Director of Accounting

Savant•Rockford, IL

5d•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Accounting leads and oversees Savant’s accounting and business advisory services, providing strategic direction for a team of accounting professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional client outcomes. This role is responsible for the quality, consistency, and growth of Savant’s accounting, write up, payroll, and business consulting service offerings. The Director serves as the senior leader for client relationships within the Tax & Consulting practice, partnering closely with the Tax & Consulting and Wealth Management teams to deliver an integrated, client centered experience. This individual will champion a culture of continuous improvement, mentorship, and excellence in all client and team interactions. The Director is responsible for unifying accounting, payroll, and business consulting into a single, streamlined “one team” operating model that delivers a consistent “one Savant way” client experience, and for building a scalable practice structure that supports continued growth, future specialization, and the buildout of niche service lines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field from an accredited college or university (required)
10+ years of proven success in accounting and/or business advisory services, including direct client facing experience
5+ years of management or leadership experience overseeing accounting or financial services teams
Demonstrated experience working with business owners, closely held companies, and multi entity structures
Experience with write up, bookkeeping, payroll, and business consulting services
Proficiency with QuickBooks Online, Accounting CS, and Thomson Reuters software suite (UltraTax, Practice CS, GoFileRoom)
Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, multi state compliance, and financial reporting standards
Familiarity with online and print tax and accounting research resources
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and industry related software
Excellent communication, listening, and client relationship management skills
Detail oriented with a high degree of accuracy and organizational discipline
Client first attitude with a collaborative, team first mindset
Any combination of equivalent education and work experience will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Active CPA license (highly preferred)
Master's in Accounting, Taxation, or related field (preferred)
CFP® certification or Series 65 a plus

Responsibilities

Define and execute the strategic vision for the Tax & Consulting practice, aligning with Savant’s broader organizational goals and OKRs
Act as a catalyst for new initiatives, products, and service enhancements within the accounting and business advisory practice
Partner with executive leadership to execute on the buildout of niche service offerings.
Own practice level financial performance, including revenue and team utilization targets for the Accounting, Payroll, and Consulting service lines.
Evaluate staffing needs, capacity, and structure to ensure the team is positioned for growth and exceptional service delivery
Align departmental policies and procedures with firm wide corporate goals and objectives
Facilitate and model a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence
Serve as a senior advisor for complex client engagements, including multi entity business owners, high net worth individuals, and closely held companies
Oversee and manage fee only accounting and business advisory engagements from engagement letter through billing and final delivery
Provide strategic guidance on business structure, compensation modeling, cash flow planning, and financial reporting for business owner clients
Develop and maintain compensation models for multi owner entities and advise on retirement plan options for various business structures
Collaborate with the Tax & Consulting and Wealth Management teams to deliver integrated, holistic client solutions
Participate in and lead client facing presentations, webinars, and educational events
Oversee monthly accounting, financial statement preparation, payroll processing, and business consulting activities across the practice
Review and sign off on complex financial statements, write up engagements, and advisory deliverables
Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across all accounting and payroll client deliverables
Review and analyze new technology, software, and vendor relationships to continuously improve team effectiveness; lead the consolidation and streamlining of existing tools and platforms into a unified “one Savant way” technology stack, and proactively evaluate and adopt AI and automation solutions to drive efficiency, quality, and scalability.
Consolidate and oversee a unified “one team” accounting and payroll operating model.
Maintain and enhance best practices, workflows, and standardized procedures across the accounting and payroll functions
Facilitate communication and responsiveness between the Accounting & Business Advisory team and other internal and external partners
Drive business development efforts for the Tax & Consulting practice, including referrals from the Wealth and Tax & Consulting teams
Build and strengthen relationships with clients, centers of influence, and prospective clients to grow the practice
Identify and pursue opportunities to expand service offerings and deepen existing client relationships
Establish, monitor, and meet business development KPIs and metrics, and report on practice performance against these targets
Train, mentor, and develop accounting, payroll, and consulting staff in a highly interactive and collaborative team environment
Facilitate educational and training opportunities that enhance team technical skills and professional growth
Partner with acquisition integration team on the operational integration of A&P books of business, tools and technology, and team members, ensuring a smooth transition to Savant’s “one team” operating model
Perform other duties as requested; maintain a team approach by assisting and filling in for others
Champion a constructive culture and lead by example to promote an environment where employees are accountable, motivated by success, supported in taking initiatives, and are recognized for their achievements.
Regularly engage with team members to ensure that cultural values are integrated into daily operations and decision making processes, enhancing overall engagement and team cohesion.
Select, supervise, empower, coach, develop, and retain a team of qualified individuals across accounting, payroll, and consulting functions, through effective hiring, employee development, performance management, succession planning, and recognition.
Align team objectives and individual performance metrics directly with organizational strategic goals, ensuring clear communication and understanding of how team efforts contribute to broader company success.
Collaboratively set challenging but realistic goals aligned with departmental and organizational objectives. Work with employees on a plan to achieve their goals.
Oversee and lead staff, including hiring, assigning work, and recommending salary increases, promotions, transfers, demotions, or terminations.
Maintain open and effective communication, ensuring that team members are informed, engaged, and aligned with firm updates and strategic changes.
Actively engage in ongoing coaching, providing regular, constructive feedback and guidance to foster professional growth and improvement.
When managing subordinate supervisors, provide leadership, guidance, and resources needed to ensure they are effective in their management roles.
Model exemplary conduct by consistently upholding the highest ethical and legal standards, and actively promote adherence to Savant’s policies, procedures, and core values.