Senior Accountant, Client Accounting Services

Ascend Partner Firms•Chapel Hill, NC

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Accountant, Client Accounting Services to help lead client engagements within our forward-thinking Client Accounting Services (CAS) practice — a team that pairs modern accounting technology with hands-on advisory to help closely held businesses and nonprofits run on clean books, real-time financial data, and efficient systems. This is a hands-on, client-facing role for someone with three to five years of public accounting experience who is comfortable owning a portfolio of engagements and helping the team build smarter, more automated workflows. You will manage a portfolio of client engagements — from monthly close and reconciliations to financial reporting and cash flow support and the outsourced controller function — while leveraging AI-enabled tools and automation to streamline routine work and surface insights for clients. You will set clear expectations at the start of each engagement, respond promptly to client needs, and deliver quality work on time and within budget. You will also collaborate closely with our tax colleagues on shared clients and contribute ideas for how our practice and our clients can use technology to work smarter.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting
3–5 years of experience in public accounting
Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP
Proficiency with QuickBooks Online
Experience processing or reviewing payroll and sales/use tax filings
A curious, process improvement mindset and comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving practice
Strong communication, organizational, and project management skills
A client-first mindset with an entrepreneurial spirit

Nice To Haves

Experience serving a variety of clients, including nonprofit clients
Experience working across multiple client entities or industries simultaneously
Experience in Client Accounting and Advisory Services
Experience with AI-enabled accounting tools

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of client engagements — monthly close, reconciliations, financial reporting, cash flow support, fractional controllership and management insights — using cloud-based tools and automation to improve accuracy and turnaround time
Prepare and review management reports, translating the numbers into clear, actionable insights for clients
Onboard new CAS clients and lead system setup and process design in QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, and other cloud accounting and automation tools
Develop a thorough understanding of each client's business to diagnose needs, suggest solutions, and identify opportunities to add value
Serve as the primary day-to-day contact, set clear expectations at the start of each engagement, and respond promptly to client inquiries
Organize and manage client assignments so that tasks are completed within scope, budget, and deadlines
Manage a client portfolio across multiple engagements, prioritizing clients, tasks, and requests
Identify opportunities to automate or streamline recurring processes and champion adoption of new technology across the practice
Monitor engagement profitability and budgets and communicate financial performance where appropriate
Participate in team meetings, communicating regularly with managers on availability and progress
Communicate confidently and persuasively with clients, contacts, and team members, both verbally and in writing
Prepare complete, well-organized work products and reports that express complex ideas clearly
Recognize and communicate cross-sell and scope increase opportunities, presenting service options that address client needs
Build long-term client relationships and support the proposal and onboarding process for new clients