Director, Finance Transformation

Accordion•Chicago, NY

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

With the increase in complexity of the business environment and transactions, CFOs of private equity backed companies are increasingly looking to drive strategic insights for their business. Finance organizations are no longer simply result reporters, but rather, they are responsible for analyzing results to provide the strategic insights that inform business decisions. Process efficiencies and meaningful control environments accelerate financial reporting with increasingly accurate measures, leaving more time for the finance team to add future enterprise value. Accordion’s Transformation Practice is comprised of a dedicated team providing strategic advisory and hands-on execution expertise to support PE-backed portfolio companies on a wide range of post-transaction and transformational events, including profitability improvements, finance process optimization, liquidity enhancements, revenue cycle management and technology / AI enablement. We are doers and problem solvers – making sense of complexity and creating enterprise value for the portfolio company.

Requirements

Minimum 8+ years of relevant professional experience working in a client serving role at a top-tier public accounting or financial advisory firm, and/or mix of client service and private industry experience at a senior level
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field. MBA is a plus
Proven experience successfully managing large engagements with multiple workstreams and coordinating internal teams, managing not only client/sponsor dynamics but internal team dynamics as well
Deep knowledge and experience in overseeing or driving change in business processes including lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report, FP&A, as well as other functions under the CFO purview
A strong and up-to date knowledge of process best practices specifically related to the professionalization of the finance function
Extensive expertise related to the design and implementation of strategies, processes and technology which increase effectiveness, reduce costs and improve enterprise value
Experience enabling financial processes with finance automation and technology deployment
Experience performing financial and operational assessments
Experience driving strategic finance transformations
Experience working in a private equity environment, with an understanding of the unique requirements of the private equity consulting environment
Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills
Strong client service mindset

Nice To Haves

A self-starter with a strong work ethic
A strong team player, able to work with team members across all levels
Someone who enjoys mentoring others and being mentored by others
A leader of others; you lead by example
Excited to be part of a growing team, with a focus on driving future growth
Able to effectively communicate complex issues and solutions, and raise issues to senior team members when necessary
Passionate about delivering exceptional client service
Full of entrepreneurial spirit and comfortable in a fluid, flat organization
Willing to get your hands dirty in the details of a project while simultaneously seeing the whole picture
Comfortable managing projects with multiple complex workstreams while also focused on your single workstream (you are managing and doing).

Responsibilities

Lead finance function diagnostics: assessing an organization’s people, process and technology to come up with recommendations and a value-creation roadmap
Design and execute process enhancements across the following process areas: lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report and FP&A
Design future state operating platforms (organization structure, finance processes, technology stack)
Develop implementation plans for initiatives on a strategic roadmap, supported by quantified benefits/value and qualitative substantiation
Manage execution of plans to optimize technology, drive process automation (within ERPs or leveraging bespoke technologies and AI)
Set up and drive transformation program governance to support multi-workstream engagements
Lead change management across multiple functions and workstreams
Determine and measure the ROI of improvement initiatives, putting in place risk mitigation strategies to support successful realization targeted benefits
Bring deep financial expertise and leading practices to engagements
Manage multi-workstream transformation programs at a single client, or manage multiple smaller projects at different clients – under the guidance of Accordion Managing Directors and/or Senior Directors
Manage junior resources (Vice Presidents, Associates, or Analysts)
Interact and build relationships with C-level personnel at portfolio companies as well as representatives from private equity sponsors
Assist in growing the firm by identifying and driving business development activities – coordinating proposals across multiple practices
Take a lead role on internal firm initiatives to enhance our ability to serve clients and continually improve our internal capabilities
Travel to client site as needed