[Hiring] Lead Accountant @Upstart

Role Description

As a Lead Accountant, Capital Markets, you will own key accounting processes supporting Upstart’s structured products, derivatives, and loan sale and funding activities.

You will serve as a dedicated accounting partner to Capital Markets and Analytics throughout the transaction lifecycle, from understanding new activity to completing month-end close. Working closely with Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting, you will help ensure transactions are accurately recorded, balances are supported, and accounting processes evolve with the business.

How you’ll make an impact

• Own month-end accounting for structured products and derivatives, including journal entries, reconciliations, supporting schedules, and balance analysis.
• Support accounting for loan sale and funding activities, ensuring transactions, settlements, and related financing costs are accurately recorded.
• Partner with Capital Markets and Analytics throughout the month to understand transaction activity, investigate discrepancies, and ensure timely and complete accounting.
• Coordinate with internal partners on valuation inputs and outputs, reconcile related balances, and record appropriate accounting entries.
• Provide analyses and supporting documentation to Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting for accounting assessments, disclosures, and external audits.
• Help establish accounting workflows for new transactions and arrangements in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Strengthen documentation, controls, and automation to support increasing transaction volume and complexity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 6+ years of progressive accounting experience in financial services, lending, fintech, or public accounting serving financial services clients.
• Experience accounting for structured products and derivatives, including related valuations, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Experience with loan sale and funding activities, including transaction accounting, settlements, and related financing arrangements.
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated ability to independently own complex accounting processes and month-end close activities.
• Ability to evaluate new transactions in partnership with Technical Accounting and lead cross-functional issue resolution.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies, interpret transaction data, and clearly communicate accounting results.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with large datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate, timely results with limited oversight.

Requirements

• CPA or equivalent professional designation.
• Experience supporting financial reporting, external audits, and internal controls in a public company environment.
• Experience reviewing transaction documents and translating key terms into accounting processes.
• Experience leading process improvements, strengthening controls, and implementing automation.
• Experience with NetSuite, SQL, or other accounting and data analysis tools.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only).
• Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only).
• Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security.
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country).
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only).
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from.
• Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City.