Accounting & Financial Outsourcing Consultant - Equine

Dean Dorton • Lexington, KY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Dean Dorton's outsourced accounting team serves as a critical component to the financial success of our clients. Our team partners with organizations to serve as their CFO, controller, and/or accounting team, allowing clients to focus on other key business processes integral to their success. By offering cloud-based and real-time financial data, we translate complex financial information into meaningful advice and provide clients with the information they need to make timely strategic decisions and maintain greater control over cash flow. Within AFO, the Equine team supports horse farms, breeding and racing operations, sales companies, and related ownership structures. The team combines strong accounting fundamentals with an understanding of Equine operations to deliver accurate books, useful reporting, and responsive guidance across complex entities, locations, departments, and horse-related activity.

The AFO Consultant - Equine supports the delivery of outsourced accounting and advisory services to Equine clients. Working under the direction of Senior Consultants, Managers, and Directors, this role completes recurring accounting processes, performs assigned month-end close activities, prepares financial reports, and helps maintain accurate records across client entities and operations. The Consultant applies sound accounting judgment while developing a practical understanding of horse farm, breeding, racing, sales, and ownership activities. This individual also reviews selected work prepared by Associates, provides day-to-day feedback, communicates questions and risks promptly, and contributes to an accurate, efficient, and consistent client experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience, in accounting, finance, business, or a related field required.
• Two to three years of progressive accounting, outsourced accounting, or related financial experience required.
• Experience with month-end close, general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statement preparation required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, analytical ability, organization, attention to detail, and professional judgment required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving multiple clients or entities and managing concurrent deadlines preferred.
• Experience with horse farms, breeding or racing operations, Equine sales companies, agribusiness, or related ownership structures preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete assigned month-end close activities and, for selected clients, coordinate the full close process under appropriate review.
• Prepare financial statements and supporting schedules, including balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows.
• Prepare and review recurring accounting functions, which may include journal entries, month-end accruals, account reconciliations, payroll activity, fixed assets, sales and use tax, payroll tax returns, and other compliance-related schedules.
• Review selected work prepared by AFO Associates for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to client and firm procedures; provide clear review comments and escalate significant matters.
• Perform financial analysis, including budget-to-actual and period-over-period variance analysis, trend analysis, and reports that communicate financial performance and operating results.
• Support client budgeting, forecasting, cash flow projections, and other forward-looking analyses.
• Monitor cash balances and cash flow needs, identify potential shortfalls or unusual activity, and communicate findings to the engagement leader.
• Coordinate the annual Form 1099 process and maintain supporting documentation for assigned clients.
• Assist with special projects, new-client onboarding, and accounting software implementations or conversions.
• Develop an understanding of each client's Equine operations, entity structure, reporting needs, and accounting policies.
• Maintain accurate coding and classification across horses, farms or locations, departments, entities, and ownership structures in accordance with client-specific requirements.
• Record and reconcile activity related to horse purchases and sales, breeding and racing operations, boarding and training, farm operations, and other Equine-related revenue and expenses.
• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for horse-related assets, fixed assets, inventory, ownership activity, and significant transactions as applicable to the engagement.
• Reconcile bank, credit card, and operational accounts across single- and multi-entity Equine clients, investigating and resolving differences promptly.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reporting that helps owners and management understand operating results, cash requirements, and activity by entity, location, department, or horse.
• Coordinate with client contacts and internal team members to obtain missing documentation, resolve coding questions, and keep assigned work moving toward completion.
• Support Equine client onboarding by documenting processes, establishing charts of accounts and reporting dimensions, and helping configure accounting workflows and technology.
• Complete relevant software training and certifications, which may include BILL, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, FloQast, and other tools used by the AFO practice.
• Build Equine industry knowledge through training, research, team discussions, and participation in the AFO Equine industry vertical.
• Become a dependable resource for selected software, processes, or Equine accounting topics and share knowledge with other team members.
• Work with a Career Advisor to establish professional goals, pursue development opportunities, and prepare for increased responsibility over time.
• Participate in internal training, recruiting, marketing, networking, and team-building activities as requested.
• Contribute ideas that improve AFO templates, workflows, documentation, onboarding, and the consistency of client service.
• Participate in the Associate Program, when applicable, by supporting networking, training, and relationship-building activities.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules and environment
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid family leave, medical leave, and maternity/paternity leave programs
• Retirement benefits, including a best-in-class employer match and automatic profit sharing.
• Telemedicine, mental health resources and wellness program reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level