Head of Accounting

Company: 23andMe Research Institute
Location: Palo Alto
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

We’re looking for a Head of Accounting to join our Finance Team to lead core accounting operations and strengthen financial infrastructure. In this role, you will lead accounting operations with a focus on financial close, reporting, treasury, and compliance (including audit and relevant tax filings), while enhancing processes, strengthening controls, and improving operational effectiveness.Results driven non-profit finance leader focused on revenue both earned and philanthropic, supported by strong reporting fundamentals.You will partner closely with FP&A and cross-functional leaders to support revenue and expense tracking, contribute to forecasting insights, and ensure reporting processes evolve to support organizational growth. Who We Are We are a group of individuals passionate about genetic discovery. 23andMe Research Institute is a nonprofit medical research organization that enables people everywhere to access their genetic information, learn about themselves, and participate in the world's largest crowdsourced research initiative. The Institute aims to be the world's most significant contributor to scientific advancement, uniting people with the common goal of improving health and deepening our understanding of DNA — the code of life. What You'll Do Financial Accounting & Reporting Lead day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring compliance with US GAAP and nonprofit financial reporting requirements (including net asset classifications). Act as accountable owner for in-house and outsourced accounting team performance: SLAs, quality checks, escalation paths, and continuous improvement. Translate leadership needs into clear requirements and timelines; managing internal finance and accounting outsource teams with clear SOPs and deliverables. Coach internal stakeholders on finance processes and improve cross-functional collaboration (Ops, Programs, Dev/Fundraising, Legal/Contracts) Support and manage fund accounting activities, including restricted and unrestricted funds, grant tracking, and donor reporting requirements. Oversee ASC 606 earned revenue accounting and inventory accounting operations. Deliver on leadership/board-ready financials and variance narratives. Support optimization and effective use of accounting systems and tools, including ERP (Netsuite Social Impact), close management tool (FQ), Ramp, and JPM Access. Lead initiatives to improve efficiency through automation, standardization, and process optimization. Compliance, Audit & Internal Controls Partner with the accounting leadership to support audit readiness and coordinate with external auditors. Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and documentation to support consistency and compliance. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including IRS filings (Form 990), grant compliance, sales tax and regulatory reporting. Help maintain and strengthen internal controls to safeguard organizational assets and promote financial integrity. Identify financial risks and recommend mitigation strategies. Strategy & Partnership Partner with the CFO and FP&A on budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning. Collaborate with Development, Grants, Legal, HR, and Operations teams to ensure accurate financial tracking and reporting. Support Board and Audit Committee reporting as needed. What You'll Bring CPA, required CMA or MBA strongly preferred Netsuite Social Impact experience strongly preferred Minimum 15 years in progressive finance leadership experience with increasing scope and accountability; ideally as a Director of Accounting level leader in a Non-Profit, health/research, or a complex multi-revenue organization. Demonstrated ownership of enterprise-grade financial reporting: leading multi-step month-end close, establishing close governance, ensuring balance sheet integrity, and producing management/board-ready financials. Deep expertise owning and improving end-to-end revenue streams (earned revenue and/or contracts/grants): billing/invoicing strategy, AR/collections oversight, cash application and unapplied cash resolution, deferred revenue management, revenue analytics, and policy governance. Track record of designing and operating internal controls and finance governance appropriate for scale, including close controls, review standards, delegation, and segregation-of-duties considerations in an outsource environment. Extensive experience partnering cross-functionally with Operations/Programs, Development/Fundraising, Legal/Contracts, and Executive Leadership, with demonstrated ability to influence and align stakeholders. Current and in-depth knowledge of US GAAP is required Strong systems aptitude; able to drive requirements, improve workflows and oversee enhancements Ability to prioritize in real time; know what’s important Detailed oriented with a strong bias for action, ability to proactively dig into the details and resolve issues Executive Leadership and ability partner cross-functionally Excellent problem solving and analytical skills Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills Transparent and self-aware. Listens and learns from others About Us 23andMe, headquartered in California, is a leading consumer genetics and research company. The company’s mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. 23andMe has pioneered direct access to genetic information as the only company with multiple FDA authorizations for genetic health risk reports. The company has created the world’s largest crowdsourced platform for genetic research, with 80 percent of its customers electing to participate. 23andMe research participants consent to research conducted by 23andMe which is overseen by an independent third-party Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulated under the 'Common Rule' (45 CFR part 46). More information is available at www.23andme.com/research. At 23andMe, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at accommodations-ext@23andme.com. 23andMe will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law. Please note: 23andMe does not accept agency resumes and we are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. Thank you. Pay Transparency 23andMe takes a market-based approach to pay, and amounts will vary depending on your geographic location. The salary range reflected here is for a candidate based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. San Francisco Bay Area Base Pay Range $220,000-$300,000

Keywords: 23andMe Research Institute, Ceres , Head of Accounting, Accounting, Auditing , Palo Alto, California