Director of Accounting
We are partnering with a privately held organization that is experiencing significant growth and continuing to invest in its people, technology, and financial infrastructure. With an established recurring-revenue business model and expanding operations, the company is entering an exciting phase that creates an opportunity for an accounting professional to make a meaningful impact.
This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong, hands-on accounting leader who is ready to take the next step in their career. Reporting directly to the CFO, the Director of Accounting will have significant ownership of the accounting function, visibility across the business, and the ability to influence how financial processes and reporting capabilities evolve.
Unlike opportunities within larger, more layered organizations, this position offers direct access to executive leadership, the autonomy to drive improvements, and the opportunity to help build a scalable accounting function.
The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys both the technical and operational sides of accounting, takes initiative, and is excited about the opportunity to grow into broader controllership responsibilities as the business continues to expand.
This is a hybrid role with occasional onsite days required, must be local to the Greater Detroit Area to be considered
Responsibilities
- Take ownership of day-to-day accounting operations, including the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, while ensuring financial information is accurate, complete, and delivered on time.
- Oversee general ledger activity, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and supporting financial schedules.
- Manage accounting activities across multiple entities, including financial consolidations and related reporting requirements.
- Maintain compliance with US GAAP while continuing to enhance accounting policies, procedures, and financial controls.
- Assess the chart of accounts and overall accounting structure to ensure financial reporting remains effective as the organization evolves.
- Collaborate with the CFO and FP&A team to provide reliable financial information that supports budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and business decisions.
- Take a leading role in preparing the organization for its first comprehensive external financial statement audit.
- Coordinate with external audit firms and technical accounting resources to establish requirements, timelines, and supporting documentation.
- Evaluate current accounting practices and identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls, documentation, and approval procedures.
- Develop organized, repeatable processes for audit preparation, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
- Address technical accounting matters and control deficiencies, leveraging outside advisors when appropriate.
- Help position the accounting function to support future financing opportunities, potential investment activity, and increasingly complex reporting requirements.
- Identify opportunities to streamline accounting workflows, improve accuracy, and eliminate unnecessary manual processes.
- Lead projects focused on automation, system enhancements, and more efficient month-end procedures.
- Evaluate existing financial technology and accounting platforms to maximize functionality and improve overall effectiveness.
- Enhance reporting capabilities, system connectivity, and process documentation to create a more scalable accounting environment.
- Independently develop and execute improvement initiatives, balancing immediate operational needs with longer-term priorities.
- Establish sustainable processes that allow the organization to support continued growth without proportionate increases in accounting headcount.
- Act as a trusted accounting partner to the CFO, providing insight, recommendations, and support on financial reporting and operational matters.
- Work cross-functionally with financial planning, operations, analytics, and other departments to improve financial processes and ensure data accuracy.
- Provide guidance and oversight to accounting team members while helping establish clear responsibilities and expectations.
- Proactively recognize potential issues, develop practical solutions, and communicate recommendations to leadership.
- Contribute to a culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and ownership.
- Support the continued development of the accounting function as the organization's needs become more complex.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Approximately 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, ideally a combination of public accounting and industry experience.
- Strong understanding of US GAAP, financial statement preparation, general ledger accounting, and internal controls.
- Experience with multi-entity accounting structures and financial consolidations.
- Meaningful involvement in external financial statement audits, including audit preparation and coordination.
- Demonstrated success improving accounting processes, increasing efficiency, and utilizing technology to reduce manual work.
- Experience operating in a growing or evolving business environment where processes and systems are continuing to develop.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate complex accounting matters and recommend practical solutions.
- Self-directed approach with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple initiatives, and follow projects through completion.
- Effective communication skills and confidence working directly with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Willingness to remain hands-on while contributing to broader accounting strategy and improvements. Preferred Experience
- CPA designation and/or previous public accounting experience.
- Background in a recurring-revenue business or an industry with complex financial reporting requirements.
- Experience with modern ERP platforms, financial reporting tools, and expense management systems.
- Prior involvement in preparing for an initial financial statement audit or enhancing accounting infrastructure ahead of financing or investment activity.
- Experience mentoring, supervising, or developing accounting team members.
- Demonstrated professional growth and an interest in progressing into a Controller-level leadership position.
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