Controller

What MatX is Building MatX's mission is to make the world’s best AI models run as efficiently as allowed by physics, bringing the world years ahead in AI quality and availability. Your Place Here MatX is seeking a dedicated and experienced Corporate Controller to lead our accounting function and ensure the integrity, accuracy, and scalability of our financial operations as we grow. This role will serve as the guardian of financial data integrity — going beyond compliance to drive transparency, support executive decision-making, and deliver high-quality insights to internal leadership, investors, and the Board of Directors. As a key member of the Finance team, you will oversee accounting, establish in-house processes and infrastructure, strengthen governance, and ensure financial rigor across a fast-moving, engineering-driven organization. What This Role Owns Full ownership of the monthly close , GAAP financials, and accounting governance Oversight and management of accounting function (bringing the function in-house) Accounting for R&D, tape-out costs, manufacturing, inventory, and NREs Payroll, treasury, cash management, and bank reconciliations Board and investor-ready financial reporting in partnership with the Finance Lead ERP readiness and transition planning as MatX outgrows QuickBooks Online Accounting, Close & Governance Own and oversee all core accounting functions, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Treasury, Fixed Assets, and Project Accounting Lead a timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close, ensuring GAAP-compliant financial statements Manage and review work performed by outsourced accounting providers, ensuring quality, timeliness, and adherence to internal standards Design, implement, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls appropriate for a scaling semiconductor startup Coordinate payroll processing in partnership with a third-party payroll provider, including review of payroll entries and reconciliations Serve as primary accounting owner for audits, reviews, and investor diligence requests Own tax compliance and reporting, including income tax provision, federal/state/local compliance, sales & use tax, and franchise tax filings across applicable jurisdictions Identify and document eligibility for R&D tax credits in partnership with external advisors, to ensure the company is capturing available credits, particularly given qualifying wafer, tape-out, and design activity Semiconductor-Specific Accounting & Cost Management Partner with Engineering and Operations to ensure accurate accounting for R&D spend, wafer fabrication, tape-out costs, mask sets, non-recurring engineering costs, multi-project wafer runs, packaging, testing, and inventory Track and account for tape-out milestones, including capitalization vs. expense treatment in accordance with GAAP Support program-level cost tracking across silicon development phases (pre-tape-out, tape-out, bring-up, production) Ensure appropriate treatment of long-lead manufacturing commitments, prepaid expenses, accruals, and supplier deposits Own inventory accounting end-to-end, including standard costing methodology, excess & obsolete inventory reserves, and cycle count / physical inventory processes for wafers, die, and packaged parts Support trade compliance and export control accounting including duty, tariff, and customs valuation treatment, and maintain financial controls aligned with export classifications (EAR/ITAR) for cross-border shipments of wafers, die, and finished goods Manage foreign currency exposure arising from payments with foreign fabs, OSAT (assembly & test), and mask houses, including exposure tracking and coordination with the Finance Lead on any hedging strategy (Note: This role does not manage the engineering tape-out process, but ensures financial visibility, controls, and accurate accounting of it.) Financial Reporting & Board Support Partner with the FinOps lead to respond to financial requests from investors, lenders, and strategic partners, and contribute to quarterly Board materials, including financial statements, KPIs, and variance analysis Produce recurring reporting packages, dashboards, and metrics to support executive and Board decision-making Perform analytical work, including ROI, NPV, breakeven analysis, and cost-to-scale assessments, to support strategic initiatives Own revenue recognition under ASC 606 for any design services, licensing, NRE reimbursement, or early production revenue, including milestone and multi-element arrangements common in semiconductor customer contracts Own equity and stock-based compensation accounting, including cap table accounting, ASC 718 stock compensation expense, and coordination with 409A valuation providers Support lender reporting and covenant compliance for any venture debt facilities, including covenant monitoring, compliance reporting, and borrowing-base calculations if applicable Operational Finance & Systems Own day-to-day accounting operations in ERP, ensuring data integrity and proper controls Perform and review bank reconciliations, cash management, and treasury activities Partner cross-functionally and within Finance to ensure accurate tracking of departmental spend, headcount, customer acquisition costs, R&D investments, and cost of goods manufactured Lead accounting process improvements and system enhancements to support scale, including readiness for future ERP migration if needed Own accounting and compliance reporting for any government grants or incentive programs if applicable, including milestone tracking, compliance reporting, and clawback risk management (e.g., CHIPS Act or similar programs) Coordinate with brokers on insurance and risk management (D&O, property/casualty coverage for fab-related equipment, in-transit inventory, and business interruption) Leadership & Collaboration Act as a trusted finance partner across the organization, including People Team, Engineering, and executive leadership Lead accounting system scalability and ERP readiness, including documenting requirements, improving data hygiene and controls in QuickBooks Online, leading on ERP selection, and supporting a future migration as the company outgrows QBO within the next 12 months Provide clear, timely, and thoughtful responses to leadership on accounting, financial, and operational questions Build and lead the internal accounting function as the company scales, including hiring and developing staff accountants and transitioning work in-house from outsourced providers where appropriate What Success Looks Like By month six, a successful Controller will have: A predictable, on-time monthly close with high confidence in numbers and minimal rework Clean, GAAP-compliant financials that withstand investor scrutiny and diligence Clear visibility into silicon program costs , including tape-out, fabrication, packaging, and test Well-managed outsourced accounting partners operating against clear expectations and timelines Documented accounting policies, controls, and close checklists appropriate for scale Improved cash controls, reconciliations, and forecasting inputs A well-defined ERP readiness plan , including requirements, data hygiene, and implementation timing Strong trust and credibility across the organization Who You Are Active CPA and Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (or equivalent) 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on close ownership. Expertise and strong judgement in cost accounting, R&D capitalization, accruals, and inventory accounting . Solid understanding of payroll, treasury, bank reconciliations, and internal controls Experience accounting for tangible, manufactured products (hardware, semiconductor, or complex supply chains strongly preferred) Startup Savvy . Experience scaling accounting operations from early-stage through growth. Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure & processes from the ground up. Experience supporting audits, investor diligence, and fundraising processes. Strong experience in QBO and ERP transition Your organizational skills and attention to detail are your superpower Clear Communicator. You can present complex financial information to executives and investors in a clear and concise manner You collaborate to win — chasing the best solution for MatX, not the path of least resistance. You bring discipline and a point of view, but also recognize that sometimes there is room to be flexible Why This Role Is Compelling Opportunity to build the accounting foundation for a category-defining semiconductor company High ownership and visibility Direct exposure to leadership, investors, and the Board Clear runway to grow with the business Compensation The US base salary for this full-time position is determined based on a variety of factors including role, experience, location, job-related skills, and relevant education and training. Career length is only a guideline for compensation. $220,000 – $300,000 + equity What We Offer Time off: 4 weeks PTO (accrued) + 12 company Holidays + up to 3 weeks remote work Health: Company-subsidized Medical (Kaiser or Anthem) for employees & dependents, Guardian Dental and Vision insurances for employee & dependents, and life insurance (employee only), plus HSA and FSA offerings via Lively. Financial Wellbeing: Choose from Roth IRA/ 401K (or both) retirement plans with up to 5% company contribution to 401K (even if you don't contribute). Also, 100% company-paid life insurance (up to $300K) and long-term disability insurances. Professional Development: $1500 Professional Development Budget (per year) Team Meals: MatX provides onsite team lunch & dinner Monday - Friday, with your choice of ordering via WeBox, Specialty’s or via our reimbursement system Commute on Us: Commute on our company Uber account, or reimburse your train rides. Either way, we pay 100% for your daily commute. MatX E[x]tras: $50/mo to use on the perk you value most Cell & Internet Reimbursement: $35/mo for cellular and $40/mo for wifi Mental Wellbeing: 100% paid mental health benefit via SpringHealth and Guardian EAP. Support to Parents: Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave regardless of path to parenthood, 10 weeks pregnancy disability leave, flexible return-to-work hours, and Benepass reproductive health & parental benefit. AI Resources: Up to $20K/month plus a dedicated internal AI Tooling Team to support your productivity As part of our dedication to the diversity of our team and our focus on creating an inviting and inclusive work experience, MatX is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and work from our offices in Mountain View Tuesdays-Thursdays. This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant's capacity to perform job functions in compliance with U.S. export control laws without obtaining a license from U.S. export control authorities. MatX does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or People team and any resumes submitted are deemed to be the property of MatX.