About xAI
xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All engineers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.
Position Summary
The Fixed Asset Manager is responsible for the end-to-end accounting, control, and reporting of xAI’s rapidly growing fixed asset base, with primary focus on data center infrastructure (GPUs, networking equipment, power and cooling systems, and leasehold improvements). This highly visible role will develop process to ensure the accurate operational and financial tracking of billions of dollars in AI compute assets while maintaining compliance with U.S. GAAP (ASC 360). The role collaborates closely with Engineering, Procurement, Data Center Operations, FP&A, Tax, and external auditors to provide accounting guidance, support capital planning, and drive process efficiency in a hyper-growth environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the full lifecycle of fixed assets in xAI’s data centers, including acquisition, capitalization, depreciation, transfers, impairments, and disposal in accordance with US GAAP (ASC 360) and internal policies.
- Maintain and continuously improve the fixed asset subledger, performing monthly roll-forwards and audits to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset records.
- Lead physical inventories and cycle counts of data center equipment (servers, networking hardware, cooling systems, etc.), resolve discrepancies, and oversee asset tagging and tracking processes.
- Develop, analyze, and maintain depreciation schedules (straight-line and MACRS); provide forecasts of depreciation expense and capital expenditures to support budgeting and long-range planning for AI compute expansions.
- Partner with Engineering on asset installation and commissioning workflows to ensure timely and accurate accounting.
- Prepare fixed asset-related financial reporting, schedules, and disclosures for internal leadership, lenders, regulators, and external audits; perform impairment testing on high-value data center infrastructure as needed.
- Drive automation and process improvement initiatives (e.g., barcode/RFID integration, workflow tools, Power BI dashboards) to scale fixed asset accounting in a high-velocity environment.
- Ensure compliance with tax depreciation requirements and support tax fixed asset reporting.
- Serve as the subject-matter expert on fixed asset policy; draft and update capitalization policies, useful life tables, and componentization guidance tailored to data center assets.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, CMA, or equivalent certification strongly preferred.
- 5+ years of progressive accounting/management experience; prior work in technology, manufacturing, hyperscale data centers, or semiconductor industries is a significant advantage.
- Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP fixed asset standards (ASC 360), including capitalization criteria, component accounting, useful life estimation, leases (ASC 842 interaction), and impairment testing.
- Hands-on expertise with Tier-1 ERP fixed asset modules (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or similar) and advanced Microsoft Excel / data analysis skills
- Proven track record of designing and implementing fixed asset processes and controls in a high-growth environment.
- Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail and ability to distill complex technical assets into accurate accounting treatment.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills; comfortable partnering with engineers and operations teams who may not have finance backgrounds.
- Ability to travel occasionally (estimated 5–10%) to data center locations for physical inventories and process reviews.
