Staff Accountant - Part Time Contract

Welcome to Backburner Labs  

Backburner Labs is an engineering consultancy in St. Paul that designs and builds products our clients can't build alone: medical devices, industrial systems, robotics, things that often don't exist until we make them. That's the engineering side. 

None of it works without the business behind it. We've doubled revenue every year for five years and are preparing to move into a new headquarters to match. Growth like that doesn't happen without finance, operations, and salespeople who are just as sharp and just as accountable as the engineers down the hall. 

We're still small enough that your work is visible, not buried in a process nobody remembers building. You'll help create the systems this company runs on as it scales, not just maintain ones someone else already figured out. 

If you'd rather build something than babysit it, you'll fit in here. 

Help build the company that's building what's next. 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

As Backburner Labs continues to scale, our finance function needs additional horsepower.  We are looking for a detail-oriented, self-sufficient accountant to own our core transactional accounting work, freeing our CFO to focus on new strategic finance initiatives. 

This is a six-month independent contractor engagement (1099) working alongside our CFO. For the right person, this role offers an opportunity to grow with us over time and take on more complex accounting work as the company expands.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Manage daily transaction entry and ensure accurate, timely syncing between our corporate card platform (Brex) and existing accounting system (Xero) 
• Audit and clean up transaction descriptions and project classifications; follow up with team members on missing or incomplete coding 
• Allocate expenses to the correct projects within Xero; maintain accurate project-level records throughout the month
• Process and reconcile hardware & materials invoices in Xero; generate draft invoices for CFO review and perform materials tie-out at month-end
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring all accounts are properly supported and discrepancies are resolved before close
• Load and audit contractor payable invoices at month-end; verify against time-tracking data and follow up on any discrepancies
• Maintain and update month-end Excel trackers for engineering time, contractor activity, and related financial data
• Classify and post daily non-card transactions to Xero; ensure consistent coding across the general ledger
• Generate draft client invoices from engineering time data for CFO review
• Support an accurate and timely monthly close process in collaboration with the CFO

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required: 

• 3+ years of hands-on transactional accounting experience 
• Proficiency with Xero (our primary accounting platform) 
• Experience with Brex or similar corporate card and spend management platforms 
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy 
• Ability to work independently and manage priorities 
• US, Minnesota-based with familiarity with US GAAP and standard accounting practices 
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growing company with evolving processes 

Preferred: 

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting (or) Finance (equivalent experience welcome) 
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics or similar ERP platforms 
• Experience with Harvest or similar time-tracking and project billing tools 
• Background supporting a professional services or project-based business 
• Familiarity with project-cost accounting and expense-to-project allocation 

WHAT WE OFFER 

• $40–$50 per hour, commensurate with experience 
• 16 hours per week that you choose, but must be fixed once set 
• Six-month contract term: October 1 - March 31, 2027 
• Flexibility to work hybrid or remote (Twin Cities, Minnesota required for occasional in-person collaboration)
• The chance to grow with a high-performing, engineering-driven company, with potential for expanded scope over time 
• Start date ideally => September 21, 2026

QUICK FACTS

• Founded: 2019  
• Team: ~50 people (full-time and contract employees)  
• Current location: St Paul - St Anthony Park area 
• Future location: Minneapolis - Prospect Park area (we have leased a 43,000 sq ft building) 
• Revenue: doubled every year for 5 years (more details shared later) 
• Client retention: 93%

ALL ARE WELCOME
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people of all backgrounds and believe different experiences, perspectives, and ideas make our team and our work better. If you're excited about the role, we encourage you to apply.