Sr. Director, Corporate Accounting

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

The Senior Director of Corporate Accounting will lead the Corporate Accounting Function which includes  Technical Accounting, External and Internal Reporting, and the Close and Consolidations functions for Upwork.  This individual will direct and work closely with the Corporate Controller to oversee the Company’s Finance operation including establishing and maintaining accounting principles, best practices, and internal controls over financial reporting.

The responsibilities for this role includes the supervision of the overall month-end close as well as financial statements review in accordance with US GAAP for all entities as well as external audits. In addition, this individual is responsible for internal reporting to the Board of Directors, Audit Committee, Executive leadership, and others as well as local statutory reporting.  The Company is evolving and this role will be pivotal in leading the transformation of this organization. To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills to navigate the changes in the organization, technical knowledge of US GAAP and SEC requirements, excellent organizational and analytical skills, and the desire to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Excellent written and verbal communication as well as presentation skills are essential to succeed in this role.

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide strong, hands-on leadership, mentoring, coaching, and development to direct reports
• Oversee the overall month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close
• Review financial statements and supporting schedules for accuracy in accordance with US GAAP
• Create and maintain a monthly financial executive package
• Conduct and lead a monthly close meeting with the cross-functional groups to discuss accounting issues, areas of concern and any potential improvements to the close process both locally and from a global perspective
• Supervise the preparation of financial statements and financial disclosure information
• Lead the external auditor’s quarterly financial reviews and annual financial audit
• Ensure the finance team operates in accordance with SOX policies and procedures, approved desktop procedures, and general accounting governance
• Oversee all aspects of financial reporting and together with the Controller ensures compliance with financial reporting standards (GAAP, SEC, IRS, etc.), shareholder requirements and regulatory compliance
• Oversee technical accounting GAAP guidance, external reporting and support functions
• Establish and maintain accounting and reporting policies
• Coordinate with external auditors to ensure timely and efficient quarterly reviews and annual audit execution; and resolves any issues or problems encountered during their review/audit process
• Work closely with broader finance and internal teams to analyze financial performance, provide recommendations to senior leadership for improvement, and support key decision making
• Responsible for the development of the accounting team, including staffing, performance management, training and career-pathing

What it Takes to Catch our Eye:

• Extensive accounting experience at a multi-national company and Big 4 or equivalent
• CPA, or MBA is required
• Strong technical background in public accounting (GAAP), SEC reporting and SOX compliance
• Experience in Marketplace business, FinTech or SAAS Industry (preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to tailor presentations for the audience
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analysis
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
• Self-starter and strong ethical standards
• Capacity to assess process and internal control weaknesses and identify improvements
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to anticipate needs and pre-plan work
• Be detail-oriented, flexible, and organized – flexibility to cross-regional time zones and cross-functional teams
• Be able to prioritize workload and perform in a fast-paced and challenging environment 

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals.  While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees. 

Our vibrant culture is built on shared values and our mission to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster amazing teams, put our community first, and have a bias toward action. We encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work and grow together through development opportunities, mentorship, and employee resource groups. Oh yeah, we’ve also got amazing benefits.

Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about the employee experience.   

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.