I have two job offers from start-up companies:

Option 1 - well known fintech company and about to go IPO. Will be doing corporate tax. Probably will turn into hybrid of WFH/coming into the office.

Option 2 - series A (been around about 3 years). Tax operation with high possibility of being exposed to other areas in accounting and finance of the company. Fully remote.

Compensation from both companies are the same. I would appreciate some advice on which option would you choose and why.

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It really boils down to whether you want a more structured, public company (or at least one that’s IPO ready) versus an early stage startup that could be 10+ years from being ready (or never ready).

Also something to think about is whether you want to be running the show (as you may end up as such in Series A) or have experienced team members to learn from. When I left PA after 10 years, I thought it would be great to join a startup in SF... until I started interviewing and realized that the teams were a lot of young, inexperienced people. And the accounting was chaotic (don’t worry, not all are like that, just a higher probability). I wasn’t comfortable going into a role where I felt like I’d be the most technical person at the company. I spent the majority of my career on public jobs where process had been established and matured. I wanted to learn best practice in industry and I was more comfortable leaving for a mature company environment, so that’s ultimately the route I decided to go. On the other hand, others love rolling up their sleeves and seeing all facets of running a smaller company.

They are such different roles that only you’ll be able to decide what’s best for you based on what you want out of it.

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You’re welcome! Another perspective: my boyfriend spent his first 2 years out of public at a well-known established company where they had their processes nailed down to perfection and top tier talent. Once he learned best practice, moved onto a startup where he helped take them through IPO and was there 10 years where they ultimately streamlined their accounting ops. The experience at the mature company gave him the toolkit to build out the processes at his former startup, now an established public company. He started a new role this past year taking another company through IPO and is working through the same thing of building out their accounting practice, which needs a lot of work. So if the startup companies intrigue you, but your timid about diving right into that kind of environment, you could take an approach he did where you spend a couple years learning best practice and then apply that skillset to startups in the future where you can help build them from the ground up and feel more comfortable and confident in the value you’ll be able to provide. There’s all sorts of avenues out there! Best of luck!

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Are you also getting stock comp?

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Take the IPO company since its more certain.

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I jumped straight into option 2 to run the show somewhere small under a pretty reputable entrepreneur. The pros are definitely the clout from it, and being pushed to grow super fast with that 1 on 1 mentorship, plus getting to feel out the role for yourself and discover. I love it BUT i think it would have been best to get some mentorship from someone in the finance role above me who’s been through it all first.

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Best of luck!

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