Accounting Manager — Advisory Consultant

Now Cfo • Columbus, OH

17h

About The Position

NOW CFO provides outsourced CFO, Controller, and accounting services to businesses on a fractional, interim, or project basis. Its consultants work inside client organizations as extensions of their teams, supporting finance and accounting functions across industries and company stages.

The Accounting Manager — Advisory Consultant is a client-facing, hands-on role that helps clients strengthen, stabilize, and improve accounting operations. Working with engagement leadership and other team members, the consultant provides day-to-day accounting leadership and operational improvements in dynamic client environments. Assignments may involve cleaning up accounting records, strengthening month-end close processes, improving reconciliations and reporting, documenting procedures, enhancing internal controls, and establishing scalable accounting processes.

The role is suited to someone with a foundation in public accounting and experience managing or supporting corporate accounting operations. The consultant is expected to quickly understand new or ambiguous environments, take ownership of immediate accounting needs and longer-term improvements, and bring structure, accuracy, and professionalism to client work.

Requirements

• 2 to 4 years of experience in public accounting at a CPA or advisory firm, in audit or assurance.
• 2 to 4 years of corporate accounting experience in an Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, or similar role.
• Solid working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Hands-on experience with the full month-end close cycle, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in at least one major accounting system, such as QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or a similar system.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple client engagements and deadlines simultaneously.
• Clear, professional communication skills and comfort interacting directly with business owners and management teams.
• Self-starter mentality and ability to work independently in client environments with minimal oversight.

Nice To Haves

• CPA license or active CPA candidate status.
• Experience working across multiple industries or company sizes.
• Exposure to accounting clean-up, system migration, or process improvement projects.
• Experience working in a consulting, outsourced, or fractional accounting environment.
• Familiarity with payroll processing platforms such as Gusto, ADP, or Paychex.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage clients’ full month-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Prepare and post journal entries, including accruals, prepaid expenses, depreciation, and reclassifications.
• Perform and review balance sheet account reconciliations, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, and accrued liabilities.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
• Investigate and explain variances between actual results and prior periods or budgets.
• Support year-end close and coordinate with external auditors or tax preparers as needed.
• Maintain clients’ general ledgers and charts of accounts, ensuring proper transaction coding and classification.
• Oversee and process accounts payable and accounts receivable activities, including vendor payments, invoicing, and collections follow-up.
• Perform regular bank and credit card reconciliations.
• Manage fixed asset schedules and record depreciation in accordance with company policy.
• Process payroll entries and reconcile payroll-related accounts in coordination with clients’ payroll providers.
• Maintain prepaid, deferred revenue, and other balance sheet support schedules.
• Prepare accurate and timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial reports for client management teams.
• Identify and document internal control gaps and recommend practical improvements to accounting processes and procedures.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and accounting policy documentation for client organizations.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and client-specific accounting policies across deliverables.
• Work within client ERP and accounting systems, assess accounting workflows, and implement practical process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to improve system usage, automate manual processes, and streamline accounting close.
• Support accounting system clean-ups, data migrations, and onboarding of new clients onto appropriate platforms.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day accounting contact for assigned client engagements.
• Communicate accounting matters clearly and professionally to client owners, operations managers, and other stakeholders.
• Provide training and guidance to client administrative or bookkeeping staff as needed.
• Proactively flag issues, risks, or unusual items to the Managing Director with appropriate context.
• When an engagement is led by a Controller, CFO, or Senior Director, carry out the engagement plan in close partnership and keep the leader informed about progress, open items, and risks.
• Communicate frequently and clearly with internal and external stakeholders.
• When staff accountants are assigned, including offshore team members, assign, oversee, and review their work to ensure accurate and timely deliverables.
• Provide clear instructions, documentation, feedback, and smooth handoffs for staff working across time zones.
• Coach and develop junior team members to build their technical skills and consistency.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based bonus tied to engagement quality and utilization.
• Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
• Exposure to a wide variety of industries, company stages, and accounting environments.
• Defined growth path within the NOW CFO platform toward Senior Consultant, Controller, and Director levels.
• Mentorship and support from experienced Managing Directors and senior consultants.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture that rewards ownership, initiative, and results.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed