Director, Accounting Global Process Owner

Upside Search; Westlake (OH); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Upside Search is partnering with a global, publicly traded manufacturing organization to recruit a Director, Accounting Global Process Owner. This newly created role leads a multiyear transformation of global accounting processes, reporting to the Chief Accounting Officer and shaping future-state operating models including Shared Services and GBS.

The position requires 12+ years in accounting/finance transformation, deep R2R expertise, and experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in accounting, controllership, finance transformation, shared services, or related fields.
• Significant accounting/finance transformation experience essential, with R2R/GBS/COE/BPO initiatives.
• Publicly traded company experience required, with understanding of complex accounting environments, financial reporting and internal controls.
• Strong understanding of Record-to-Report processes including month-end close, financial reporting and governance.
• Proven ability to lead global transformation initiatives across regions/units.
• Executive communication and ability to influence without direct authority.
• Experience leveraging ERP systems and automation to improve accounting operations; SAP or Oracle preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business.
• CPA and manufacturing experience preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a multiyear global accounting transformation strategy with a focus on R2R.
• Evaluate opportunities to standardize, centralize, simplify, and automate accounting processes globally.
• Shape future-state operating models including Shared Services, GBS, COE, and outsourcing partnerships.
• Partner with regional accounting leaders to identify inefficiencies and implement global standards.
• Drive large-scale transformation initiatives involving process design, governance, controls, and technology enablement.
• Collaborate with Finance Technology and IT to identify ERP optimization and workflow improvements.
• Establish performance metrics, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Influence senior stakeholders across regions without direct reporting authority.

Skills

Accounting Transformation

R2R Expertise

Shared Services

GBS/COE/BPO

Stakeholder Mgmt

ERP Systems

SAP/Oracle

CPA

Public Company

Executive Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

CPA (preferred)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Upside Search is partnering with a global, publicly traded manufacturing organization that is looking to add a Director, Accounting Global Process Owner to its corporate accounting leadership team.

This is a newly created, highly visible position reporting directly to the Chief Accounting Officer, with responsibility for leading a multiyear transformation of the organization's global accounting processes.

We're looking for an experienced Accounting/Finance Transformation leader who has successfully driven large-scale initiatives involving Record-to-Report (R2R), Shared Services, Global Business Services (GBS), Centers of Excellence (COE), or Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

This is not a traditional Accounting Director role focused on managing month-end close or overseeing day-to-day accounting operations. Instead, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of a global accounting organization by driving standardization, simplification, centralization, automation, and process improvement across multiple regions.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the development and execution of a multiyear global accounting transformation strategy, with a strong focus on Record-to-Report processes.

• Evaluate opportunities to standardize, centralize, simplify, and automate accounting processes across global operations.

• Help shape future-state operating models, including Shared Services, GBS, Centers of Excellence, and potential outsourcing partnerships.

• Partner with regional accounting leaders to identify inefficiencies, improve processes, and implement consistent global standards.

• Drive large-scale transformation initiatives involving process design, governance, internal controls, and technology enablement.

• Collaborate with Finance Technology and IT to identify opportunities for ERP optimization, automation, workflow improvements, and emerging technologies.

• Establish performance metrics, governance frameworks, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Influence senior stakeholders across multiple regions and drive organizational change without direct reporting authority.

What We're Looking For

• 12+ years of progressive experience in accounting, controllership, finance transformation, shared services, or related disciplines.

• Significant accounting/finance transformation experience is essential, ideally involving R2R, shared services, GBS, COE, or BPO initiatives.

• Publicly traded company experience required, with an understanding of complex accounting environments, financial reporting, and internal controls.

• Strong understanding of Record-to-Report processes, including month-end close, financial reporting, reconciliations, and accounting governance.

• Proven ability to lead global, enterprise-wide transformation initiatives across multiple business units, functions, or geographies.

• Exceptional stakeholder management, executive communication, and ability to influence without direct authority.

• Experience leveraging ERP systems, process automation, and technology to improve accounting operations; SAP or Oracle experience preferred.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.

• CPA and manufacturing experience are preferred, but not required.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Newly Created Role: Help build and shape the organization's global accounting process strategy rather than inherit an established function.

• Executive Visibility: Report directly to the Chief Accounting Officer and partner closely with senior accounting and finance leadership.

• Global Impact: Lead initiatives that will fundamentally change how accounting processes operate across multiple regions.

• Transformation Ownership: Drive meaningful change across shared services, outsourcing strategy, process standardization, automation, and governance.

• Long-Term Career Growth: Gain valuable enterprise-wide transformation experience with a large, established global organization.

• Relocation Assistance: Available for qualified candidates willing to relocate to the Cleveland, Ohio area.