CFO Advisory, Accounting Advisory, Senior Associate (GPS -State & Local Government)

C010 Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, and vision care

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement plans

Paid Care Leave

Job summary

Cherry Bekaert is seeking a Senior Associate in CFO Advisory Services to deliver accounting advisory engagements for state and local governments, higher education, and not-for-profits. You will tackle complex financial reporting, consolidation, and performance improvement.

The role requires GASB expertise, ACFR navigation, and experience with audit, accounting, or consulting standards. Travel up to 25% may be needed, and a CPA is preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of governmental accounting standards (GASB).
• Prior experience with audit, accounting, and/or consulting standards (GASB, AICPA, GAS including Yellow Book).
• Ability to navigate Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs).
• Ability to travel if needed (less than 25%).

Responsibilities

• Deliver accounting advisory engagements to state and local governments, higher education institutions and not-for-profits clients.
• Assist clients with GASB implementation and rollforwards.
• Assist with complex financial statement close processes and journal entries.
• Draft or review Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs).
• Support process improvement and organizational design initiatives.

Skills

GASB knowledge

ACFR navigation

Audit/consulting standards (GASB, AIC.

Public sector accounting

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Job description

Job Overview

As a Senior Associate in CFO Advisory Services, you will play a critical role in delivering accounting advisory engagements to state and local governments, higher education institutions and not-for-profits clients. You will support clients in navigating complex financial reporting, operational challenges, and value creation initiatives. This role combines technical accounting expertise, financial analysis, and business acumen to drive performance improvement and support transformational change.

Project Types

• Implementation of new accounting standards (GASB)
• Assist clients with issues related to GASB 68,75, 87,96 application
• Knowledgeable with adjustments and creating roll forwards of recent GASB standards
• Complex financial statement close processes (posting accruals, reclass capital assets, debt amortization)
• Help drafting (or reviewing) Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs)
• Cash to modified accrual or full accrual conversions
• Process improvement and organizational design
• Client interviews and stakeholder engagement to gather insights and validate assumptions
• Large data set manipulation and problem solving
• Validation of information between multiple sources of financial information

What you need for this role

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience within a public accounting firm, or public sector environment performing external audit, consulting, or in the accounting and finance function
• Strong knowledge of governmental accounting standards (GASB)
• Prior experience with audit, accounting, and/or consulting standards (GASB, AICPA, GAS including Yellow Book)
• Ability to navigate Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFRs)
• Ability to travel if needed (less than 25%)

Preferred skills and experience

• Licensed CPA (or in process of completing) (NICE TO HAVE NOT REQUIRED)
• State & Local Government experience (NON FEDERAL) (NFP nice to have not required)
• Experience with financial statement close process or proposing / reclassifying journal entries
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve account reconciliation issues
• Thrives working in a deadline-driven environment with a focus on details and accuracy
• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments successfully
• Solid organizational skills, especially the ability to meet project deadlines with a focus on details
• Team player able to move to effectively delegate work assignments as needed

About Us

Ranked among the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country and consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work, Cherry Bekaert delivers innovative advisory, assurance and tax services to our clients. At Cherry Bekaert we create shared success through teamwork, energy, and expertise. We approach today’s toughest business challenges with a client-first mindset, working together to create exceptional value. We are all committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, our community, and our professions. To meet this commitment, Cherry Bekaert will provide you with the space to pursue growth and development opportunities that will guide and support you at each stage of your personal and professional journey.

What you can expect from us

Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different cultures

Benefits Information

Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.

Pay Range

Pay From: $105, 000 to $130,000

About Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit https://www.cbh.com/disclosure/

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Eligibility and Sponsorship

Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Cherry Bekaert will not provide work sponsorship for this position. Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us at https://careers.cbh.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Copyright

© 2026 Cherry Bekaert. All Rights Reserved. At Cherry Bekaert, your career is about you. With growing industry expertise, a strong support system, and our team’s shared values, we encourage you to choose your path. Join the Firm that acknowledges and recognizes the power of the individual.