Assistant Controller at Handshake (San Francisco, CA)
Handshake· San Francisco, CA· $160k–$250k·
Role details
Handshake at a glance
Handshake is the career network for the AI economy, pairing a three-sided student-employer-school job marketplace with a fast-growing AI training-data business that supplies frontier labs.
Handshake runs a three-sided marketplace connecting job seekers, employers, and college career centers, with matching, profiles, and skill-building. In 2025 it launched Handshake AI, which turns its network of educated members into a contractor workforce that produces training data and evaluations for frontier AI labs.
$434M raised · latest: Series F · $200M · Jan 2022 · $3.5B valuation · backed by Coatue Management, Valiant Peregrine Fund, Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital
Job description
ABOUT HANDSHAKE
Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.
In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We've grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.
Why join Handshake now:
- Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
- Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world's top educational institutions
- Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
- Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
ABOUT THE ROLE
Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance, the Assistant Controller owns general accounting — month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting — for a rapidly growing company, including two initiatives that will define the role's first stretch: standing up a new AI-native close management tool and integrating recent M&A activity into close management and procure-to-pay. You'll thrive here if you're comfortable operating in ambiguous, ever-changing environments and building process where little exists today.
- Own month-end close, consolidation, and financial reporting, including treasury, foreign subsidiaries, and inter-company transactions, to keep the business on accurate, audit-ready footing
- Lead the rollout of a new AI-native close management tool, driving better automation across NetSuite and the broader close process
- Integrate recent M&A activity into accounting systems and structure, combining technical accounting work with operational transition across close management and procure-to-pay
- Build and develop the accounting team, coaching and mentoring staff while partnering closely with FP&A, Payroll, and HR on complex accounting treatment
YOU HAVE
- 8+ years of relevant experience in high-growth, complex environments, ideally with a combination of experience at a Big-4 accounting firm
- 3+ years of relevant experience as a people leader
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (or equivalent)
- CPA designation, or internationally recognized equivalent, and strong knowledge of US GAAP
- NetSuite experience, with knowledge of accounting systems supporting month close, reporting, general ledger, and procurement
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to drive consensus across cross-functional teams and influence decision-making
- Exceptional problem-solving and ownership, with a highly analytical, inquisitive work style and strong attention to detail — proven ability to build processes from the ground up
- Comfort operating with a high degree of autonomy in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment
Bonus Points:
- IPO readiness experience
WE OFFER
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers joinhandshake.com/careers.
Why work at Handshake
- Culture: Values include “Students first,” “Leave nothing to chance,” “Own the outcome,” “Invent and reinvent,” and “Olympic pace.” Emphasis on ownership, urgency, and constant evolution.
- Remote/Hybrid policy: Many roles are based in San Francisco or New York, but some positions (e.g., Trust & Safety Specialist, Support Specialist) are remote in the US. Recent openings show both office and remote options.
- Benefits: Health & wellness support, financial support, time off, modern offices with meals, snacks, and social activities. Strong focus on career growth and learning.
- Career growth: Rapid headcount growth suggests ample internal mobility; roles range from engineering (ML, AI, data) to customer success, partnerships, and product management.