Senior Associate, Accounting Advisory

KSM•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

KSM has a Senior Associate opportunity to join the Accounting Advisory group, a growing part of the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) team. This role provides a dynamic and flexible environment with learning opportunities working with private equity and corporate clients on a range of accounting advisory engagements, with an emphasis on post-closing projects. As a Senior Associate, you’ll contribute meaningfully to engagements by owning key workstreams, preparing high-quality deliverables, and collaborating directly with client teams. You’ll have the opportunity to build deep experience in purchase accounting, purchase price adjustments, and post-close support, while also contributing to ad-hoc accounting advisory needs such as CFO/controller support, close process assistance, and technical accounting problem-solving.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance; CPA preferred or actively pursuing
2 - 4 + years of relevant experience in professional accounting services (audit, transaction services, or advisory) or similar relevant experience in mergers & acquisitions
Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP with application (ASC 805 and ASC 810 exposure a plus)
Experience supporting purchase accounting, opening balance sheet work, and purchase price adjustment processes (strong interest and relevant audit exposure acceptable)
Strong Excel skills with the ability to build, maintain, and troubleshoot schedules, tie-outs, and support tables
Strong presentation and analytical skills, detail-oriented, able to identify issues, apply critical thinking, ask the right questions, and follow items through resolution
Strong project execution skills: able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and communicate status/risks effectively
Able to adapt communication style to successfully convey objectives and outcomes to clients and internal team members
Comfortable supporting ad-hoc accounting advisory/CFO-controller services, including close support, reconciliations, journal entries, and management reporting
Able to quickly learn client processes and produce audit-ready workpapers
Ability to work in a fast paced, deadline-driven environment while managing client projects, requests, or challenges professionally

Nice To Haves

Additional experience in industry is a plus

Responsibilities

Assist in obtaining, organizing, and preparing data for purchase accounting (ASC 805) and purchase price adjustments, including review of purchase agreements and related schedules
Apply purchase agreement elements to opening balance sheets and price adjustment mechanisms, document assumptions and conclusions
Support meetings and discussions with target company management to obtain pertinent information; summarize outcomes and action items
Own assigned workstreams and deliverables, moving them toward completion while proactively identifying risks, open items, and next steps
Support clients in navigating post-closing matters and disputes by organizing facts, analyzing supporting documentation, and preparing schedules
Contribute to a variety of projects including accounting investigations, internal control/process consulting, audit support, and technical accounting memo writing
Support interim CFO/controller services by assisting with monthly close, account reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statement preparation
Help improve close and reporting processes by developing checklists, timelines, templates, standardized workpapers, and management reporting packages (KPIs, dashboards, variance narratives)
Assist with audit, lender, and other stakeholder readiness by organizing support, drafting PBC schedules, and coordinating communications
Collaborate effectively with project team leads to execute workstreams and ensure deadlines are met
Demonstrate strong client service by communicating clearly, meeting deadlines, and escalating issues early.
Handle engagement and admin related tasks in a timely and professional manner
Collaborate with team members regarding client issues and potential solutions