Director of Accounting

Vaco by Highspring; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks a Director of Accounting to lead accounting operations, technical accounting, financial reporting, and process improvements. This hands-on role oversees the close process, develops a small team, ensures U.S.

GAAP compliance, strengthens internal controls, and drives automation and scalability across the function. The Director will mentor staff, own the monthly and annual close, research complex accounting positions, and partner with FP&A and executives to provide

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience including public accounting and industry.
• 5+ years of accounting leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and technical accounting research.
• Experience leveraging automation, AI, SQL, or BI tools to improve processes.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and team development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team with high accuracy and accountability.
• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes and financial reporting.
• Serve as technical accounting expert, researching U.S. GAAP positions.
• Prepare technical memos on revenue recognition, leases, capitalization, and new standards.
• Oversee reconciliations, variance analysis, fixed assets, and audit support.
• Design and enhance internal controls, policies, and close procedures.
• Partner with FP&A, Operations, and leadership to provide financial insights.
• Drive process improvements, automation, ERP optimization, and AI-enabled efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

U.S. GAAP

Technical accounting

Automation & AI

Financial reporting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

SQL

BI tools

ERP systems

Job description

We are seeking a Director of Accounting to lead accounting operations, technical accounting, financial reporting, and process improvement initiatives. This hands-on leadership role will oversee the close process, manage and develop a small team, ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, strengthen internal controls, and drive automation and scalability across the accounting function.

Key Responsibilities

Director of Accounting

About the Role

We are seeking a Director of Accounting to lead accounting operations, technical accounting, financial reporting, and process improvement initiatives. This hands-on leadership role will oversee the close process, manage and develop a small team, ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, strengthen internal controls, and drive automation and scalability across the accounting function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team while maintaining high standards for accuracy and accountability.
• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Serve as the technical accounting subject matter expert, researching and documenting complex U.S. GAAP positions.
• Prepare and review technical accounting memos related to revenue recognition, leases, capitalization, business transactions, and new accounting standards.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, fixed asset accounting, and audit support.
• Design and enhance internal controls, accounting policies, and close procedures.
• Partner with FP&A, Operations, and executive leadership to provide financial insights and support business decisions.
• Drive process improvements, automation initiatives, ERP optimization, and AI-enabled efficiencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting and industry experience.
• 5+ years of accounting leadership experience.
• Big 4 accounting or public accounting is highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and technical accounting research.
• Experience preparing technical accounting memoranda and supporting external audits.
• Experience leveraging automation, AI, SQL, or BI tools to improve accounting processes.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and team development skills.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Privacy Notice

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).