Chief Accounting Officer

CohnReznick; Parsippany-Troy Hills (NJ); Hybrid; USD 278,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Flexible work environment

Expanded parental leave

Learning & development

Volunteer time off

Job summary

CohnReznick is seeking a Chief Accounting Officer in New Jersey to serve as the technical and operational backbone of the finance organization. This PE-backed firm requires deep accounting expertise, a track record of close excellence, and the ability to lead a high-caliber team across systems and processes.

The role demands clear communication with auditors and the Board, strategic close improvements, and strong M&A/open balance sheet experience.

Qualifications

• CPA, required. Big 4 or top national firm audit training as a foundation.
• 12-18+ years of progressive experience, incl. prior service as a Controller, CAO, or similar at PE-backed org.
• Fluent about days-to-close reduction, control remediation, and fast month-end issues.
• ASC 606, ASC 805 (business combinations), equity/partnership accounting, and accounting for professional services.
• Audit committee-ready communicator with ability to explain accounting positions to Board.
• Experience with multiple acquisitions or add-ons from the accounting side.
• Built or rebuilt a control environment, ERP migration, or close-automation initiative.
• Talent magnet who can attract and keep a strong accounting team.

Responsibilities

• Financial close and reporting end-to-end.
• Technical accounting authority on complex areas.
• External audit coordination and efficient audit outcomes.
• Build and improve a PE-backed control environment.
• Lead purchase accounting and post-close integration.
• Team leadership and development of accounting staff.
• ERP close-automation investments with FP&A/IT.
• Partner to the CFO on technical accounting judgments.

Skills

CPA

Technical accounting

Month-end close

M&A accounting

ASC 606

ASC 805

PE accounting

Audit liaison

Leadership

Board communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

ERP systems (SAP/Oracle)

Job description

Job Description As CohnReznick grows, so do our career opportunities. As one of the nation's top professional services firms, CohnReznick creates rewarding careers in advisory, assurance, and tax with team members who value innovation and collaboration in everything they do!CohnReznick helps organizations optimize performance, manage risk, and maximize value through CohnReznick LLP (assurance services) and CohnReznick Advisory LLC (advisory and tax services). Together, the firm provides leaders with deep industry knowledge and relationships, solutions to address clients' unique business goals and risks, and insight on how emerging market forces can drive opportunity.

We currently have an exciting career opportunity for a Chief Accounting Officer to join the firm.

CohnReznick is a hybrid firm and most of our professionals are located within a commutable distance to one of our offices. This position is considered hybrid which means team members are expected to be thoughtful and intentional in how they create opportunities for in-person collaboration. While the cadence of in-office presence is determined at the team level, our professionals are encouraged to be in the office/together in person on average 3 days a week.

YOUR TEAM.

CohnReznick is looking for a Chief Accounting Officer who can operate as the technical and operational backbone of the finance organization. This is a build-and-elevate mandate across talent, systems, and processes for a firm operating with private equity ownership and the reporting rigor, deal cadence, and growth trajectory that comes with it. The right person will have both the technical depth to get into the weeds of complex accounting and the executive presence to sit across the table from the CFO, the deal team, and external stakeholders as a peer.

WHY COHNREZNICK?

At CohnReznick, we're united by a common mission to create opportunity, value, and trust for our clients, our people, and our communities. Whether it's working alongside your peers to solve a client challenge, or volunteering together at the local food bank, there are so many ways to find your "why" at the firm.

We believe it's important to balance work with everyday life - and make time for enjoyment and fun. We invest in a robust Total Rewards package that includes everything from generous PTO, a flexible work environment, expanded parental leave, extensive learning & development, and even paid time off for employees to volunteer.

YOUR ROLE.

• Financial close and reporting. Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process end to end. Accuracy, speed, and a control environment that holds up to scrutiny from auditors, lenders, and equity investors.
• Technical accounting. Serve as the firm's authority on complex and judgment-heavy areas. Revenue recognition, business combinations, partnership/equity accounting, and PE-specific structures.
• External audit and compliance. Be the primary relationship owner with external auditors; manage the annual audit to a clean, efficient outcome with no surprises for the CFO or the Board.
• Controls and process. Build and continuously improve a control environment appropriate for a PE-backed platform, with an eye toward future transaction readiness (refinancing, add-on M&A, eventual exit).
• M&A and integration accounting. Lead purchase accounting, opening balance sheets, and post-close integration for acquisitions.
• Team leadership. Recruit, develop, and retain a high-caliber accounting team.
• Systems and scalability. Partner with FP&A and IT on ERP and close-automation investments that let the accounting function scale without linearly scaling headcount.
• Partner to the CFO. Be a direct, candid, load-bearing counterpart to the CFO on anything requiring technical accounting judgment, audit strategy, or Board/Audit Committee materials.

YOUR EXPERIENCE.

• CPA, required. Big 4 or top national firm audit training as a foundation - ideally with time spent in a technical accounting or National Office capacity.12-18+ years of progressive experience, including prior service as a Controller, CAO, or similar at a PE-backed or PE-sponsor-adjacent organization.
• Has run a real close. Can speak fluently about days-to-close reduction, control remediation, and what actually breaks during a fast month-end.Deep technical fluency in ASC 606, ASC 805 (business combinations), equity/partnership accounting, and the accounting specifics of professional services and partnership-adjacent structures.
• Audit committee-ready communicator. Can walk into a Board or Audit Committee meeting and explain a technical accounting position in plain English, defend it under questioning, and know exactly when to flag something proactively versus handle it quietly.
• M&A mindset. Has been through multiple acquisitions or add-ons from the accounting side (due diligence, opening balance sheet, first close post-acquisition, integration)
• A builder, not just an operator. Has stood up or meaningfully rebuilt a control environment, an ERP migration, or a close-automation initiative, and can point to the before-and-after.
• Talent magnet. Has built and retained strong accounting teams before and can attract a strong teamLow ego, high standards. Comfortable being the person who says "no, that's not how we're going to book this" to someone more senior, and does it in a way that builds trust rather than friction.
• PE fluency beyond accounting - understands the nuances of PE controlled businesses and their reporting standards (for both equity and debt holders).

In addition, please take a moment to review our Universal Job Standards.

Studies have shown that we are less likely to apply to jobs unless we meet every single qualification.

At CohnReznick, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our other roles.

In New Jersey, the salary range for a Chief Accounting Officer is $278,000 to $350,000. Actual compensation within the range will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, qualifications and location, and applicable employment laws. Salary is one component of the CohnReznick total rewards package, which includes a discretionary performance bonus, generous paid time off, expanded and inclusive parental benefits, and access to best-in-class learning and development platforms, to name a few.

To learn more about life at CohnReznick, visitLife at CohnReznick

"CohnReznick" is the brand name under which CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC and their respective subsidiaries provide professional services. CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC (and their respective subsidiaries) practice in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. CohnReznick LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC provides tax and business consulting services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC and its subsidiaries are not licensed CPA firms.

"CohnReznick" is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive team to drive business results and create a better future every day for our team members, clients, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. For more information, please see Equal Employment Opportunity Posters.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us [e-mail] note: This email address is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and are not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.

CohnReznick does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are currently engaged by CohnReznick Talent Acquisition Team by way of a written agreement to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that CohnReznick will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.