Director of Accounting & Payroll Compliance

Talently; Santa Monica (CA); Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Talently is seeking a Director of Accounting & Payroll Compliance to lead the close process, financial reporting, and multi-state payroll compliance for a growing food & beverage organization. This remote leadership role requires strong technical accounting skills and the ability to build scalable processes across a multi-location environment.

The ideal candidate will oversee AP/AR, HRIS, compliance with licenses and registrations, and drive process improvements while collaborating with HR and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience with close ownership.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and financial reporting responsibilities.
• Hands-on multi-state payroll and regulatory compliance.
• Advanced Excel/Sheets skills for modeling and large datasets.
• Experience with AP, AR, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Strong organization and meticulous attention to accuracy.
• Excellent communication to explain accounting topics to non-technical partners.
• Proven leadership and ability to improve processes in fast-paced settings.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close, ensuring accurate financial statements, reporting, validation, and analysis.
• Lead variance analysis and provide leadership with clear insights into business performance.
• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, ASC 842, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Manage multi-state payroll, including accurate wage calculations, tax withholdings, filings, and registrations.
• Oversee HRIS operations, employee data integrity, onboarding and offboarding workflows, and organizational changes across integrated systems.
• Manage recurring regulatory obligations, including business licenses, health permits, food handler certifications, and sales tax registrations.
• Coordinate benefits enrollment, deductions, and reporting in partnership with HR.
• Improve and scale accounting, payroll, and compliance processes and systems as the business grows.

Skills

7+ years accounting

GAAP knowledge

Multi-state payroll

Excel/Sheets

AP/AR reconciliations

Detail-oriented

Communications

Leadership

Accounting degree/finance

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Job description

Job Title:

Director of Accounting & Payroll Compliance

Location:

Remote - United States

About The Opportunity:

Join a growing organization in the food and beverage industry focused on delivering high-quality products and experiences to its customers. As Director of Accounting, you will oversee core accounting functions, multi-state payroll, and regulatory compliance while helping strengthen financial and operational processes. This remote leadership opportunity is ideal for a hands‑on accounting professional who combines strong technical expertise with operational insight and the ability to build scalable processes in a fast‑paced, multi‑location environment.

Responsibilities:

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close, ensuring accurate financial statements, reporting, validation, and analysis.
• Lead variance analysis and provide leadership with clear insights into business performance.
• Oversee day‑to‑day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, ASC 842, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Manage multi‑state payroll, including accurate wage calculations, tax withholdings, filings, and registrations.
• Oversee HRIS operations, employee data integrity, onboarding and offboarding workflows, and organizational changes across integrated systems.
• Manage recurring regulatory obligations, including business licenses, health permits, food handler certifications, and sales tax registrations.
• Coordinate benefits enrollment, deductions, and reporting in partnership with HR.
• Improve and scale accounting, payroll, and compliance processes and systems as the business grows.

Must-Have Skills:

• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of financial statements and the close process.
• Deep knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and the full accounting cycle.
• Hands‑on experience with multi‑state payroll and regulatory compliance.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills, including building models and working with large datasets.
• Experience overseeing accounting operations such as AP, AR, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail in managing financial accuracy, filings, and permits.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain accounting and compliance matters to non-technical partners.
• Demonstrated leadership, ownership, and ability to improve processes in a fast‑paced environment.
• Degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• CPA certification.
• Experience supporting a fast-growing, multi-state food and beverage or restaurant business.
• Familiarity with HRIS operations and integrations.
• Experience managing business licenses, health permits, food handler certifications, and location-level compliance obligations.
• Experience overseeing benefits enrollment, deductions, and reporting in partnership with HR.
• Familiarity with ASC 842 accounting requirements.
• Unlimited PTO
• 401k with up to a 4% employer match after one year