Head of Fund Accounting

StepStone Group•Charlotte, NC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Head of Fund Accounting is a senior leader within StepStone Group Private Wealth (“SPW”) responsible for investment and fund valuation, liquidity and leverage strategy, budgeting, regulatory and financial reporting to boards, regulators, auditors, and lenders. General responsibilities include overall management of fund accounting, NAV oversight, financial reporting, and related governance for private market retail investment products. Reporting to the Partner and current CFO for all SPW fund products, this role will lead a team of approximately 20 professionals and partners closely with Portfolio Managers, Investment Operations, Legal/Compliance, Tax, and external service providers to ensure accurate and timely reporting of financial results. The role requires a CPA, strong executive presence, and the ability to clearly present fund performance, valuation matters, tax, compliance, and key accounting judgments to the Board, Executive Committee, and Valuation Committee.

Requirements

Master’s degree in accounting preferred; CPA required.
15+ years of progressive experience in fund accounting and financial reporting, with demonstrated leadership experience; private markets valuation experience strongly preferred and broader alternatives experience (e.g., private equity, private credit, real assets, venture capital) a plus.
Knowledge of Investment Company Act of 1940, experience with registered investment company regulatory requirements and fund structures preferred.
Strong leadership skills with a track record of building, managing, and motivating teams at scale (including managers and senior individual contributors).
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to present confidently to senior audiences including the Board, Executive Committee, and Valuation Committee.
Deep knowledge of fund accounting and financial reporting under U.S. GAAP, including oversight of key accounting judgments, estimates, and disclosures.
Private markets valuation familiarity (process, governance, and documentation) and the ability to partner effectively with investment and valuation professionals.
Strong control mindset and experience designing, executing, and enhancing accounting policies, procedures, and operational controls in a regulated environment.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize, drive results, and influence stakeholders; advanced Excel skills and comfort with fund accounting/portfolio systems and process automation.
Utilizes effective time management skills to maintain a commitment to quality and attention to detail; ensure that all work is completed accurately and on time.
Fosters a sense of teamwork, assisting others when needed/required, and collaborating with colleagues across asset classes to ensure consistency of StepStone approach and best practices.
Flourishes in a challenging, fast-paced, and professional environment with frequent shifts in priorities as business needs dictate. Focus on specific goals and demonstrate a sense of personal growth, accountability and urgency for achieving results.
Maintains a strong sense of integrity, behaving consistently with expressed values and ethical principles of StepStone.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in accounting preferred
private markets valuation experience strongly preferred
broader alternatives experience (e.g., private equity, private credit, real assets, venture capital) a plus
Knowledge of Investment Company Act of 1940, experience with registered investment company regulatory requirements and fund structures preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the Fund Accounting and fund finance functions across all US and international retail products, including daily oversight of NAV production, investment valuation, books and records integrity, shareholder capital activity, and period-end close and reporting across private market/alternative investment vehicles.
Manage and develop a high-performing team of ~20, setting clear goals and expectations, providing coaching and feedback, and building scalable operating processes and succession plans.
Oversee quarterly and annual financial reporting deliverables, including U.S. GAAP financial statements, management reporting packages, regulatory and board reporting.
Partner with investment teams to support private market valuation processes, including review of inputs/assumptions, documentation of key judgments, and coordination of valuation governance.
Prepare and deliver clear, executive-level presentations and materials for the Board, Executive Committee, and Valuation Committee; communicate complex accounting and valuation topics with confidence and discretion.
Oversee the team’s coordination of external audit and tax support processes (as applicable), and partnerships with external auditors, administrators, and other service providers.
Own the fund accounting control environment, including policies and procedures, reconciliations, segregation of duties, issue management, and continuous improvement to reduce operational risk.
Drive cross-functional collaboration and process improvement across Finance, Operations, Investments, and Technology, including systems optimization and data quality initiatives to scale the platform.