Sr. Accounting Manager

Vertex Education•Chandler, AZ

10d

About The Position

The Senior Accounting Manager leads one of Vertex Education’s two accounting regions and supports the financial integrity and operational effectiveness of the schools and clients it serves. Reporting to the Director of Accounting, this role is the principal operational leader for an assigned region, leading Accounting Managers and their teams. The position establishes a consistent, scalable close model; develops accounting leaders; resolves complex operational issues; and translates functional standards into execution across teams and systems. The role is accountable for regional service delivery, manager development, systems and process leadership, and resolution of high-risk accounting matters. It partners with functional leaders to strengthen processes, technology, controls, and service consistency, and escalates enterprise-level risks and decisions to the Director of Accounting. The Senior Accounting Manager sets close calendars, quality standards, delivery metrics, workload planning, and continuity coverage; oversees reporting, controls, audit readiness, and client transitions; and sponsors system improvements, automation, process redesign, training, and standardized practices. The role also owns operational leadership across multiple accounting teams and supports the Director in enterprise strategy, organizational design, and final policy governance.

Requirements

Eight or more years of progressive accounting experience, including significant people leadership and management of complex or multi-entity operations.
Experience leading multiple accounting teams or managers and building consistent operating practices in a deadline-driven accounting organization.
Experience with Sage Intacct.
Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, confidentiality, and ability to manage recurring deadlines.
Ability to organize work, coach people, monitor quality, and build practical capability across a team.
Clear written and verbal communication with accounting teams, partner functions, and external partners.
Working proficiency with spreadsheets and enterprise accounting systems, and ability to learn and apply approved workflows and reporting tools.
Ability to identify discrepancies, assess risk, document conclusions, and escalate issues through the appropriate authority path.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA preferred.
Master’s degree, advanced accounting training, or comparable credential.
School finance, nonprofit, fund-accounting, multi-entity, or professional-services experience.
Experience with enterprise accounting systems and standardized close, audit, or reporting workflows.

Responsibilities

Set the operating rhythm for monthly and annual close, including calendars, quality calibration, delivery metrics, workload planning, and continuity coverage.
Ensure consistent close models, review standards, and reporting practices across assigned teams and client portfolios.
Resolve complex close and reporting issues and promptly escalate material financial, control, or regulatory risks.
Lead Accounting Managers, Associate Accounting Managers, and senior individual contributors; build leadership capacity and consistent manager practices.
Own team capacity modeling, hiring plans, succession planning, and role deployment for the assigned operation.
Coach managers on performance management, development planning, and team meeting cadence.
Partner with People Operations to recruit, onboard, and develop accounting leaders and staff.
Foster a collaborative and accountable culture aligned with Vertex Education’s mission.
Partner with the Director of Accounting to implement accounting policies, controls, reporting standards, and functional priorities.
Monitor quality and control performance, ensure exceptions are fixed or escalated, and address recurring issues at their root cause.
Ensure team procedures, close checklists, and workpaper standards are documented, current, and consistently applied.
Oversee audit readiness and resolve complex audit issues with Accounting leadership and the client management team.
Support major audits, complex client transitions, strategic initiatives, prospects, and renewals when accounting expertise is needed.
Sponsor system improvements, automation, process redesign, and training to improve accuracy, efficiency, and user adoption.
Partner with AP, Payroll, Client Management, Financial Operations, Compliance, and Transformation on clear end-to-end handoffs.
Drive standardization and best-practice sharing across accounting teams.
Support the Director in enterprise strategy, organizational design, and final policy governance.