Cost Accountant
Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Cost Accountant to join our team.
Position Description
The Cost Accountant will play a key role in Oklo's accounting function, with primary responsibility over cost identification and coding for Oklo’s capital project spend, including for plant and inventory workstreams. This role partners closely with project controllers, procurement, accounts payable, and other stakeholders to make appropriate GAAP accounting conclusions for spend, including for capitalization and GL allocation of plant and fixed asset costs. The Cost Accountant will execute internal controls supporting Oklo's SOX environment, assist internal and external auditors, and deliver accurate monthly and quarterly close schedules. The ability to apply accounting policy consistently, investigate variances, and stay organized across a growing asset base will be a critical success factor.
A second critical aspect of this role will be managing and overseeing the Company's fixed assets register. This role will maintain the register and ensure assets are accurately classified, supported, and placed in service on a timely basis. The Cost Accountant will also run monthly depreciation, prepare related journal entries and roll-forwards, and reconcile the fixed asset subledger to the general ledger as part of the month-end close.
Specific responsibilities may include:
Partner with project controllers, procurement, accounts payable, and other stakeholders to review project spend for proper capitalization treatment under company policy.
Maintain complete supporting documentation for capitalization conclusions, asset records, depreciation, and disposals in accordance with accounting policy and internal controls
Support internal and external audits by providing fixed asset schedules, transaction support, control evidence, and timely responses to inquiries
Partner with project controllers, procurement, and accounts payable to confirm asset descriptions, ownership, location, useful life, cost center, and placed-in-service status
Align with project team for single source of truth related to capital project portfolio reporting as empowering projects teams to focus on progressing their projects
Manage the capital project lifecycle, including additions, transfers, placed-in-service dates, disposals, retirements, and other changes to the fixed asset register
Monitor construction-in-progress balances and coordinate the timely transfer of completed projects into the appropriate fixed asset categories
Run monthly depreciation, validate system calculations, and prepare or post the related journal entries as part of the month-end close
Reconcile the fixed asset subledger to the general ledger each month and research and resolve reconciling items promptly
Prepare fixed asset journal entries for additions, transfers, disposals, impairments, reclassifications, and other required adjustments
Prepare monthly and quarterly fixed asset roll-forwards, capital expenditure schedules, and related financial reporting support
Coordinate periodic physical inventories and asset verification procedures and investigate identified discrepancies
Identify opportunities to improve and automate fixed asset accounting, capitalization review, reconciliation, and reporting processes
Support other accounting responsibilities and special projects as assigned as the Company's operations and asset base continue to grow
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including fixed asset or cost accounting responsibilities
Experience managing fixed asset additions, depreciation, disposals, reconciliations, and capitalization assessments
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, fixed asset accounting principles, and Microsoft Excel
Bonus Qualifications:
Experience using NetSuite and NetAsset fixed asset management software
Experience using Zip
CPA or CMA is a plus
Master’s degree in accountancy
Fast growth startup or public company experience
Competencies
We are looking for someone that is:
Analytical - reviews transaction detail, identifies capitalization indicators, and explains changes in fixed asset balances
Policy oriented - applies the Company's capitalization policy and U.S. GAAP consistently and documents conclusions clearly
Attention to detail - maintains accurate asset records, depreciation calculations, journal entries, and reconciliations
Problem solving - researches and resolves subledger, general ledger, and asset-level discrepancies in a timely manner
Organization - manages multiple assets, projects, schedules, and close deadlines across a growing business
Communication - works effectively with accounting and cross-functional stakeholders to obtain support and resolve open items
Systems proficiency - works comfortably with large transaction populations, accounting systems, and Microsoft Excel
Process improvement - identifies practical ways to strengthen controls, improve accuracy, and streamline fixed asset processes
Critical for Oklo:
Passionate about clean energy
Passionate about making advanced fission a reality
Willing and able to learn quickly
Willing to think differently and do things in new ways
Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving while not leaning only on what has been done before
Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
An excellent writer in a modern active voice, so make your cover letter compelling and write it well!
Able to communicate technical content and results verbally
Who you are:
A startup person: You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process. You don't need or expect to have a lot of guidance but you enjoy working in a fast-paced team. If you prefer the culture and feel of a large organization, that is great, but you likely won’t enjoy working with us! There is plenty of important work and plenty of good opportunities with organizations like that.
Motivated: You are self-motivated. You bring an enthusiasm to the team, and imbue a sense of passion that goes beyond clocking in and clocking out. This isn’t about a fake or arbitrary “pieces of flair” mentality or lack of work-life balance! It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals.
A team-player: Oklo genuinely is a team. We aren’t about taking credit for ourselves, and we aren’t about pushing blame to others. We do incredible things because we work as a team.
An excellent communicator: We need a person who is not only technically competent but also a clear and upbeat communicator.
Creative: Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise without clear solutions, you are able to identify it as well as invent ways to solve a problem or fill a need without micromanagement. The successful person in this job will not only be creative, but also enjoy being creative and solving open-ended problems which may change day-by-day.
Detail-oriented: This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality. Excellent grammar and spelling matter for both good communication as well as the image of the company that we put forward.
About Oklo travel requirements:
Oklo requires remote employees to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter annually, based on business or team needs, including attendance at team meetings, off-sites, and other company events or gatherings. For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.
About Oklo compensation:
Salary: $100,000-$120,000
Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, bonuses, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance (with employer contribution), HSA, FSA, flexible work hours, wellness credits, and other benefits.
This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Only applicants who meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws may be eligible.
About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.
#CHOP: Oklo’s Values
Collaboration: We go further, together. We bring diverse perspectives, listen actively, and build trust through transparency and respect. We work across disciplines, sharing ownership to turn complex challenges into shared successes.
Humility: We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
Ownership: We take pride in what we do and how we do it. We are proactive in finding solutions and see tasks through to completion. We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.