Controller

Kira is transforming how people learn by using AI to empower teachers to deliver personalized learning at scale. We’re backed by top investors and driven by a team that is deeply passionate about using technology to change education.

We live in a world where technology is rapidly changing the educational experiences of students and teachers everywhere, and we have the opportunity to shape how this change takes place. Kira's mission is to harness transformative AI technologies to make world-class personalized teaching and learning accessible to everyone. Kira is a rapidly growing startup backed by top-tier Venture Capital funds including New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Andrew Ng’s AI Fund, and Primavera.

As our Controller, you'll be the financial backbone of the company. You'll own the close, build the systems and controls a fast-growing SaaS business needs, and partner closely with leadership on the numbers that drive decisions. This is a hands-on role with significant scope: you'll be doing the work, building systems and processes that scale, and ultimately shaping how finance operates here for years to come.

This is a full-time position that requires flexibility with work hours and availability outside of regular business hours. We have offices in New York City, NY and San Francisco, CA and we ask that employees work from one of the two locations and come into the office in-person 4 days a week.

What You’ll Do

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including journal entries, reconciliations, and consolidated financial statements

• Manage ASC 606 revenue recognition for SaaS and usage-based contracts with K–12 districts, including multi-year deals, ramp structures, and non-standard terms

• Lead AR, AP, payroll, and treasury operations; build the processes and controls to scale these as headcount and revenue grow

• Implement and optimize financial systems (ERP, billing, expense management, equity) to support rapid company growth

• Own quarterly and annual tax filings; sales tax compliance across the states we operate in, plus other regulatory and tax matters

• Run a strong annual audit process; serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, tax advisors, and bankers

• Partner with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and unit economics

• Build and mentor the accounting team over time

What We’re Looking For

• 7+ years of accounting experience, with time spent at a high-growth SaaS company

• CPA required; Big 4 audit background strongly preferred

• Deep working knowledge of US GAAP, especially ASC 606 revenue recognition for software

• Experience owning a full close cycle or a meaningful portion of it from start to finish in a venture-backed or pre-IPO environment

• Track record of building systems, controls, and processes from scratch or significantly upgrading them

• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment where priorities shift and you're often building the plane while flying it

• Strong communicator who can translate financial detail into clear narratives for non-finance stakeholders

• High judgment on what level of rigor each situation calls for — knowing when to be precise and when to be pragmatic

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and equity. For applicants in the US, the salary range for this role is $150,000 – $210,000, depending on relevant experience and skill set

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance, including a medical insurance plan with 100% coverage of employee premiums

• Flexible PTO policy and company holidays

• DoorDash credit for lunch daily

• Dog friendly office 🐶

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

At Kira, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Kira believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees are critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Selection for employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Background Check

Kira will make a conditional job offer in line with local, state and federal laws, and a subsequent criminal, education, and employment history background check will then be issued.