Director, Finance Transformation

Accordion; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 189,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Accordion, headquartered in New York with a global footprint, seeks a senior transformation professional to lead finance-driven value-creation engagements for PE-backed portfolio companies. You will diagnose, design, and deliver cross‑functional improvements spanning FP&A, record-to-report, and source-to-pay while guiding teams and engaging with CFOs and sponsors.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in top-tier advisory or finance roles, a relevant bachelor’s degree (MBA a plus), and a track record

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in client-serving roles at top-tier public accounting or financial advisory firms, or equivalent mix of client service and private industry experience at a senior level
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field; MBA is a plus
• Proven experience managing large engagements with multiple workstreams and coordinating internal teams
• Deep knowledge of finance processes including lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report and FP&A, and experience driving finance transformations
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills

Responsibilities

• Lead finance function diagnostics to assess an organization’s people, processes and technology and develop a value-creation roadmap
• Design and execute process enhancements across lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report and FP&A
• Design future state operating platforms and develop implementation plans supported by quantified benefits
• Manage execution of transformation plans and drive technology adoption and AI enablement
• Set up program governance and lead multi-workstream engagements
• Mentor junior resources and interact with C-level executives at portfolio companies
• Support business development activities and contribute to internal initiatives
• Travel to client sites as needed

Skills

Excel

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Team player

Project management

Client service mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

MBA

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Company Overview

We are the better way to work in finance. As private equity’s value creation partner, we sit at the heart of PE—where sponsors and CFOs meet. Through financial consulting rooted in data, technology, and AI, we help clients drive value—supporting the office of the CFO to drive end-to-end value creation.

Company Overview

We are the better way to work in finance. As private equity’s value creation partner, we sit at the heart of PE—where sponsors and CFOs meet. Through financial consulting rooted in data, technology, and AI, we help clients drive value—supporting the office of the CFO to drive end-to-end value creation.
If you crave challenging work and are looking togrow, come solvecomplexissues alongside1,600+ finance & technology experts ina supportive, collaborativeenvironment.
Backedby premier private equity firms and headquarteredin New York with 11officesaroundtheglobe, we are a high-growth, entrepreneurial firmlookingforpeoplewhowantto be part of buildingsomethinggreat. Come make your mark.

Transformation: Finance Transformation

With the increase in complexity of the business environment and transactions, CFOs of private equity backed companies are increasingly looking to drive strategic insights for their business. Finance organizations are no longer simply result reporters, but rather, they are responsible for analyzing results to provide the strategic insights that inform business decisions. Process efficiencies and meaningful control environments accelerate financial reporting with increasingly accurate measures, leaving more time for the finance team to add future enterprise value.

Accordion’s Transformation Practice is comprised of a dedicated team providing strategic advisory and hands-on execution expertise to support PE‑backed portfolio companies on a wide range of post‑transaction and transformational events, including profitability improvements, finance process optimization, liquidity enhancements, revenue cycle management and technology / AI enablement. We are doers and problem solvers – making sense of complexity and creating enterprise value for the portfolio company.

This role can be based in any of our US office locations and is a hybrid role with the flexibility to work remotely 2 days a week. Ideal candidates should be local to the desired location.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

What You’ll Do

• Lead finance function diagnostics: assessing an organization’s people, process and technology to come up with recommendations and a value-creation roadmap
• Design and execute process enhancements across the following process areas: lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report and FP&A
• Design future state operating platforms (organization structure, finance processes, technology stack)
• Develop implementation plans for initiatives on a strategic roadmap, supported by quantified benefits/value and qualitative substantiation
• Manage execution of plans to optimize technology, drive process automation (within ERPs or leveraging bespoke technologies and AI)
• Set up and drive transformation program governance to support multi-workstream engagements
• Lead change management across multiple functions and workstreams
• Determine and measure the ROI of improvement initiatives, putting in place risk mitigation strategies to support successful realization targeted benefits
• Bring deep financial expertise and leading practices to engagements
• Manage multi-workstream transformation programs at a single client, or manage multiple smaller projects at different clients – under the guidance of Accordion Managing Directors and/or Senior Directors
• Manage junior resources (Vice Presidents, Associates, or Analysts)
• Interact and build relationships with C-level personnel at portfolio companies as well as representatives from private equity sponsors
• Assist in growing the firm by identifying and driving business development activities – coordinating proposals across multiple practices
• Take a lead role on internal firm initiatives to enhance our ability to serve clients and continually improve our internal capabilities
• Travel to client site as needed

You Have

• Minimum 8+ years of relevant professional experience working in a client serving role at a top‑tier public accounting or financial advisory firm, and/or mix of client service and private industry experience at a senior level
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field. MBA is a plus
• Proven experience successfully managing large engagements with multiple workstreams and coordinating internal teams, managing not only client/sponsor dynamics but internal team dynamics as well
• Deep knowledge and experience in overseeing or driving change in business processes including lead-to-cash, source-to-pay, record-to-report, FP&A, as well as other functions under the CFO purview
• A strong and up-to-date knowledge of process best practices specifically related to the professionalization of the finance function
• Extensive expertise related to the design and implementation of strategies, processes and technology which increase effectiveness, reduce costs and improve enterprise value
• Experience enabling financial processes with finance automation and technology deployment
• Experience performing financial and operational assessments
• Experience driving strategic finance transformations
• Experience working in a private equity environment, with an understanding of the unique requirements of the private equity consulting environment
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong client service mindset

You Are

• A self‑starter with a strong work ethic
• A strong team player, able to work with team members across all levels
• Someone who enjoys mentoring others and being mentored by others
• A leader of others; you lead by example
• Excited to be part of a growing team, with a focus on driving future growth
• Able to effectively communicate complex issues and solutions, and raise issues to senior team members when necessary
• Passionate about delivering exceptional client service
• Full of entrepreneurial spirit and comfortable in a fluid, flat organization
• Willing to get your hands dirty in the details of a project while simultaneously seeing the whole picture
• Comfortable managing projects with multiple complex workstreams while also focused on your single workstream (you are managing and doing).

The annual salary for this role ranges from: $189,000 to $225,000 USD + benefits + bonus. Actual compensation packages are determined by evaluating a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic location, skill set, years and depth of experience, education, certifications, cost of labor and internal equity.

Accordion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that as per Accordion policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our inclusive diversity values. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Accordion will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.