Director of Accounting

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Accounting, Boulder, CO (Hybrid) 

The Director of Accounting owns the day-to-day operations of Ascend's corporate accounting function. You'll drive a timely and accurate monthly close within 5 business days, manage the annual audit with our third-party partners, and maintain the accounting policies and internal controls that support our continued rapid growth. As the technical accounting and controls expert, you'll directly manage the Senior Accountant while staying hands-on with the technical work that matters. You need an entrepreneurial attitude that blends 'can-do' creativity with 'roll up your sleeves,' coupled with great communication skills and a strong sense of ethics.

Our Mission  

At Ascend Analytics, our mission is to create sustainable economic value for energy buyers and producers and transform the power industry. Our team combines advanced analytics, cloud-based technology, and deep market expertise to help our clients solve complex challenges across grid reliability, power market volatility, renewable integration, infrastructure development, and energy investment strategy. As a high-growth, private equity-backed company, Ascend continues to expand its market presence while investing in innovation, talent, and scalable solutions for an increasingly dynamic energy market. 

Your Impact

Real influence. Real outcomes. At every level.

• Technical leadership. Own revenue recognition under ASC 606, cash flow management, and audit strategy—bringing expertise in SaaS metrics, multi-jurisdiction tax compliance, and financial statement quality that the leadership team relies on.
• Direct team ownership. Manage, coach, and develop the Senior Accountant, building their technical capability while you both deliver the monthly close and annual audit that power the company's financial transparency.
• Operational excellence. Drive a 5-day monthly close, maintain reconciliations across our finance systems (Maxio, QuickBooks, Ramp, Avalara, Numeric), and deliver clear variance commentary that helps leadership understand what's moving the numbers.
• Strategic partnership. Support budgeting and strategic initiatives, manage banking and audit relationships, and be a reliable resource on ad hoc financial deep dives and cross-functional projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Own revenue recognition and billing under ASC 606 across our contract base, including review of non-standard or custom terms; maintain fluency in SaaS metrics (ARR, CARR, churn) and the mechanics of both time & materials and fixed-milestone professional services delivery.
• Drive cash flow management end to end: monitor daily cash position, drive A/R collections to hit targets, maintain a rolling 13-week forecast, approve weekly disbursements, and ensure accurate reporting to leadership.
• Directly manage and develop the Senior Accountant, including coaching, performance management, workload prioritization, and building technical accounting capability.
• Direct the monthly close within 5 business days and prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual GAAP financial statements—from preparer to reviewer—ensuring reconciliations are accurate, complete, and on deadline.
• Own the annual financial statement audit end to end: align with audit partners on planning and scope, manage fieldwork and PBC items, drive resolution of open issues, review financial statements and footnotes, and keep the audit on schedule and within budget.
• Manage tax compliance and third-party relationships across income tax and sales tax, including managing outside preparers, troubleshooting Avalara calculations and filings, and providing supporting documentation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the company's banking relationship(s), handling account administration and quarterly compliance reporting.
• Deliver clear, insightful flux and variance commentary that gives leadership real visibility into what's driving the numbers.
• Review and audit bi-weekly payroll for accuracy and completeness, partnering with HR/Payroll on discrepancies. Own the quarterly commission process—calculate, audit, and distribute payouts.
• Support the annual budgeting process and evaluation of performance against budget.
• Maintain and optimize the finance systems stack (Maxio, QuickBooks Online, Ramp, Avalara, Numeric).
• Take on ad hoc analysis, projects, and requests as they arise—one-off financial deep dives to support on cross-functional and strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, with 8+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• Deep knowledge of ASC 606 revenue recognition, including experience reviewing non-standard or custom contract terms; fluency in SaaS metrics (ARR, NRR, etc.) and both time & materials and fixed-milestone services delivery models.
• Prior experience owning an external financial statement audit end-to-end, including planning, fieldwork management, and financial statement/footnote review.
• Experience managing multi-jurisdiction tax compliance and related third-party relationships, spanning both income tax and sales tax.
• Experience managing cash flow and driving A/R collections results.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel; experience with QuickBooks, Maxio, or a similar ERP/billing system.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines independently and escalate issues early.
• Prior experience at a SaaS or technology company required.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA; public accounting experience, particularly with a Big 4 or national firm.
• Prior experience directly managing or mentoring accounting staff.
• Experience with Avalara or a similar sales tax automation tool.
• Experience building and optimizing workflows with AI.

Our Values  

Ascend Analytics promotes a culture of teamwork, inclusion, work-life balance, creative thinking, and learning. We work with five core pillars: 

• Integrity:  We act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards, doing the right thing even when it's difficult. 
• Purpose Driven: We are united with a shared purpose to deliver meaningful impact on our customers, our industry, and the energy transition to a low-carbon future. 
• Belonging: We foster a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone is valued, diverse perspectives are embraced, and fair opportunities are provided for all. 
• Innovation:  We predict and address new challenges, embracing change and continuous improvement 
• One Team Mindset:  We collaborate across teams and functions, supporting one another and prioritizing shared success over individual wins. 

Your Value

We offer generous, fair compensation, calibrated to your experience and structured to grow with you, along with a comprehensive benefits package: 

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage. 
• Life and disability insurance. 
• Parental leave for growing families. 
• FSA, HSA, and dependent care accounts. 
• 401(k) with a 3% non-elective contribution. 
• Flexible PTO to take time when you need it. 

Join a team that values your work, supports your growth, and invests in your future!

We offer a competitive salary range of $165,000 – $175,000, plus the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus of up to 10%. Compensation is flexible and tailored to your experience and background. But the perks don’t stop there — we’re committed to creating a workplace where people can do meaningful work, grow their careers, and still have a life outside the office. You’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, flexible work hours, a collaborative environment, and real opportunities for advancement.  

Collaboration is in our DNA, and we thrive on the energy of working together — the spontaneous ideas, face-to-face teamwork, and culture you can only build in a room.

But we also value the focus and freedom that remote flexibility brings. That's why our Boulder, CO office runs on a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office, 2 days remote).

Need accommodations? Contact us at View email address on ziprecruiter.com.

Ascend Analytics is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. 

Note: We regret that we are currently unable to offer visa sponsorship.