TLDR;
Principles of Intelligence employs staff and fiscally sponsors researchers in the U.S. and U.K. working on high-impact AI safety research. We are hiring a Finance Manager to lead the team’s financial record-keeping, budget monitoring and payroll administration.
This position will work closely with the Operations team and the Compliance & Operations Manager to ensure the organization’s financial operations run accurately and on time across a team spanning the U.S. and U.K. Apply here by August 23.
Position Details
Location: Remote.
Visa / Work authorization: The role is fully remote, and we can employ candidates in whichever country they have residency in, with a few exceptions.
Type: Full-time.
Start date: September/October 2026.
Salary range: Salary is dependent upon location and experience. Our estimated range is $90,000-$120,000 gross, with flexibility for exceptional candidates.
Deadline to apply: Please submit the application form by August 23 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Core Responsibilities
- Month-End & Day-to-Day Accounting: Maintain accurate books in Xero (bank reconciliations, transaction coding, month-end close) and ensure all financial data is recorded accurately.
- Accounts Payable & Spend Management: Manage AP using Ramp and Mercury, including bill processing, payment runs, expense reviews, and reimbursements.
- Reporting & Analytics: Prepare monthly/quarterly management accounts, board packs, and financial dashboards; analyze variances to support strategic decisions.
- Budgeting & Grant Tracking: Lead annual budgeting and forecasting, tracking funder compliance and producing financial reports for restricted grant funds.
- Audit & Compliance: Own external audit preparation across jurisdictions (US), maintain regulatory/tax compliance, and collaborate with external advisors.
- Controls & Automation: Maintain internal financial controls, document standard procedures, and implement automations for routine bookkeeping tasks.
This role is fully remote, so we’re looking for people who can thrive in an async environment and are genuinely excited to work on AI safety.
Requirements
- You are ideal for the role if:
- You are excited to take a rapidly growing organization through professionalization of accounting, setting up processes such that scientists can do their good work while we take care of the rest.
- You are proactive in pointing out problems and want to create systems that can work through the growth.
- You prioritize impact over “how things were done before” and have an understanding of the needs of a rapidly growing org that cares about impact instead of profits. (Ideally)
- You worry about AI risks but know how to use AI responsibly to make systems work better, or are interested to learn this skill.
- Must have
- Strong working knowledge of US non-profit financial compliance, including tax and regulatory requirements
- A licence as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the US. Equivalent certifications may be suitable, ideally focused on US regulations.
- 3+ years’ experience in public accounting or internal accounting in a role with a wide variety of responsibilities. As a Finance Manager we expect you to bring a depth of finance experience to the role and ideally appropriate financial qualifications.
- Experience managing restricted and unrestricted grant budgets, producing funder reports, and maintaining accurate grant schedules
- Comfort owning the finance function end-to-end — this is a sole finance role, and you will be the primary point of accountability for financial operations and reporting
- Strong attention to detail and clear written communication
- An operations mindset: You’re good at identifying issues, prioritizing, generating solutions, and efficiently implementing new ideas.
- Great to Have
- Proficiency in Xero or a comparable accounting platform, such as QuickBooks or Sage, including hands-on bookkeeping, financial reporting, reconciliations and fund accounting.
- Familiarity with financial compliance obligations such as Form 990, state registrations, CT600, 1099s, W-9/W-8 collection
- Experience with Ramp or a similar AP/expense platform (Concur, Airbase, Airwallex)
- Prior experience leading or closely supporting an external audit
- Experience improving finance workflows, implementing new tools, or building controls from scratch
- Hands-on payroll experience in the US
Benefits and Salary
Your starting salary range depends on role, prior experience, and location. Our estimated range is $90,000-$120,000 gross, with flexibility for exceptional candidates.
Our benefits include:
- Time off: 4 weeks of paid holiday per year, plus additional personal time off.
- Flexible working hours: Flexible working hours with an emphasis on outcomes and reliable coordination with teammates.
- High ownership & autonomy: A high-trust environment where you’ll own your work end-to-end, with meaningful responsibility and room to improve systems.
- Employment type: We’re open to either full employment or a contractor arrangement, depending on location and candidate preference.
- Team meetups: We get together in person 3-4 times a year for focused work time, great conversations, and the kind of momentum you only get when the whole team is in the same room.
Application Process
- Application: Submit an application by August 23.
- Screening call: Attend a brief screening call, where you’ll have the chance to ask questions about the role.
- Interview: Attend a remote interview to assess strategic thinking and team fit.
- Work trial: Attend a paid, remote work trial where you’ll spend the day meeting the team and completing strategic assessments.
- Team interviews: Attend one/two additional interviews with the team.
- References: Share references who can comment on your aptitudes. Good references can notably strengthen your application.
