Director of Accounting
buckingham searchChicago (IL)
About the role
Director of Accounting Chicago or New York City | 3 days in the office, 2 days work from home This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for an accomplished accounting professional who enjoys building, improving, and transforming. The Director of Accounting will play a critical role in shaping the firm’s accounting strategy, strengthening financial reporting and internal controls, and driving process and technology improvements across the organization. The ideal candidate is someone who can balance technical accounting expertise with strategic thinking and operational execution. You will partner closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure the integrity of the general ledger and financial reporting while identifying opportunities to improve processes, enhance reporting capabilities, and support the continued growth of the firm.
Responsibilities:
Develop and execute the accounting strategy to support organizational growth, operational excellence, and long-term business objectives. Oversee core accounting operations, ensuring accurate, timely, consistent, and transparent financial reporting. Establish and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and governance frameworks that promote compliance, consistency, and best practices. Lead the evaluation and implementation of new accounting standards, reporting requirements, and financial control enhancements. Collaborate with business and finance leaders to enhance financial reporting, analytics, and insights that support stronger business decisions. Monitor financial trends, key performance indicators, and balance sheet activity to proactively identify risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Drive cross-functional initiatives involving accounting systems, reporting platforms, workflows, automation, and data governance. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and elevate the overall accounting function. Develop monitoring and reporting mechanisms to evaluate control performance, promote accountability, and ensure compliance with firm policies.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA and/or MBA preferred 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance experience, including leadership experience within a complex or growing organization Strong understanding of financial reporting, general ledger management, accounting governance, and internal controls Experience leading accounting transformation, process improvement, systems, or reporting initiatives is highly valued Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate complex financial information into meaningful insights Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization Proven project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Word, and Outlook High level of professionalism, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information in your career.
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