Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting

State Affairs is the nation’s leading news and policy intelligence platform focused on state governments. We combine nonpartisan coverage of Statehouses across the country alongside state government data and AI-native tools into a singular platform. We inform and empower decision makers, policy professionals and citizens through our award-winning journalism and data – delivering profound insights to help our customers decode and act on state politics and policy. We’re building a category-defining business that will reshape America as we strengthen visibility into what’s happening and why at the state level.

We’re a multi-entity, acquisitive, venture-backed company. We need a technical accounting leader to own GAAP financial reporting end to end: a fast, audit-ready close, complex transactions handled right the first time, and a team that uses AI to do more with less. This role reports to the VP Finance & Operations. We are hiring a Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting to join our team located in Washington, DC. As the Director of Accounting & Financial Reporting, you will:

• Own the month-end and year-end close across all entities, and deliver accurate, on-time consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports and board packages for the executive team, board and investors.
• Lead revenue recognition under ASC 606 for subscription, events and advertising revenue, including deferred revenue schedules and contract reviews.
• Own technical accounting for complex transactions, including acquisitions (ASC 805), purchase price allocation, goodwill and intangibles, joint ventures, and multi-entity consolidation with intercompany eliminations.
• Build, document and maintain internal controls, accounting policies and close procedures that grow with the company.
• Manage the annual audit, including technical accounting memos and audit support, and tax filings with outside auditors and tax advisors, including multi-state sales/use and income tax compliance.
• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including AP, AR, billing, collections, payroll accounting, expense management and fixed assets.
• Deliver clean, timely actuals and flux analysis to FP&A, and explain results and trends to department heads.
• Manage cash, track liquidity, maintain banking relationships and prepare lender covenant compliance reporting.
• Use AI and automation to shorten the close and scale reporting without growing headcount at the same rate, and improve finance systems (ERP, billing, expense, payroll) and keep their data clean across sales and operations tools.
• Own equity and stock compensation accounting, support 409A valuations, and lead the accounting workstreams in fundraising and M&A diligence.
• Hire, lead and develop the accounting team and manage outside accounting partners.

Essential Qualifications for this position include:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business or a related field.
• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 3 years in audit at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm.
• Prior professional work experience doing hands-on financial reporting, including preparing GAAP financial statements and running the monthly close yourself.
• Deep technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 606 revenue recognition for subscription or recurring-revenue businesses, business combinations (ASC 805), consolidation (ASC 810), and the ability to write technical accounting memos that hold up in audit.
• Knowledge of internal controls, audit readiness and multi-state tax compliance.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) to automate finance work such as reconciliations, flux commentary, memo drafting or audit prep, with examples you can walk us through. You treat AI as core infrastructure for the close, not a side project.
• Skills with cloud accounting and ERP systems (NetSuite strongly preferred) and related billing and expense tools.
• Ability to explain financial results clearly to people outside finance, including executives and board members.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines with a high level of accuracy and discretion with confidential information.
• A track record of leading and developing accounting teams, including distributed or offshore staff, and building processes across departments in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications for this position include:

• Prior professional work experience at a venture-backed startup, media company or SaaS business.
• Experience at a multi-entity, acquisitive company, including integrating acquired entities’ books and systems.
• Experience with our stack: NetSuite (multi-subsidiary), Chargebee, Rippling, Ramp, Anrok and Carta.

This is an onsite work opportunity and our teams operate from the Washington, DC office (located at L and 15th St. NW) 5 (five) days per week. State Affairs offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and a meaningful equity position to employees. The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $165,000 to $210,000 for candidates working from the State Affairs office in Washington, DC. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity. Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with State Affairs. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future company sponsorship. State Affairs is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs. State Affairs does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with federal, state, and local law. State Affairs is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as they go through our job application and interview process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected] By submitting your application, you affirm the content contained therein is true and accurate in all respects. Please note that prior to employment, State Affairs will obtain background checks for employment purposes that may include, where permitted by law, the following: identify verification, prior employment verification, personal and professional references, educational verification, and criminal history. For certain roles, further background checks covering additional information and activities may be initiated. "By clicking "Submit Application" you are consenting to the use and retention of the information you have provided as set forth in the State Affairs Privacy Policy.