Accounting Operations & Client Bookkeeping Senior Manager / Director

WhiteCap Search; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

WhiteCap Search seeks an experienced accounting leader to guide multi-client operations, oversee client governance, and drive strategic growth in the accounting and bookkeeping space.

You will lead a team, set standards, review financial statements, and support audits, while shaping efficiency through AI-enabled tools and process improvements. The role emphasizes client satisfaction, budgeting, and continuous learning.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including 4 years in leadership roles.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred.
• Strong knowledge of AP, AR, prepaids, accruals, and period-end close processes.
• Proven experience in managing engagement budgets and client escalations.
• Advanced Excel and data manipulation skills.
• Excellent communication skills for translating complex accounting findings into actionable guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ~9 professionals, shaping organizational structure, hiring, compensation, performance, and succession planning.
• Own client interactions at executive level, ensuring timely and accurate financial activity and proactive issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Managing Directors to set firm-wide standards for key accounting processes for efficiency and consistency.
• Act as final reviewer of monthly financial statements, ensuring accuracy and resolving technical questions.
• Produce investor-ready financial statements and lead client-side support for reviews and audits.
• Develop and maintain a quality program for accounting operations, driving improvements and standardization.
• Forecast staffing needs, develop hiring plans, and decide outsourcing/resource allocation.
• Manage client relationships from scoping to expansion opportunities and ensure growth.
• Oversee portfolio financial performance, budgets, and pricing decisions in collaboration with leadership.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of accounting technology, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance efficiency and quality.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Developing leaders

Change management

Deadline discipline

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Excel

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Join our dynamic team in an exciting opportunity to lead and innovate within the accounting operations and client bookkeeping space. We are seeking a driven professional to guide our organization through strategic growth and excellence in service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizational Leadership: Lead a team of approximately 9 professionals, setting organizational structure and roles. Manage hiring, compensation recommendations, performance management, and succession planning.
• Client Governance & Delivery Oversight: Own client interactions at the executive level, ensuring timely and accurate financial activity. Resolve issues proactively to maintain client satisfaction.
• Standards & Process Ownership: Collaborate with Managing Directors to establish firm-wide standards for key accounting processes, ensuring efficiency and consistency.
• Financial Review & Technical Sign-Off: Act as the final reviewer of monthly financial statements, ensuring accuracy and resolving technical questions.
• Financial Statement Presentation & Quality of Earnings / Due Diligence Support: Produce investor-ready financial statements and lead client-side support for various financial reviews and audits.
• Quality & Continuous Improvement: Develop and maintain a quality program for accounting operations, driving process improvements and standardization.
• Capacity & Workforce Planning: Forecast staffing needs, develop hiring plans, and make strategic decisions regarding outsourcing and resource allocation.
• Client Relationship Ownership: Manage client relationships from scoping to expansion opportunities, ensuring satisfaction and growth.
• Practice Economics: Oversee portfolio financial performance, manage budgets, and collaborate with leadership on pricing and investment decisions.
• Systems & Technology: Lead the evaluation and implementation of accounting technology, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance efficiency and quality.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including 4 years in leadership roles; multi-client or outsourced accounting experience required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred.
• Strong knowledge of AP, AR, prepaids, accruals, and period-end close processes.
• Proven experience in managing engagement budgets and client escalations.
• Advanced Excel and data manipulation skills.
• Excellent communication skills for translating complex accounting findings into actionable guidance.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and leadership
• Developing leaders
• Change management and team scaling
• Deadline discipline and follow-through
• Focus on accuracy and continuous learning
• Client service mindset
• Process orientation and documentation discipline
• Problem-solving across systems and data sources

Disclosure: The hourly rates and/or salaries listed may or may not reflect total compensation packages including bonus and fringe benefits, etc., nor are the advertisement(s) posted a guarantee of a certain compensation package for a position or bona fide offer of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.