Associate Director – Accounting Advisory (Operational Accounting/Controller)

CrossCountry Consulting•San Diego, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

CrossCountry Consulting is seeking an Associate Director for its rapidly growing Accounting Advisory practice. The role serves clients across industries, company stages, and sizes, including early-stage, emerging growth, middle-market, and large complex organizations. Clients include public and private companies, with significant exposure to private equity-backed portfolio companies. The Associate Director will provide client delivery, lead teams and develop junior team members, and contribute to business development initiatives. The position involves general accounting close support, financial reporting support, and operational support. The Associate Director helps clients improve close processes, accounting and reporting practices, systems, controls, and operational efficiency. The role also includes guiding finance-system implementations, advising on AI and automation, supporting audit and regulatory processes, and partnering with other business and IT teams. The role requires willingness to travel domestically up to 40%, with travel varying by client preference and project. Employees must be able to participate in a hybrid office environment. For applicants located in California, the estimated compensation range is $124,500–$260,000 per year, plus annual bonus and additional benefits.

Requirements

8+ years of experience spanning advisory and controllership roles for commercial or private equity-backed portfolio companies.
A strong foundation in professional services, such as public accounting, an advisory firm, or a management consulting firm.
2+ years of hands-on controllership experience in emerging growth or middle-market organizations and/or private equity-backed portfolio companies.
Ability to leverage AI and automation to optimize accounting processes, enhance reporting accuracy, and drive operational efficiency.
Proven ability to build strong client relationships.
Track record as an influential change agent who can champion, organize, and implement new ideas and initiatives efficiently.
Demonstrated success mentoring and leading teams and helping project teams resolve multifaceted issues.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Willingness to travel domestically up to 40%; travel varies based on client preferences.
Ability to participate in a hybrid office environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Software/SaaS, healthcare, or broad B2B industries is preferred.
Hands-on experience or significant exposure to ERP systems and tools such as NetSuite, Sage, MS Dynamics, QuickBooks, Workiva, DFIN, Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, Snowflake, SQL, and Python.
CPA or CA certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Aid clients in developing a streamlined monthly close process.
Assist with cash-to-accrual conversions and create supporting schedules.
Validate the existence of assets and prepare associated roll forwards.
Prepare balance sheet reconciliations, including intercompany, inventory, cash, and prepaid accounts.
Support accounting compliance, including tax forms, sales tax exemptions, and 1099s.
Contribute to preparing financial statements and developing internal controls and policies.
Help prepare budgets or forecasts and develop reports for management or regulatory bodies.
Guide implementation of cloud-based finance and accounting systems.
Manage preparation of journal entries and invoices, and reconciliation of accounts during monthly or annual closings.
Guide companies through efficient external audit processes.
Support SEC filings, reporting-process design, restatement assistance, and 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filings.
Improve financial planning and analysis, including budgeting, forecasting, and data analysis.
Review monthly internal financial reporting packs and monthly regulatory reporting.
Liaise with business units outside accounting to integrate business operations.
Advise clients on using AI and automation to streamline close processes, improve forecasting, and enhance data-driven decision-making.
Partner with IT teams to integrate financial systems during acquisitions.
Lead client delivery and teams, develop junior team members, and contribute to business development initiatives.
Build strong client relationships and champion, organize, and implement new ideas and initiatives.
Mentor and lead teams, helping project teams resolve multifaceted issues.