Accounting Lead

At Linear, we're building the product development system for teams and agents. AI is fundamentally changing how software gets built, and we’re shaping the tools this new era requires. Founded in 2019, Linear has become the platform of choice for more than 25,000 companies (including OpenAI, Coinbase, and Ramp) to plan, build, and ship their products. Today, our team is distributed across North America and Europe, and we’re continuing to grow internationally. What unites us is relentless focus, fast execution, and a deep care for software craftsmanship. Linear is profitable, which means we've had the discipline to build a strong business and now we need the accounting infrastructure to match. As our first in-house Accounting Lead, you'll own the foundation: the close process, the controls, the audit readiness, and the policies that let us operate with precision as we scale. This is a builder role. You'll be as comfortable in a reconciliation spreadsheet as you are explaining what the numbers mean to leadership and over time, you'll grow and lead a small accounting team as the company scales. Location & work mode Linear is a remote-first company, with optional co-working offices in San Francisco, New York, and London. This role is open to candidates based in North America. You can work from anywhere within this region. We value deep focus and async collaboration, with intentional moments to connect in person through team off-sites, optional co-working, and occasional travel. What you'll do - Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close: financial statements, reconciliations, journal entries, and flux analysis - Build our accounting infrastructure from scratch: chart of accounts, close cadence, internal controls, and accounting policies - Lead our annual audit and keep us audit-ready year-round - Manage tax compliance, payroll accounting, and entity-level filings - Partner with Finance, Legal, and People to keep financial operations aligned with how the business is actually running - Find and eliminate manual work: automate what can be automated, document what needs to be documented - Eventually hire and manage a small team of accountants while staying hands-on in the work yourself What we’re looking for - 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful time at a high-growth SaaS company - Strong technical command of US GAAP, including SaaS revenue recognition (ASC 606) and equity-based compensation; CPA preferred - Experience owning a full-cycle close and managing external audits end-to-end - Comfortable building from scratch: processes, controls, and policies — without a playbook handed to you - Experience managing or mentoring accountants, or clear readiness to do so - Proficiency in ERP platforms; experience evaluating or implementing a new ERP is a strong plus - Sharp on the details and equally capable of communicating what the numbers mean to people who aren't accountants - Sound judgment on what to build first and what can wait — this role requires sequencing, not just execution What we offer We're a small, focused team that cares deeply about the quality of our work and the people we do it with. Here's what you can expect: - Competitive salary and equity - Employee-friendly equity terms including early exercise in the US and extended exercise windows - Daily meal and coffee stipend on every workday - Paid co-working space or desk - Health coverage (based on country requirements) - 5 weeks paid vacation, plus local statutory holidays - 4 months paid parental leave - Paid month off after 4 years & every 2 years thereafter - Regular team events and off-sites - Remote-first with no required commute Learn how we think and work - A story about our mission: Read Me https://linear.app/readme - Our hiring process: How we hire at Linear https://linear.app/now/how-we-hire-at-linear - How we work: Designing remote work at Linear https://linear.app/now/designing-remote-work-at-linear - How Linear uses Linear: How o