Accounting Associate

Vaco by Highspring; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site with hybrid flexibility

Medical, dental, vision

Paid time off

Competitive base salary plus bonus

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking an Accounting Associate to support both firm-level and portfolio company finances, reporting to senior leadership. The role touches all areas of financial operations, including accounting, tax, compliance, and investor reporting, with significant exposure to investors.

The successful candidate will establish and enhance financial processes, maintain internal controls, and collaborate with senior leaders to drive growth in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Strong GAAP, partnership/fund accounting understanding.
• Experience with capital calls, distributions, and investor reporting.
• Experience with accounting systems; QuickBooks experience preferred.
• Experience with fund administration platforms preferred.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and ability to present to leadership and investors.
• High integrity and discretion.
• Experience with external auditors, tax advisors, and legal counsel.
• Tax preparation experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day accounting operations including general ledger, AP/AR, and month-end close.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting.
• Maintain chart of accounts and internal control environment.
• Monitor cash flow, treasury activities, and banking relationships.
• Coordinate preparation and filing of federal, state, and local tax returns.
• Prepare quarterly and annual investor communications and reporting.
• Calculate management fees and carried interest per governing agreements.
• Lead quarterly valuation for portfolio investments and coordinate with valuation providers.
• Support administration of investor reporting platforms and capital calls/distributions.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Investor reporting

Advanced Excel

QuickBooks

Fund administration platforms

Financial reporting

Communication skills

Capital calls & distributions

Tax experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

QuickBooks

Fund administration platforms

Job description

A growing private investment firm focused on acquiring and building value in industrial businesses is seeking an Accounting Associate to join its team. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with firm leadership in a highly visible, hands‑on role that touches all aspects of the organization's financial operations.

The Accounting Associate will help establish and enhance financial processes, controls, and reporting capabilities while supporting both firm‑level and portfolio company activities. Reporting directly to senior leadership, this individual will oversee accounting, tax, compliance, bookkeeping, investor reporting, and financial reporting functions. The role offers significant exposure to investors and provides the opportunity to contribute to the firm's continued growth and success.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, and month‑end close processes.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and management reporting.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and internal control environment.
• Monitor cash flow, treasury activities, and banking relationships.

Tax & Compliance

• Coordinate preparation and filing of federal, state, and local tax returns, including partnership and entity‑level filings.
• Partner with external tax advisors to ensure compliance and optimize tax efficiency.
• Maintain and enhance internal compliance policies and procedures.
• Manage capital call and distribution processes.
• Maintain investor records and support administration of investor reporting platforms.
• Prepare quarterly and annual investor communications, including financial statements, performance reporting, and capital account statements.
• Calculate management fees and carried interest in accordance with governing agreements.
• Lead the quarterly valuation process for portfolio investments.
• Coordinate with third‑party valuation providers as needed.
• Monitor portfolio company performance against budgets and investment assumptions.
• Maintain investment‑level financial records and key performance metrics, including IRR and MOIC analyses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive accounting and finance experience.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and partnership/fund accounting.
• Experience with capital calls, distributions, and investor reporting.
• Experience with accounting systems; QuickBooks experience preferred.
• Experience with fund administration platforms preferred.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial information to senior leadership and investors.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professional judgment.
• Experience working with external auditors, tax advisors, and legal counsel.
• Tax preparation experience preferred.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Self‑starter with an ownership mindset and ability to operate in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong business acumen and ability to connect financial performance to investment strategy.
• Ability to handle sensitive financial and investor information with a high degree of confidentiality.
• Competitive base salary plus performance‑based bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and paid time off.
• On‑site position (with hybrid flexibility) based in the Charlotte, NC area.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use in AI products.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ('we,' 'our,' or 'Vaco by Highspring') are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).