Director of Accounting Operations

Vertex Education-PA, LLC; Headquarters (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading pay

Rewards program

Referral bonuses

Unlimited flexible PTO

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with 6% match

Training/tuition support

Job summary

Vertex Education is seeking a Director of Accounting Operations to design and lead a scalable, technology-enabled accounting operating model across national teams serving 400+ charter school clients across 10+ states.

You will oversee close, reporting, and audit readiness while driving standardization, automation, and a blended delivery strategy with onshore leadership and AI-enabled processes. Join a mission-driven organization empowering schools nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Progressive accounting leadership overseeing multi-entity or client-service operations, including month-end close, financial reporting, controls, and audits.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and integrating teams or operations after acquisitions (preferred).
• CPA or equivalent professional certification preferred.
• Experience in charter school, education, nonprofit, or multi-client accounting environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and rollout of a unified accounting operating model with governance, ownership, service levels, and process accountability across client-facing functions.
• Build and empower a high-performance national accounting team with clear priorities, development plans, and accountability.
• Drive financial close, reporting, controls, and audit readiness across clients and entities with GAAP compliance.
• Scale through standardization, automation, AI, and global delivery with KPIs, dashboards, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead accounting integration for acquisitions and client transitions with post-close playbooks and clear communication.

Skills

Strategic leadership

GAAP expertise

Financial planning & analysis

Change management

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance

Job description

Be the one who makes a difference! At Vertex Education we are a team of high achievers, courageous leaders, and passionate believers in changing lives through education. As a purpose‑led education services provider, our mission is destined to benefit many and yet it starts with just one person inspired to work together with us to make a memorable and meaningful difference for our clients, schools, students, and communities. Be the one who makes a difference—with us.

Vertex Support Services (VSS) is seeking a strategic and innovative leader to shape the future of our national Accounting operations. Reporting to the Head of Finance Operations, the Director of Accounting Operations will design and lead a best‑in‑class accounting operating model - one that strengthens financial integrity, standardizes service delivery, and uses automation, artificial intelligence, and global delivery to improve accuracy, timeliness, scalability, and client satisfaction. This role leads national accounting teams with direct reports of high level accountants across our service delivery teams and regions. The Director will build a high‑performing organization, drive transformation across multiple entities, and set a consistent standard for close, reporting, audit readiness, and client service for a national portfolio of 400+ charter school clients across 10+ states.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the Design and Rollout of a Unified Accounting Operating Model: Develop and implement a scalable, technology‑enabled accounting operating model across VSS. Define clear governance, ownership, service levels, and process accountability across all client‑facing accounting functions. Establish consistent standards for monthly close, reconciliations, journal entries, financial reporting, and balance sheet integrity. Execute a structured change management plan that drives adoption and measurable results across legacy and acquired teams. Facilitate cross functional collaboration with Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Client Management teams.
2. Build and Empower a High‑Performance, Change‑Ready National Team: Lead, coach, and develop accounting leaders and professionals across the national organization, including Accounting Managers and Senior Accountant & Audit Managers. Set clear priorities, decision rights, performance expectations, and development plans that reinforce accountability and continuous learning. Build leadership capacity and succession plans while identifying, developing, and retaining top talent. Create a collaborative culture that connects teams from acquired companies to common VSS standards while preserving valuable local knowledge.
3. Drive Financial Close, Reporting, Controls, and Audit Excellence: Oversee the quality and timeliness of monthly and year‑end close activities across clients and entities. Strengthen review processes for reconciliations, journal entries, balance sheets, financial statements, and recurring or annual adjustments. Provide strategic and technical accounting guidance to clients and internal leaders, including support for complex or escalated matters. Establish a consistent audit management approach, including workbooks, request tracking, auditor coordination, issue resolution, and review of findings. Maintain compliance with GAAP, organizational policies, contractual commitments, and applicable financial reporting requirements. Acts as the final escalation point for complex, non‑routine accounting treatments and operational bottlenecks across the accounting function.
4. Scale Through Standardization, Automation, AI, and Global Delivery: Redesign accounting workflows to improve efficiency, control, transparency, and the client experience. Implement standardized SOPs, dashboards, KPIs, and quality reviews for real‑time performance management. Develop and execute a blended delivery strategy integrating onshore leadership, offshore execution, and AI‑enabled automation where appropriate. Segment and assign work to maximize quality, speed, capacity, and cost effectiveness. Evaluate and pilot emerging accounting technologies and partnerships that improve close, reporting, reconciliations, and audit readiness.
5. Lead Accounting Integration for Acquisitions and Client Transitions: Design and deploy a post‑close accounting integration playbook for acquired companies and newly onboarded clients. Assess and align people, systems, data, controls, close calendars, reporting, and processes with VSS standards. Partner with Finance, Technology, Client Operations, and acquired‑company leaders to sequence integration decisions and manage dependencies. Ensure clear communication, service continuity, and minimal disruption for clients, legacy teams, and acquired teams; track milestones, risks, and outcomes to improve future transitions.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Accounting Leadership: Designs scalable operating models that protect financial integrity and support growth.
• People Leadership: Builds national teams, develops leaders, and creates clarity and accountability through change.
• Technical Accounting and Audit Fluency: Applies strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit processes.
• Change and Integration Management: Aligns teams, systems, and processes across acquisitions and client transitions.
• AI and Automation Fluency: Identifies practical opportunities for intelligent automation and workflow optimization.
• Operational Excellence: Establishes SOPs, dashboards, KPIs, and review mechanisms that improve quality and timeliness.
• Client and Cross‑Functional Partnership: Builds trust and collaborates effectively across Finance, Technology, Client Operations, auditors, and client leadership.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Progressive accounting leadership experience overseeing multi‑entity or client‑service operations, including month‑end close, financial reporting, controls, and audits.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and integrating teams or operations following acquisitions strongly preferred.
• CPA or equivalent professional certification preferred.
• Experience in charter school, education, nonprofit, or other multi‑client accounting environments preferred.

Why Join Vertex Support Services

At Vertex Support Services, we're redefining the role of Accounting in modern finance - creating a data‑driven, technology‑enabled function that supports growth, financial integrity, and client confidence. The Director of Accounting Operations will play a pivotal role in that journey, leading national teams and influencing both strategy and execution as VSS integrates acquired companies and scales service delivery. Be excited to be a part of our team and grow your career with us! Be the one who enables us to positively impact over 258,000 students across multiple states while driving our growth forward so we can enrich even more lives.

Be the one who helps us achieve excellence for over 226 schools that we support with academics, finance, technology, human resources, communications, marketing, facilities, construction, and food services. Be the one who is a diverse thinker, a team player, a smart risk taker, an innovator, and a difference maker by encouraging others to climb higher and reach farther to further education. Be yourself surrounded by wonderful people who care about you, value your unique skills, and lift you up. Be supported in your work by caring leaders and team members who want you to succeed. Be empowered to make a difference and climb higher and reach farther to change lives through education. Be well in all aspects of your life from your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing to your finances.

Enjoy industry‑leading pay, rewards, referral bonuses, with unlimited flexible paid time‑off for performance. Be able to care for your health and your family with comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits and invest in your future with 401(k) plans with a 6% employer match on your contributions. Enhance your growth and development with mentoring and money to take training classes. Thrive in a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment where we treat others with fairness and respect, celebrate diversity, and elevate equality and inclusion as an equal opportunity employer.

Founded in 2007, Vertex Education is committed to changing lives through education by providing academic, business and development services to schools nationwide. At Vertex, three core values form the foundation of how we work with each other -- and our clients. We offer to all projects and relationships the embodiment of these values: Innovative Minds Hungry Hearts Engaging Spirits.