences, or certifications (including CPA exam fees). -

Wellness:

Access to mental‑health tele‑counseling, fitness app subscriptions, and quarterly wellness workshops. --- Work Setup -

Time Zones:

Must be able to work core hours between 10 AM – 4 PM California time (CST/CDT). Flexible start/end times are permitted as long as overlap with the finance team is maintained. -

Meeting Cadence:

85% of meetings are async; the remaining 15% are live sessions via

Zoom

on Mondays (monthly close kickoff) and Wednesdays (mid‑week check‑ins). -

Equipment:

Reliable high‑speed internet (minimum 25 Mbps upload/download), a dedicated workstation with dual monitors, and a webcam for video calls. -

Collaboration Platforms:

Daily communication through

Slack

(dedicated #finance channel), task tracking in

Asana

, and document sharing via

Google Workspace

. -

Security:

Must use company‑issued VPN and enable multi‑factor authentication for all financial systems. --- Growth -

Career Path:

Within 18–24 months you can progress to

Senior Accountant

or

Staff Accountant – Tax

based on performance. Exceptional contributors are considered for

Finance Manager

tracks after 3 years. -

Mentoring:

Pairing with a senior finance leader for quarterly career‑development sessions and bi‑annual performance reviews. -

Learning Budget:

$2,000 per year (as noted) plus free access to internal training modules on advanced accounting, data visualization, and leadership. -

Performance Cycles:

Semi‑annual bonus eligibility tied to key metrics (close accuracy, process automation savings, and audit outcomes). --- How to Apply 1.

Submit:

A current resume, a concise cover letter (max 300 words) outlining your experience with

NetSuite

and

QuickBooks Online

, and a brief portfolio of any automation projects or dashboards you’ve built. 2.

Timeline:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; we aim to schedule the first interview within 7 business days of receipt. 3.

Interview Stages:

-

Stage 1:

30‑minute recruiter screen (fit and logistical fit). -

Stage 2:

60‑minute technical interview with the CFO (case study on month‑end close). -

Stage 3:

45‑minute team culture interview with senior finance members (via Slack video). -

Stage 4:

Final interview with HR leadership (compensation discussion). 4.

Decision:

Offers extended within 5 business days after the final interview. We are an

Equal Opportunity Employer

. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. ---

• Ready to bring precision and strategic insight to our finance team from the comfort of your home in Palo Alto, California? Click “Apply” and let’s build the future of financial excellence together.*

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