KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. We're also transforming business travel with a new corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business. As an employee of KAYAK, you will be part of a travel company that operates a portfolio of global metasearch brands including momondo, Cheapflights and HotelsCombined, among others. From start-up to industry leader, innovation is in our DNA and every employee has an opportunity to make their mark. Our focus is on building the best travel search engine to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. Accuracy, completeness, and control are the foundation of everything Accounting does at KAYAK. Our goal is to build on that foundation with a close that is faster, cleaner, and better understood every quarter, run by people who know what is driving the numbers and can explain it. Modernizing how accounting gets done is a strategic priority for KAYAK and for Controllership, and this role will help shape it. KAYAK is seeking a Manager, Technical & Global Accounting to lead a broad portfolio of accounting areas across our global entities, including areas that call for significant technical judgment, and help ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of financial reporting. You will make and document accounting calls on complex transactions, own final review across your portfolio, and explain the story behind the numbers to senior leaders and auditors. You will set the standard for how your areas operate, and lead and develop a team of senior and staff accountants. You will own modernization within your area, translating Controllership priorities into execution of our automation roadmap and implementation of agentic workflows, in partnership with our systems and process teams. You will partner with Accounting, FP&A, Tax, Legal, Payroll, Operations, Product, and Technology, and bring an accounting perspective early, so decisions are made with the implications in view. The ideal candidate has sound judgment and is comfortable with ambiguity. They set direction, make the call when it needs to be made, and are committed to developing others. They are never satisfied with "that's how we've always done it." This role will be required to work from our Norwalk, CT office at least 3 days per week.
In this role, you will:
Lead the portfolio and set the standard
- Own a broad portfolio of accounting areas that call for significant technical judgment, including revenue, accounts receivable and credit loss reserves, capitalized software and technology costs, technology-related prepaids, and legal, marketing, and other accruals.
- Perform technical revenue review (complex contract reviews, quarterly technical deliverables, reconciliations). Form, document, and defend positions on complex or judgmental transactions, and decide what to escalate to the Director and when.
- Lead the monthly close across your portfolio and global entities by planning the calendar, setting review standards, and giving final sign-off on reconciliations, flux analysis, and commentary. Act as final reviewer in FloQast, ensuring reconciling items are supported, resolved on time, and audit-ready.
- Lead close and balance sheet review meetings and present quarterly pre-close materials to senior leadership and the broader finance team. Communicate risks, open items, decisions, and progress clearly and early to the Director and other stakeholders.
- Serve as a primary contact for external auditors and Booking Holdings reporting, and support quarterly and year-end requirements as accounting responsibilities globalize.
- Partner with Tax, Legal, FP&A, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Product, and Commercial on allocations, cross-charges, and complex transactions. Engage early on new products and arrangements so leaders understand the accounting implications before decisions are made.
- Lead accounting policy changes, system transitions, and process redesigns by clarifying objectives, timing, outputs, and support needed.
- Apply a risk-based lens across the portfolio, and fix recurring issues at the source rather than relying on workarounds.
Modernize how we work, including automation and AI
- Own modernization in your area. Ask why work is done the way it is, start with what each process needs to achieve, and lead improvements that simplify work, strengthen controls, and reduce manual effort, accounting for upstream and downstream dependencies.
- Execute the automation roadmap and implement agentic workflows across close, reconciliation, and review routines, from idea through adoption. Build the business case with Accounting Process Solutions and Enterprise Systems, and track time and risk removed, control impact, documentation, and realized benefit.
- Evaluate new tools against a clear need and recommend them with expected benefit and control impact. Use approved AI tools to improve variance analysis, commentary, reconciliations, data validation, and reporting, applying sound judgment, human review, confidentiality, and auditability.
Lead and develop people
- Lead and develop senior and staff accountants by setting team priorities and quality standards, reviewing work, and giving timely, candid feedback and career guidance
- Build documentation, cross-training, and coverage so the team stays resilient as responsibilities evolve
- Raise the technical and analytical capability of the whole team by sharing how you reach conclusions, not only what they are
Please apply if you have:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience in industry and/or public accounting
- Experience leading month-end close across multiple accounting areas or entities, and reviewing financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance analysis
- Hands-on experience in a SOX or similarly controlled environment
- Strong command of US GAAP and sound technical judgment, including the ability to form, document, and defend accounting positions with auditors and senior leaders
- Working knowledge of revenue recognition and contract review, credit loss reserves, and capitalization of software and technology costs
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a team that includes senior-level accountants
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to explain the business drivers behind the numbers
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including presenting to senior leaders
- Strong organization and prioritization across multiple areas and shifting priorities
- A track record of leading a process improvement or automation effort, with a before and after you can describe, and the ability to translate accounting needs into clear requirements for systems partners
- Ability to influence business partners and Finance leaders and offer a perspective that helps them make better decisions
- Comfort collaborating across time zones and with global teams
- A willingness to use automation and AI thoughtfully, with appropriate review and controls
- Experience with NetSuite, FloQast, or similar accounting and close-management systems preferred
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis) preferred
Benefits and Perks
- Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year.
- Company-wide week off a year – the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)
- No meeting Fridays
- Paid parental leave
- Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
- Paid volunteer time
- Focus on your career growth:
- Development Dollars
- Leadership development
- Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings
- Travel Discounts
- Employee Resource Groups
- Competitive retirement and health plans
- Free lunch 2 days per week
- Focus on mental health and well-being:
- Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth
- Company-paid subscription to HeadSpace
There are a variety of factors that go into determining a salary range, including but not limited to external market benchmark data, geographic location, and years of experience sought/required. The range for this Connecticut-based role is $125,000-$135,000 . We offer a competitive base salary and benefits including: health benefits; flexible spending account; retirement benefits; life insurance; paid time off (including PTO, paid sick leave, medical leave, bereavement leave, floating holidays and paid holidays); and parental leave benefits. This role is eligible to be considered for an annual bonus.
Inclusion
At KAYAK, we want everyone to have the space to grow, share ideas and do great work. That's why we're focused on hiring the best talent from all walks of life and experiences, supporting them well and making sure no one feels like they have to fit a mold to belong here. Need any adjustments for the interview, application or on the job? No problem – just give us a heads-up. We've got you. #LI-AS1
