Compensation Accountant

We are growing quickly and looking for a Compensation Accountant to join our Finance team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong accounting professional to own the full accounting lifecycle for compensation-related activity, including payroll, bonuses, equity, benefits, reconciliations, and close support across a multi-entity, multi-country environment.

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About the Compensation Accountant Role

The Compensation Accountant will report to the Assistant Controller and serve as a key member of the accounting close process. This individual will partner closely with Compensation, Recruiting, FP&A, and Payroll to ensure compensation activity is recorded accurately, reconciled thoroughly, and supported by clear documentation.

This role is well suited to a CPA with public accounting training and private company experience who brings strong technical judgment, discretion with sensitive compensation data, and a continuous improvement mindset. The role is based in Boston, MA on a hybrid schedule with three days per week in the office.

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Key Responsibilities

Compensation Accounting and Close

• Prepare, review, and post compensation-related journal entries in accordance with monthly, quarterly, and annual close timelines, including payroll, accrued bonuses, sign-on bonuses, retention bonuses, and other variable compensation.
• Own the accurate and timely recording of equity compensation expense, including stock options, RSUs, and other equity instruments, in accordance with ASC 718 or applicable standards.
• Record and reconcile benefits-related accounting entries, including 401(k) employer contributions, profit sharing, and other employee benefit programs.
• Maintain detailed close checklists and supporting documentation for compensation accounts to ensure consistency, auditability, and timely close execution.
  
  

Reconciliations and Multi-Country Accounting

• Own reconciliations for compensation-related balance sheet accounts, including accrued compensation, accrued bonuses, equity award liabilities, deferred compensation, and benefits payables.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items on a timely basis, escalating aged or material items with clear explanations and proposed resolutions.
• Coordinate with Payroll to reconcile payroll register data to the general ledger and resolve discrepancies.
• Manage compensation accounting entries across multiple international jurisdictions, accounting for local statutory requirements, currency considerations, social charges, employer contributions, and entity-level reporting needs.
  
  

Cross-Functional Partnership, Audit, and Controls

• Serve as the primary accounting liaison to Compensation, Recruiting, FP&A, and Payroll, providing timely and accurate data for headcount reporting, budget-to-actual analysis, and compensation planning.
• Partner with Recruiting on the accounting treatment of sign-on bonuses and retention awards, including appropriate amortization schedules.
• Support FP&A with compensation variance analysis and explanations for period-over-period movements in compensation expense.
• Prepare compensation-related audit schedules and supporting documentation, and respond to auditor requests in a timely and complete manner.
• Ensure compensation accounting policies and procedures are documented and consistently applied across entities and jurisdictions.

Process Improvement and Technology

• Evaluate compensation accounting processes and identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and improve the quality and speed of delivery.
• Contribute to ERP enhancements, payroll system integrations, and related tool implementations that affect compensation accounting workflows.
• Develop scalable templates, workpapers, and documentation that support consistency as Keystone grows in headcount and geographic scope.

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What You’ll Bring

• Active CPA license.
• Approximately 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting experience at a Big 4 firm and substantive private company experience in compensation accounting, technical accounting, or a closely related area.
• Hands-on experience accounting for payroll entries, corporate bonuses, sign-on bonuses, retention bonuses, equity-based compensation, 401(k), profit sharing, and other employee benefits.
• Experience owning compensation-related account reconciliations across multiple accounts, entities, and countries.
• Understanding of multi-jurisdiction payroll complexity, statutory requirements, local employer contributions, and related compensation accounting considerations.
• Strong close discipline, with a track record of meeting deadlines in a high-volume, multi-entity environment without sacrificing accuracy or completeness.
• High proficiency with ERP systems and intermediate-to-advanced Excel skills, including comfort working with large and complex data sets.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with HR, Recruiting, FP&A, Payroll, and other non-accounting stakeholders.
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and professionalism in preparing workpapers, reconciliations, and communications.
• Maturity and discretion in handling highly confidential compensation data across all levels of the organization.
• Familiarity with equity plan accounting, multi-currency consolidation, HRIS platforms such as Workday or ADP, payroll-to-GL integrations, process automation, or accounting technology initiatives is a plus.
• At Keystone we believe diversity matters. At every level of our firm, we seek to advance and promote diversity, foster an inclusive culture, and ensure our colleagues have a deep sense of respect and belonging. If you are interested in growing your career with colleagues from varied backgrounds and cultures, consider Keystone.