Head of Accounting Policy
About this role
Professionals who thrive in high-judgment environments and enjoy shaping novel financial frameworks will find a natural home in this organization. Anthropic is expanding rapidly, entering into complex transactions that often fall outside traditional accounting literature. This senior leader will own the accounting policy function, establishing rigorous whitepaper and position-memo disciplines to support first-of-kind compute deals, revenue arrangements, and equity structures.
The incoming leader will partner directly with the Controller, CFO, Legal, and Tax teams to evaluate the accounting consequences of new business strategies before agreements are finalized. Responsibilities include building a function capable of operating at public-company grade, defending positions with external auditors, and preparing the business for future SEC reporting. Success in this capacity requires deep US GAAP expertise, top-tier public accounting tenure, and the ability to communicate intricate technical matters clearly to executive leadership.
What you will do
- Establish, document, and maintain US GAAP accounting policies across all significant operational areas.
- Serve as the lead technical advisor on novel transactions such as usage-based revenue models and large compute infrastructure commitments.
- Build and institutionalize a rigorous whitepaper and position-memo discipline that withstands external auditor scrutiny.
- Lead technical discussions and drive timely resolution of complex accounting matters with external auditors and the SEC.
- Prepare the company for public-company-grade external reporting including SEC-style financial statements and controls.
- Monitor new FASB standards and SEC rules while leading cross-functional impact assessments and implementation plans.
- Partner with Legal, Tax, and deal teams early in transaction design so accounting consequences are understood before signing.
What you need
- Hold an active CPA license.
- Possess public accounting tenure at a top firm that reached at least Director, Managing Director, Partner, or national office Senior Manager.
- Demonstrate deep US GAAP expertise and a strong command of SEC reporting requirements.
- Bring experience leading a technical accounting or accounting policy function at a high-growth technology company.
- Show a proven ability to research, conclude, and document positions on complex accounting issues and defend them with external auditors.
- Exemplify excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex accounting matters to non-accountants.
Nice to have
- 15+ years of combined experience across public accounting and industry
- Service at the US Securities and Exchange Commission in the Office of the Chief Accountant's Professional Accounting Fellow program
- FASB, EITF, or other standard-setting exposure such as task force membership or substantive comment-letter work
- Public speaking experience on technical accounting topics at industry conferences
- National office experience at a major firm covering accounting standards or consultation
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the remote work or office policy for this role?
Anthropic maintains a location-based hybrid policy where staff are expected to be in one of the offices at least 25% of the time, though some roles may require more frequent in-office presence.
What is the salary range for this position?
The annual base salary range for this role is $385,000 to $570,000 USD.
Does the company offer visa sponsorship?
Yes, Anthropic does sponsor visas and retains an immigration lawyer to help make every reasonable effort to secure a visa if an offer is extended.