Junior Accountant

Company Description Akash Systems, Inc. is a venture-backed, late-stage, Bay Area company that makes and sells Diamond Cooled GPU-based servers to AI companies, Cloud Service Providers, and data centers worldwide. The deep tech company pioneered Diamond Cooling® technology wherein the world’s most thermally conductive material, lab‑grown diamond, is brought into intimate contact with GPUs — the densest heat source chip in a modern high compute server. The resulting Akash server is one that exhibits more compute in FLOPS (>50%) and FLOPS per Watt (by 2x) than any other server in the market today. Akash’s Diamond Cooled servers also reduce the energy cost of cooling the entire data center since the servers can operate in an ambient temperature of up to 120°F. The company’s lead investors include Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund. Akash Systems recently deployed its Diamond Cooling® technology in space, where many Akash satellite radios are now in operation. Role Description We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced Cost Accountant to join our finance team and report directly to the Head of Finance. This is a hands‑on role at the intersection of cost accounting and general financial accounting, suited for someone who takes ownership of the numbers and thrives in a collaborative, fast‑moving environment. The Cost Accountant will be responsible for maintaining the company’s books in QuickBooks, developing and maintaining product cost standards, supporting investor reporting and document requests, and contributing to the full spectrum of day‑to‑day accounting and month‑end close activities. This is a critical role supporting the financial integrity and operational effectiveness of the business. What You’ll do Cost Accounting Develop, maintain, and continuously refine average cost models for all products, incorporating materials, labor, overhead, and other direct and indirect cost components. Analyze variances between standard and actual costs and investigate root causes in coordination with operations and procurement teams. Maintain accurate cost data in QuickBooks and ensure proper cost layer integrity across inventory and product records. Perform periodic inventory costing reviews, reconcile physical inventory counts, and support cycle count programs. Prepare cost of goods sold (COGS) analyses and gross margin reports by product, product line, and customer. Support the development of pricing models and profitability analyses for new and existing products. Assist in establishing and documenting cost accounting policies, methodologies, and internal controls. QuickBooks & General Ledger Management Serve as the primary owner and administrator of the company’s QuickBooks environment, ensuring the chart of accounts, class structure, and item lists are accurate and up to date. Record and reconcile all financial transactions including journal entries, accruals, prepayments, and reclassifications. Perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet account reconciliations. Support the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Maintain fixed asset schedules and record depreciation and amortization entries. Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable sub‑ledgers, including vendor and customer reconciliations. Investor Relations Support Compile and organize financial documents, schedules, and supporting data in response to investor information requests and due diligence inquiries. Prepare and maintain standardized investor reporting packages, including financial statements, KPI dashboards, and variance commentary. Assist in the preparation of materials for board meetings, investor updates, and fundraising processes. Maintain organized, audit‑ready financial records and a well‑structured document repository to facilitate timely investor and lender requests. Coordinate with the Head of Finance to ensure investor‑facing financial data is accurate, consistent, and presented clearly. Financial Reporting & Analysis Assist in the preparation of monthly financial statements, management reports, and variance analyses comparing actuals to budget and prior periods. Support the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes by providing historical cost data and trend analyses. Prepare adhoc financial analyses and reports as requested by the Head of Finance or executive team. Assist with the preparation of schedules and workpapers in support of the annual audit and tax filings. Accounts Payable & Receivable Process vendor invoices, obtain appropriate approvals, and manage timely payment runs. Monitor and follow up on outstanding accounts receivable balances, prepare aging reports, and support collections activities. Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies promptly. Maintain accurate vendor and customer records in QuickBooks. Payroll & Expense Management Support bi‑weekly or semi‑monthly payroll processing in coordination with the payroll provider, ensuring accurate coding and general ledger posting. Administer the employee expense reimbursement process, review submissions for policy compliance, and ensure proper coding and recording. Assist in month‑end payroll reconciliations and accruals for wages, benefits, and PTO. Tax & Compliance Support Assist in the preparation of sales and use tax filings across applicable jurisdictions. Support the preparation of 1099 filings and other year‑end tax compliance requirements. Maintain organized records and workpapers to support tax filings and regulatory reporting. Assist in the preparation of audit support schedules and respond to auditor requests. Required Qualifications Minimum of 5 years of combined experience in cost accounting and financial/general accounting. Demonstrated hands‑on experience developing product cost models and analyzing cost variances. Proficiency in QuickBooks (Desktop or Online); ability to serve as the functional administrator of the platform. Strong command of GAAP accounting principles and financial statement preparation. Experience with full‑cycle accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month‑end close processes. High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, financial modeling). Preferred Qualifications Experience in a private technology, manufacturing, or product‑based company. Exposure to investor reporting, board reporting, or financial due diligence processes. CPA designation or active progress toward CPA licensure preferred. Experience with inventory management and costing in a multi‑SKU or product‑based environment. Familiarity with ERP systems or financial platforms beyond QuickBooks (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct) a plus. The Ideal Candidate Is highly organized and detail‑oriented, with a track record of maintaining accurate and well‑documented financial records. Takes initiative and ownership — can manage their workload independently while proactively communicating with the Head of Finance. Brings a process‑improvement mindset and looks for opportunities to streamline and strengthen accounting workflows. Is comfortable working cross‑functionally with non‑finance colleagues and explaining financial data in plain language. Is discreet and professional when handling sensitive financial and investor information. Compensation & Benefits We offer a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including: Base salary: competitive and based on experience, skills, and qualifications Annual performance bonus Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Flexible PTO policy Remote / hybrid work flexibility Professional development support, including CPA exam assistance Work Authorization Akash Systems does not sponsor or take over sponsorship for employment visas for this role (e.g., H‑1B, O‑1, TN, F‑1/OPT, etc.) Eligible candidates are U.S. citizens or U.S. lawful permanent residents (Green Card Holders). #J-18808-Ljbffr