Accounting - Founding Hire at Nominal in USA Gasoline, CA

About Nominal

Nominal is building the connected test and operations platform powering the world's most advanced hardware systems, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation defense programs. Our platform gives hardware engineering teams a single place to ingest data, analyze performance, automate test execution, and collaborate across every phase of development, so they can move faster without sacrificing safety or precision. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

We serve top-tier commercial and defense customers, from autonomy leaders like Anduril and Shield AI to next-generation aerospace teams like Hermeus and REGENT, and performance engineering teams like Pratt Miller Motorsports, alongside mission partners within the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on programs where failure isn’t an option. We’re backed by Sequoia, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Lightspeed. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence.

We're seeking our Founding Accounting Hire to build our infrastructure, leading accounting, reporting, and operational finance functions for a rapidly growing dual-use technology company. This role owns financial statements, month- and year-end close, revenue recognition, cost allocation, and operational accounting, while ensuring compliance with US GAAP and ASC 606. You’ll establish scalable internal controls, optimize financial processes, manage cash and treasury functions, maintain system integrity, and support external audits—enabling executive leadership with accurate, timely insights to drive strategic decisions.

🚀 About the role

• Prepare financial statements: Prepare timely and accurate financial statements to document the performance of the business, develop a shared understanding of our financial situation, and inform executive decision-making. Document footnotes, disclosures, and supporting schedules to supplement financial reporting.
• Perform month-end and year-end close: Own and drive coordination of month end close process, including detailed analysis and reconciliation of all general ledger accounts, while ensuring compliance with US GAAP, local accounting requirements, and internal policies. Optimize for a fast and efficient close that can withstand business growth pressures.
• Manage chart of accounts: Ensure the chart of accounts is properly aligned to the nature of Nominal’s business, is comprehensive in nature, and informative in structure.
• Allocate costs: Develop managerial accounting processes to provide visibility into relevant cost centers. Implement and maintain charge codes to allocate costs to various teams, projects, customer accounts, and more, allowing the team to assess ROI.
• Oversee operational accounting: Manage Nominal’s operational accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and travel & expense. Manage the full accounts receivable and payable cycles, from invoicing to cash application. Maintain accurate customer master data and billing information.
• Assign revenue recognition: Ensure accurate and timely recognition of revenue in accordance with ASC 606 and company-defined policies. Review customer contracts and sales agreements to determine appropriate treatment. Maintain and communicate gross margin performance.
• Establish internal controls and policies: Institute and document internal accounting policies and procedures to ensure consistency, compliance, and scalability. Implement lightweight, but effective, internal controls across key processes, including procure-to-pay and quote-to-cash.
• Manage cash / treasury: Oversee day-to-day cash operations and support treasury functions, including cash forecasting, optimizing cash flow, ensuring adequate liquidity, and executing internal controls over disbursements and bank transactions.
• Own financial systems and data integrity: Ensure the accuracy and completeness of financial data across systems. Work cross-functionally to improve integrations between accounting, billing, CRM, and expense management platforms.
• Coordinate external audits: Support the external audit process and ensure alignment with GAAP standards. Ensure internal controls and policies are in compliance with SOX.

🔍 We're looking for someone with

• CPA certification: Certified Public Accountant with 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including time at a public accounting firm and/or high-growth startup. Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Technical excellence: You have deep knowledge of US GAAP, with hands-on experience in financial reporting, audits, and accounting systems implementation. Familiarity with international accounting standards is a plus.
• Ownership mentality: You are excited by the challenge of owning the end-to-end accounting function. You combine a holistic vision with attention to detail to both understand the big picture and execute on the specifics.
• Systems builder: You thrive when building and owning processes rather than inheriting fully-developed systems. You seek to automate and improve what exists, making it faster and easier to perform the same tasks over time.
• Dynamic leader & team player: You are able to build trusted relationships with internal teams (finance, sales, operations), collaborating for shared success. You’re a natural at leading and lifting those around you with a mix of humility, eagerness to learn, and empathy. You’re excited to be an integral part of an early Finance team.

⚡ Skills that supercharge us

• Accounting software fluency: Experience with common accounting and billing software platforms (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks, Ramp, Stripe, Bill, Coupa). Ideally, you have experience supporting ERP implementations.
• B2B SaaS experience: Background at B2B SaaS firms that understands the typical accounting structures, margin profiles, KPIs / metrics, and more from high-growth, venture-backed software startups.
• Government contracts accounting knowledge: Familiarity with Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), as well as government contract types, such as firm fixed price, cost-plus, etc. Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) regarding allowable and unallowable costs.

✨ Benefits/Perks

• 🏥 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 🏖️ Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• 🍽️ Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• 🚀 Professional development stipend
• ✈️ Annual company retreat

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.