Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Avalara is an AI-first company providing a cloud compliance platform that connects tax and technology. The Commissions Accounting Lead will manage detailed commission accounting under ASC 606, evaluate sales and partner agreements, and ensure accurate cost classification. The role will also automate commission processes, apply AI tools, support financial controls and audits, and partner with cross-functional teams on system improvements.
Responsibilities
- Perform detailed, accurate accounting for commission accruals, expense, capitalization, and amortization under ASC 606, maintaining schedules across products and contract types
- Review and evaluate complex sales and partner agreements to determine proper accounting treatment and identify the correct cost classification consistent with GAAP
- Identify manual or error-prone processes, develop and implement automated workflows and AI-enabled tools to support agreement review, anomaly detection, reconciliation, and data quality monitoring
- Prepare and review account reconciliations for commission-related balance sheet and P&L accounts, investigating variances, unusual trends, and outliers
- Support the design, execution, and documentation of SOX-compliant controls over commission accounting
- Prepare journal entries, supporting schedules, and documentation to support quarterly audits, technical memos, and financial reporting requirements
- Partner with Legal, Financial Operations, Revenue Operations, Partner Operations, Global Analytics, and IT to understand deal structures and implement system improvements
- Be a detail-level technical resource on commission accounting questions and help evaluate new or amended commission plans before launch
Skills
- 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with meaningful exposure to commission accounting and/or ASC 606 cost capitalization
- Working knowledge of ASC 606, including incremental costs of obtaining a contract, and experience identifying and classifying costs following GAAP
- Experience in a SaaS or subscription-based business, with comfort working through complex, non-standard agreements
- Hands-on experience designing and building automation—not just using existing pre-built tools—with experience redesigning inefficient processes to measurably improve accuracy and cycle time
- An AI bar-raising mindset with demonstrated proficiency using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot) to support accounting analysis, agreement review, or process automation, with specific examples of impact
- Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Workday) and advanced Excel skills
- You have experience explaining technical accounting conclusions to non-accounting partners
Benefits
- This is a remote position in the United States.
- Paid time off
- Paid parental leave
- Annual bonus based on individual and company performance, depending on the terms of the applicable plan and the employee’s role
- Private medical, life, and disability insurance
- 8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and exec sponsorship
Company Overview