Director - Technical Accounting

Waylin Partners, LLC

About The Position

Waylin Partners is seeking a Director with a strong accounting and controllership background to serve as a trusted financial leader within our clients’ PE-backed portfolio companies. In this role, you will step into interim or project-based Controller and senior accounting leadership positions. You will work alongside and build relationships with experienced PE sponsors and portfolio company management teams to elevate accounting operations and support value creation initiatives. Your role on client projects will include a variety of responsibilities, including the functions in the below categories: Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management Lead accounting teams during interim roles or times of need Lead and mentor accounting staff and junior consultants; manage day-to-day workflow and deliverable quality Build strong collaborative relationships with portfolio company management, PE sponsors, and cross-functional teams Manage ad-hoc requests from senior management and PE deal teams, including due diligence support and carve-out accounting Financial Reporting & Close Own and manage the full monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process to ensure accuracy and timeliness Prepare and review GAAP-compliant financial statements, including balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement Lead variance analysis and provide detailed explanations of financial results versus budget and prior periods Maintain general ledger integrity, including journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis Controllership & Compliance Coordinate external audit and tax processes, serving as the primary liaison with auditors and tax advisors Ensure compliance with debt covenants, lender reporting requirements, and PE sponsor reporting obligations Identify and remediate control gaps or accounting weaknesses; implement best practices across the finance function FP&A Support & Business Partnering Partner with FP&A to provide accurate actuals and commentary to support budgeting, forecasting, and board reporting Deliver financial results and KPI reporting to leadership and PE sponsors to facilitate informed decision-making Support cash flow forecasting, working capital analysis, and liquidity reporting Assist with SKU/customer profitability analysis and other operational reporting as needed Process Improvement & Systems Assess current-state accounting processes and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability Support ERP implementations, system upgrades, and automation initiatives Develop and maintain standardized reporting templates and close checklists to drive consistency

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
8+ years of progressive accounting experience, with significant time in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership role
Deep understanding of GAAP, financial statement preparation, and the monthly close process
AI fluency and ability to leverage tools to increase efficiency and quality of work product
Proven ability to manage audits, implement internal controls, and drive process improvements
Advanced Excel proficiency; experience with financial reporting and data visualization tools preferred
Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance audiences
Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple engagements simultaneously

Nice To Haves

CPA strongly preferred
Prior experience in a PE-backed business, public accounting (Big 4 or large regional firm), or consulting environment strongly preferred
Experience in a consulting or fractional leadership capacity across multiple portfolio companies preferred
Exposure to M&A transactions, carve-outs, or purchase accounting preferred

Responsibilities

Lead accounting teams during interim roles or times of need
Lead and mentor accounting staff and junior consultants; manage day-to-day workflow and deliverable quality
Build strong collaborative relationships with portfolio company management, PE sponsors, and cross-functional teams
Manage ad-hoc requests from senior management and PE deal teams, including due diligence support and carve-out accounting
Own and manage the full monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process to ensure accuracy and timeliness
Prepare and review GAAP-compliant financial statements, including balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement
Lead variance analysis and provide detailed explanations of financial results versus budget and prior periods
Maintain general ledger integrity, including journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis
Coordinate external audit and tax processes, serving as the primary liaison with auditors and tax advisors
Ensure compliance with debt covenants, lender reporting requirements, and PE sponsor reporting obligations
Identify and remediate control gaps or accounting weaknesses; implement best practices across the finance function
Partner with FP&A to provide accurate actuals and commentary to support budgeting, forecasting, and board reporting
Deliver financial results and KPI reporting to leadership and PE sponsors to facilitate informed decision-making
Support cash flow forecasting, working capital analysis, and liquidity reporting
Assist with SKU/customer profitability analysis and other operational reporting as needed
Assess current-state accounting processes and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability
Support ERP implementations, system upgrades, and automation initiatives
Develop and maintain standardized reporting templates and close checklists to drive consistency