Assistant Controller - Accounting Operations

P2P; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Job summary

DRW is seeking an Assistant Controller – Accounting Operations in Chicago to lead global accounts payable and drive process standardization. You’ll mentor AP teams, manage vendor relationships, and collaborate across Tax and Procurement to improve the full-cycle AP process.

The role emphasizes accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement, with expectations to implement automation and strengthen internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field; CPA or equivalent preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience with 4–5 years in accounts payable or procure-to-pay in a multi-entity, global environment.
• Supervisory or team lead experience; AP manager or assistant controller preferred.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, month-end close and internal controls.
• Hands-on ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and AP automation; proven process-improvement track record.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills; able to manage multiple priorities under time pressure.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management; able to influence across regions and functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all accounts payable activities globally.
• Implement and drive global process standardization and automation initiatives.
• Oversee operating expense accrual process and analyze variances.
• Review monthly operating expense activity and GL coding with stakeholders.
• Support ad hoc high-priority requests with urgency and accuracy.
• Supervise AP teams; allocate resources and set performance expectations.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Tax, and cross-functional teams to improve full cycle AP.
• Lead ERP/AP system improvements, rollouts or upgrades with IT and vendors.
• Manage vendor relationships and resolve escalations promptly.
• Document policies and ensure compliance with corporate policies and audit requirements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Detail oriented

Process-driven

Continuous improvement

Strong communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite

AP automation tools

Job description

DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk.

Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies: real estate, venture capital and cryptoassets.

We operate with respect, curiosity and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it’s not just what we do that matters–it's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation and a willingness to challenge consensus.

The Assistant Controller – Accounting Operations will be a proactive leader who values accuracy, efficiency and teamwork and who embraces continuous improvement to drive measurable results. This role will be responsible for leading and developing a team as well as fostering relationships with functionsacross the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee all accounts payable activities globally, including invoice processing, approvals, vendor payments, expense reimbursements, credit memos and vendor reconciliations, ensuring timely execution.
• Implement and drive global process standardization and automation initiatives to streamline workflow, reduce manual effort, improve controls and improve vendor/service levels.
• Oversee operating expense accrual process. Analyze expense trends, identify unusual items or variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Review monthly operating expense activity for accuracy and appropriate GL coding by partnering with internal stake holders.
• Manage and support ad hoc high‑priority requests (e.g., business questions, audit inquiries, one‑off payments) with urgency and accuracy.
• Supervise, mentor and regional AP teams; allocate resources and set clear performance expectations.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Tax, and cross‑functional stakeholders to resolve issues and continuously improve full cycle AP processes.
• Lead ERP/AP system improvements, rollouts or upgrades working with IT and vendors to support overall accounting operations.
• Manage vendor relationships and resolve escalated disputes or discrepancies quickly and gracefully; ensure excellent vendor service and timely resolution.
• Document policies and procedures over AP and operating expenses; ensure compliance with corporate policies, local regulations and audit requirements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field; CPA or equivalent preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience with at least 4–5 years focused on accounts payable or procure‑to‑pay in a multi‑entity, global environment.
• Prior experience in a supervisory or team lead role; experience as an AP manager, senior accountant or assistant controller preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting principles, month‑end close and internal controls.
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and AP automation tools; proven track record implementing process improvements.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and handle high‑pressure, time‑sensitive requests.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence change across regions and functions.
• Detail oriented, process-driven and committed to continuous improvement.
• Flexibility to work across time zones; occasional travel may be required

The annual base salary range for this position is $130,000 to $170,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.

For more information about DRW's processing activities and our use of job applicants' data, please view our Privacy Notice at https://drw.com/privacy-notice.

California residents, please review the California Privacy Notice for information about certain legal rights at https://drw.com/california-privacy-notice.

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