Director - Corporate Accounting Operations

StepStone Group•San Diego, CA

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data driven insights to the world’s investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our peerless intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and the answers our clients need to succeed. Position Overview The Director, Corporate Accounting Operations is a senior leader within the Corporate Finance & Accounting organization, responsible for overseeing centralized accounting operations. This role leads end‑to-end operational processes spanning Procurement, Accounts Payable, Payment Processing, Treasury Operations, Banking, and Employee Expense Reimbursements. The Director plays a critical role in ensuring operational excellence, strong internal controls, and scalable service delivery, while driving continuous improvement through process standardization, automation, and effective use of technology. As a people‑focused leader, the Director is accountable for building and developing high‑performing teams, establishing clear performance metrics, and partnering closely with cross‑functional stakeholders to support the firm’s growth and evolving operating model.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
10+ years of progressive accounting or finance operations experience
Proven experience leading and developing professional accounting teams
Demonstrated ownership of core operational functions, including Procurement, Accounts Payable, Payment Processing, Treasury/Cash Management, and Expense Management
Strong working knowledge of enterprise ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite), and employee expense management systems (e.g. Concur)
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast‑paced environment
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to leverage technology to improve outcomes
Professional presence with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and geographies
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of company, client, and investment information
Demonstrated willingness to learn and adopt new systems, tools, and processes

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Experience operating in a public‑company and/or SOX‑compliant environment
Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP
Experience operating in a global environment, including foreign currencies, international banking, and country‑specific regulatory requirements
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Responsibilities

Lead the centralized accounting operations organization, overseeing end‑to‑end Procure‑to‑Pay (P2P) processes, including purchasing, accounts payable, vendor payments, and employee expense reimbursements
Direct daily treasury and banking operations, including payment processing, cash positioning, liquidity management, bank account administration, and funding support for international subsidiaries
Serve as the primary relationship owner for global banking partners and key operational vendors
Maintain a strong SOX‑compliant control environment across all in‑scope operational processes
Ensure compliance with corporate policies, U.S. GAAP requirements, tax and regulatory standards, and internal governance frameworks
Partner with Internal Audit, External Audit, Tax, and Legal teams to support audits, reviews, and regulatory inquiries
Establish, monitor, and continuously refine key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to drive service quality, transparency, and accountability
Use data and analytics to identify trends, manage risk, and improve operational outcomes
Drive process optimization and operational scalability through standardization, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives
Partner with Financial Systems and IT teams to enhance ERP capabilities, workflow tools, and reporting solutions supporting P2P and treasury operations
Lead change management efforts to ensure successful adoption of new processes, tools, and operating models
Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing accounting operations team, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Coach and mentor managers and senior professionals, supporting succession planning and long‑term talent development
Act as a trusted business partner to Corporate Accounting, Fund Accounting, FP&A, and other internal department stakeholders
Support Fund Accounting operations by overseeing processes related to cash advances and repayments