Director, Client Accounting & Advisory Services (Restaurant, Franchise, & Hospitality)

Aprio•Conyers, GA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Aprio is seeking a Director, Client Accounting & Advisory Services to lead a profitable, scalable outsourced accounting practice serving multi-unit restaurant, franchise, and hospitality operators. You will own end-to-end delivery across three technology stacks, lead a team of approximately 40 onshore and offshore professionals, and manage a book of approximately 175 client relationships spanning 1,000+ locations. This is an operator-first leadership role for someone who understands how process and technology transform a service into a business that grows faster than its headcount. You will set the standards, build the team, and shape the future of a practice being redefined by cloud technology and AI.

Requirements

10+ years of accounting experience, including 4+ years leading an outsourced accounting, CAAS, or shared-services finance operation; bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience
Demonstrated track record of running a profitable delivery operation with direct accountability for margin, utilization, and realization
Hands-on experience across multiple cloud accounting platforms, including POS, financial back of house, payroll, and bill-pay integrations to the general ledger
Experience building or rebuilding processes, policies, and standards at scale, and leading the adoption of automation and AI
Proven ability to develop managers and lead teams through change; strong written and verbal communicator
Client-facing relationship ownership and business development experience
Working knowledge of AICPA independence rules for non-attest services

Nice To Haves

Restaurant, franchise, or hospitality industry experience, including POS-to-GL integration, tip reporting and FICA tip credit coordination with tax, and franchisor royalty and advertising fund reporting
CPA; CMA or equivalent considered; relevant platform certifications valued

Responsibilities

Own the P&L for the practice, including job margin, realization, utilization, revenue per FTE, and billing
Lead three delivery teams operating across distinct technology stacks; standardize where it creates leverage and specialize where platforms demand it
Design and manage the staffing model to ensure the right work is performed at the right level
Deliver an accurate, on-time monthly close and financial reporting package backed by documented quality-control and sign-off standards
Produce restaurant-specific reporting, including prime cost at the unit and group level, multi-entity consolidations, and franchisor-required and lender covenant reporting
Build repeatable workflows and operational processes that enable practice growth without proportional increases in cost
Evaluate, implement, and drive adoption of cloud accounting, automation, and AI tools; lead the team through continuous change
Maintain client data security, access controls, and internal controls across all platforms and automation tools in use
Own new-client onboarding to ensure every engagement reaches target margin within its first 90 days
Hold scope and pricing discipline; ensure out-of-scope work is quoted, billed, or declined
Recruit, develop, and retain managers and staff across onshore and offshore teams with clear career paths and succession planning
Lead and grow a book of multi-unit restaurant, franchise, and hospitality client relationships for the long term
Drive relationship expansion through cross-serve opportunities in tax, advisory, and technology, and represent Aprio in the RFH industry community

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance on the first day of employment
Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Account
401k with Profit Sharing
9+ holidays and discretionary time off structure
Parental Leave – coverage for both primary and secondary caregivers
Tuition Assistance Program and CPA support program with cash incentive upon completion
Discretionary incentive compensation based on firm, group and individual performance
Incentive compensation related to origination of new client sales
Top rated wellness program
Flexible working environment including remote and hybrid options