At a Glance
- Tasks: Build an AI accountant and automate workflows for our team.
- Company: Join a fast-growing tech startup backed by Google Ventures.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, and the chance to shape the future of accounting.
- Other info: Work closely with users and enjoy a dynamic, collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Be a pioneer in AI-driven accounting and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
While traditional accounting firms use AI for marginal gains, we're building an end-to-end agentic organisation where our agents do the accounting work, pulling in our human accountants at the touch points deemed necessary, such as signing off on the final state of accounts. We are our customers' accountant: closing their books every month faster, cheaper, and more accurately than any traditional firm, with answers on their accounts 24/7. 60+ customers across the UK and Denmark, growing 40% MoM. Just raised $4.7M seed led by Google Ventures. London HQ (Farringdon) + Copenhagen office.
Team: Gus (CTO, built AI lawyer at Orbital through Series B, Imperial/Oxford), Mathias (CEO, ex-CFO at Female Invest, ex-bookkeeping firm owner), Emil (COO, ex-PM at Encord, McKinsey).
You'd be one of our first five engineers, in a team of six.
What you'd actually do:
- Build Bea, our AI accountant, and the platform our accountants use to review her outputs, like the state of the accounts at month end.
- Automate specific workflows of our accountants, taking them out of the loop, and moving to a higher level of abstraction.
- Take features from ideation to shipped to used: scoping, prototyping, QA, launch, monitoring, iterating.
- Work closely with your users to determine what we ship next month based on their needs.
Recent examples: fully autonomous receipt collection, end-to-end reconciliation, Xero integration.
First few months:
- Week one: shipped your first feature.
- Month one: monitoring adoption across the features you've shipped, iterating on them, ensuring they save our accountants maximal time.
- Quarter one: owning a meaningful surface area of the platform.
Stack:
- Backend: Python, FastAPI, Postgres, Redis.
- Frontend: React, Vite, Tailwind.
- Agents: pi, OpenAI, Anthropic.
- Integrations: Xero, e-conomic, Yapily (open banking), and agent comms channels (Slack, WhatsApp, Telegram, email).
- Infra: Railway, Netlify.
You:
- Generalist.
- AGI-pilled.
- 0→1 builder.
- Deep product instinct.
- Measure adoption, not output.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and customers, you'll be in Slack channels with them daily.
- Plugged into the AI frontier.
- Have built with the new harnesses and have opinions about which are best.
- Want to ship to production every day.
In-person in London (HQ) or Copenhagen. Competitive salary and equity.
Founding Product Engineer employer: Balance (YC W26)
As a Founding Product Engineer at our innovative firm, you'll be part of a dynamic team that is redefining the accounting landscape with cutting-edge AI technology. We foster a collaborative work culture where your contributions directly impact our growth and success, offering competitive salaries, equity options, and opportunities for professional development in our vibrant London HQ or Copenhagen office. Join us to not only build groundbreaking solutions but also to grow alongside a passionate team dedicated to transforming the future of accounting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Product Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, tech events, or even casual coffee chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects. When you apply through our website, link to your work so we can see what you're capable of. It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like us at StudySmarter. Express your interest and share how you can contribute to building amazing products.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by understanding our product and the problems we solve. Be ready to discuss how your skills can help us build Bea, our AI accountant. Show us you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re excited about what we do!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When you're writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for AI and how it can revolutionise accounting. Share any relevant projects or experiences that highlight your passion and understanding of the tech we're using.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect our mission and values. Mention specific aspects of the job description that resonate with you and explain how your skills align with what we're looking for in a Founding Product Engineer.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Balance (YC W26)
✨Know the Product Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand what Bea, the AI accountant, does and how it integrates with the workflows of human accountants. Familiarise yourself with the features mentioned in the job description, like autonomous receipt collection and end-to-end reconciliation. This will show your genuine interest and help you discuss how you can contribute to building and improving these features.
✨Showcase Your Generalist Skills
As a Founding Product Engineer, you'll need to wear many hats. Be ready to discuss your experience across different tech stacks, especially Python, FastAPI, and React. Prepare examples of how you've successfully built products from ideation to launch, and highlight your ability to adapt to new technologies and frameworks quickly.
✨Emphasise Customer-Centric Development
Since you'll be working closely with accountants and customers, it's crucial to demonstrate your understanding of customer needs. Share experiences where you gathered user feedback and iterated on products based on that input. Highlight your comfort in engaging with users daily, as this role requires constant communication and collaboration.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
The startup environment can be unpredictable, so be ready to discuss how you've navigated ambiguity in past projects. Share specific instances where you had to make decisions without all the information or pivot quickly based on new insights. This will show that you're not just a builder but also a strategic thinker who thrives in dynamic settings.
