Senior Manager, Financial Reporting, Technical Accounting & Controls

Heidrick & Struggles•Chicago, IL

1d•$140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Heidrick & Struggles is a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, serving the senior-level talent and consulting needs of the world's top organizations. In our role as trusted leadership advisors, we partner with our clients to develop future-ready leaders and organizations, bringing together our services and offerings in executive search, diversity and inclusion, leadership assessment and development, organization and team acceleration, culture shaping and on-demand, independent talent solutions. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 70 years ago. Today, the firm provides integrated talent and human capital solutions to help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time.® Additional information on the firm can be found at www.heidrick.com . The Senior Manager, Financial Reporting and Technical Accounting will report directly to the Director, Corporate Accounting and will be responsible for driving technical accounting assessments, ensuring accurate and compliant financial reporting, and partnering with cross-functional teams to support strategic business initiatives. This critical role demands deep technical accounting expertise, unwavering commitment to the highest standards of financial reporting accuracy, and strong command of U.S. GAAP. The ideal candidate possesses deep U.S. GAAP expertise, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to translate complex accounting requirements into practical, scalable processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
CPA licensure
Minimum of 6+ years of progressive accounting experience, including Big 4 or national public accounting firm experience; industry experience in both a public and private-company environment strongly preferred.
Deep knowledge of GAAP requirements, with hands-on experience in preparing consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules.
Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven ability to mentor and develop talent .
Proven track record of drafting technical memos and leading complex accounting analyses.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of interpreting complex financial data and providing actionable insights.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and project-management skills.
High level of integrity and professionalism with a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and act ethically.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic environment, showing flexibility and adaptability.
Advanced MS Excel skills and experience with OCC or similar consolidation tools.
Motivated by and thrives in a fast-paced environment with frequent ad hoc requests and changing priorities.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting: Own preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with US GAAP.
Support consolidated and statutory audit processes, liaising with external auditors and ensuring timely completion of PBC requests.
Oversee internal controls within the technical accounting and reporting processes.
Ensure compliance with company accounting policies and strengthen financial reporting discipline across the organization.
Drive continuous improvement and reduce cycle time in the monthly reporting process through the efficient utilization of technology and tools.
Technical Accounting: Lead technical accounting research and prepare accounting position memos on complex topics (e.g., revenue recognition, equity/stock-based compensation, business combinations, debt/equity arrangements, leases, impairments).
Monitor evolving U.S. GAAP, FASB, and AICPA guidance; assess the impact of new standards and guide implementation.
Partner with legal, tax, FP&A, and business leaders on contract reviews and new transactions to determine appropriate accounting treatment.
Provide technical oversight and review of significant, non-routine accounting conclusions.
Equity Accounting and M&A: Lead all aspects of equity accounting, including stock-based compensation, equity modifications, valuation coordination (409A), and related financial reporting and disclosures.
Oversee accounting for mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions, including purchase accounting, valuation review, earnout accounting and post-acquisition accounting integration.
Partner cross-functionally with Legal, HR, FP&A, and external advisors to ensure accurate and timely accounting for equity and M&A-related activities.
Design, implement, and maintain internal controls over equity, business combinations, and complex technical accounting areas to ensure SOX and audit readiness.
Serve as the primary point of contact for auditors on equity accounting, purchase accounting, and related control matters.
Identify and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of equity and M&A accounting processes.
General Controls oversight: Provide oversight of the company’s internal control environment, ensuring appropriate controls are in place to support accurate financial reporting and safeguard company assets.
Design, implement, and maintain practical, scalable controls aligned with the company’s size and complexity.
Partner with accounting, finance, and business leaders to establish clear ownership, accountability, and documentation of key financial processes and controls.
Support external audits and reviews by coordinating control walkthroughs, responding to auditor inquiries, and addressing identified risks or gaps.
Identify control deficiencies and process risks, assess their impact, and lead remediation efforts that balance strong governance with operational efficiency.
Ensure controls evolve alongside business changes, including new systems, organizational growth, new transactions, and acquisitions.
Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, and compliance through training, guidance, and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to simplify, automate, or enhance controls and processes to improve efficiency while maintaining appropriate risk management.
Business Partnering & Leadership Provide guidance to accounting team members; mentor staff and managers in developing technical skillsets.
Collaborate with FP&A to ensure proper forecasting impacts of technical matters and transactions.
Support strategic initiatives such as M&A, capital raises, debt agreements, and system implementations.
Communicate complex accounting topics to non-accounting stakeholders in concise, business-focused language.