Regional Operations Director, Northeast

Current • Philadelphia, PA

1d • $200,000 - $220,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Operations Director is the primary regional partner for delivery economics, firm-level operational discipline, and the infrastructure that enables firms to scale, working directly with the Regional Vice President (RVP). This role coordinates the financial, HR, legal, and technology product areas that keep the portfolio running efficiently — deploying the Operations Playbook firm by firm, driving working capital improvement, and building the operational capacity required to absorb tuck-in acquisitions without disruption. The Regional Operations Director is embedded at the firm level; they surface problems early, ensure enterprise initiatives land with fidelity, and close the gap between what firms commit to and what they deliver.

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive operations leadership in a professional services environment (accounting, consulting, advisory, or similar), with direct exposure to P&L / delivery economics.
• Demonstrated experience improving working capital performance (e.g., DSO reduction, WIP management, billing/collections cadence, realization/rate optimization).
• Strong financial acumen: ability to interpret financial statements, partner with FP&A/Controllers, and translate performance into clear insights and actions for firm leadership.
• Proven ability to implement standardized operating rhythms and process discipline across multiple sites/locations (portfolio or multi-branch environment).
• Experience building operational capacity planning models (headcount/production planning, utilization, forecasting, throughput).
• Ability to lead through influence in a matrixed organization (working across Finance, HR/Compliance, Legal, and Technology without direct authority).
• Comfort operating “in the field” with partner firms—hands-on, embedded, and able to surface issues early and drive accountability tactfully.
• Strong executive communication skills: can present operational performance, risks, and corrective actions to Managing Partners and regional leadership.
• High ownership, bias to action, and ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives with tight timelines.
• Ability to travel 50%+ to partner firms and regional/enterprise meetings

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a PE-backed roll-up, multi-site integration environment, or fast-scaling services company (including post-merger integration).
• Familiarity with accounting firm operations (billing models, realization, WIP, partner economics) and common practice management systems.
• Experience supporting or transitioning HR operating models (shared services / COE models, removing embedded HRBP structures, change management).
• Exposure to operational BI/KPI dashboards and performance management (defining metrics, driving adoption, using data in day-to-day execution).
• Experience coordinating technology/IT standardization across distributed offices (systems adoption, IT standards, security basics, infrastructure readiness).
• Prior involvement in M&A integration playbooks (e.g., 90–120 day integration plans; finance/HR/tech onboarding).

Responsibilities

• Deploy the Operations Playbook across the portfolio — standardizing billing discipline, collections cadence, WIP management, and realization rate optimization firm by firm
• Drive working capital improvement: own DSO reduction, realization improvement, and cost-to-serve discipline as measurable outcomes at each firm
• Build and maintain firm-level capacity planning frameworks aligned to Crete's standardized work discipline model
• Coordinate Data & BI capabilities to ensure operational KPIs are captured, measured, and actioned in real time; translate data into Managing Partner-facing performance insights
• Coordinate Regional FP&A and Regional Controller support across the portfolio — partnering with the Finance & Accounting enterprise function to ensure firms receive structured financial analysis, operational KPI dashboards, and budgeting support
• Support managing partners in understanding firm financial and operational performance, identifying gaps, and building accountability to defined targets
• Provide analytical support to the RVP on operational performance, working capital trends, and efficiency opportunities across the portfolio
• Coordinate HR & Compliance product areas at the firm level — managing succession planning support, regional recruiting coordination, and people-side operational issues in partnership with the enterprise HR & Compliance function
• Support the elimination and transition of the HR BP structure, ensuring firm-level HR needs are absorbed cleanly into the new model
• Coordinate legal needs across the firm portfolio with the enterprise Legal function; surface emerging issues and ensure firms are operating within Crete's legal and compliance framework
• Coordinate Tech/Infra deployment at each firm — overseeing practice management system adoption, IT standards, and infrastructure alignment with Crete's approved technology stack
• Assist firms with operational technology improvements and workflow automation (e.g., practice management improvements, billing workflow, PTO tracking) in coordination with enterprise tech resources
• Build the operational capacity at targeted platform firms required to absorb tuck-in acquisitions — ensuring infrastructure, staffing models, and financial controls can scale without disruption
• Partner with the Growth Director and Integration enterprise function during the 120-day integration process on the operational side — working capital setup, HR onboarding, tech migration, and financial reporting integration
• Maintain a firm-level integration readiness assessment for all active and anticipated tuck-ins
• Act as a trusted operational advisor to the RVP — surfacing firm-level issues early, flagging performance gaps against the Partner Journey roadmap, and ensuring accountability to defined milestones
• Respond to ad hoc operational and strategic requests from RVP and firm leadership, providing structured problem-solving support on complex operational or people challenges
• Coordinate firm engagement plans across product areas to avoid conflicting demands on Managing Partner time and bandwidth

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (with options for fully paid employee only coverage for health and dental)
• Company-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Ancillary Benefits such as supplemental life insurance and short-term disability options
• Classic Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan with employer contributions
• Opportunities for professional growth, learning, and development including access to Becker and LinkedIn Learning

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed