Revenue Recognition Director

We Are
Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.
You Are

You have spent years in the weeds of revenue recognition, and you know that ASC 606 is not just a compliance checkbox, it is the framework that determines whether a quarter closes clean or becomes a scramble. You have sat across the table from Big 4 auditors and walked them through your position with documentation so tight they had nothing left to ask. You think in terms of contract structure, not just accounting entries, and you can spot a revenue issue in a deal before it gets to order management.

You are comfortable leading a team while still being hands-on when a complex M&A contract lands on your desk or a sales rep needs guidance on how to structure terms that actually work. You do not wait for someone else to build the process, you see the gap, you build the solution, and you bring the team along with you. Managing a center of excellence across time zones does not intimidate you, it energizes you because you know how to scale expertise without losing quality.

At Synopsys, you will find a finance organization that values precision, a business that moves quickly, and a role where your work directly impacts how we close, forecast, and grow.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead a team responsible for ensuring all revenue recognition complies with ASC 606 across software, semiconductor IP, and services contracts
• Partner directly with Sales, Contracts, Order Management, and Revenue Accounting to structure deal terms that support accurate and defensible revenue positions
• Prepare quarterly revenue recognition packages and present your positions to external auditors, including Big 4 firms, with full documentation and justification
• Own the revenue accounting close process and ensure all associated controls are executed and documented properly
• Review M&A contracts and prepare revenue impact assessments and integration plans for acquired businesses
• Document and update Synopsys policies and procedures to reflect evolving ASC 606 guidance and business model changes
• Build and manage a center of excellence team in an overseas location, scaling capability while maintaining quality and consistency across geographies

• Your guidance on contract structure will prevent revenue recognition issues before deals are signed, saving time and reducing audit risk
• The quarterly packages you prepare will give auditors confidence and leadership clarity on our revenue position
• Your process improvements and automation efforts, including AI tools and agents, will reduce manual work and increase accuracy across the quote-to-cash cycle
• The training you deliver to Sales, Contracts, and Order Administration will raise the baseline understanding of revenue recognition across the company
• Your leadership of the center of excellence will expand our capacity to handle growing transaction volume without adding headcount in every geography
• Your revenue forecasting inputs will help Sales Planning and Finance make better decisions on pipeline, bookings, and guidance
• The policies and controls you document will create a repeatable, auditable framework that scales as the company grows

• You hold a CPA certification or a postgraduate degree in business (MBA, MAcc, or equivalent)
• You bring Big-4 public accounting or advisory experience-a strong plus for this role

• You have deep, hands-on knowledge of ASC 606 and software revenue recognition principles
• You're proficient in end-to-end Quote-to-Cash processes and the systems that support them-particularly Oracle, SAP (and their revenue/billing/AR modules), and Salesforce
• You've worked in the software and/or semiconductor industry (highly preferred)

• You bring 10+ years of progressive experience in revenue accounting or technical accounting roles
• You have a proven track record preparing and defending revenue recognition positions with external auditors
• You excel at reviewing complex contracts and translating terms into accurate revenue treatment
• You're a strong analytical thinker with exceptional attention to detail
• You communicate clearly and confidently across all levels-from sales teams to executives to auditors
• You thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments and can juggle multiple priorities without missing a beat

• You have experience leading, developing, and expanding teams-including remote or offshore resources
• You're a natural collaborator who can influence cross-functional partners without direct authority
• You're passionate about process improvement, automation, and building scalable solutions (bonus if you've worked with AI/analytics tools)

• You can review a contract with multiple deliverables, variable pricing, and renewal terms and walk out with a clear revenue position in 20 minutes
• You know how to explain a technical ASC 606 position to a sales leader in a way that makes sense without oversimplifying the accounting
• You are the person who sees a manual process that takes your team three days every quarter and figures out how to automate it or eliminate it entirely
• You are comfortable managing a team across time zones, and you know how to build capability in people without micromanaging every decision
• You do not wait for perfect information to make a call, you assess the risk, document your rationale, and move forward with confidence
• You push back when a contract structure creates unnecessary complexity or audit risk, and you offer a better alternative