Finance Systems & Operations Leader - Hybrid (AI-Driven)

Connect Search, LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC partners with a private investment and technology platform to hire a Finance Operations Manager in Chicago, IL or Austin, TX. The role leads the finance shared services, drives automation, and partners with IT and HR to optimize processes across multiple entities.

You will oversee Accounts Payable, Travel & Expense, accounting support, and ERP systems, manage a multi-entity team, and report to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field (required).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in finance operations, accounting, or shared services.
• Experience supporting month-end close, journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals.
• Hands-on NetSuite experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day shared services function supporting Accounts Payable, Travel & Expense, accounting support, and finance operations.
• Supervise and develop a team of finance operations professionals across multiple entities.
• Establish performance expectations, monitor service levels, and drive continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture centered on accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Serve as primary administrator for finance platforms, including NetSuite and expense management systems.
• Maintain system configurations, user access, workflows, and documentation.
• Partner with IT and third-party vendors on system enhancements, upgrades, and issue resolution.
• Act as backup administrator for the organization's ERP environment.
• Oversee multi-entity Accounts Payable operations and approval workflows.
• Manage end-to-end Travel & Expense administration, policy compliance, and employee support.
• Review spending trends, identify policy exceptions, and recommend improvements.
• Coordinate with Accounting, Payroll, and HR on expense-related processes.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities.
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Review general ledger coding and resolve accounting discrepancies.
• Support internal and external audit requests.
• Maintain strong internal controls across finance operations.
• Develop operational dashboards and KPIs for finance shared services.
• Prepare recurring reporting related to AP, T&E, processing metrics, and operational performance.
• Deliver financial analysis supporting business decisions and executive leadership.
• Improve reporting automation and data accuracy across finance systems.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual finance processes.
• Lead AI and workflow automation initiatives across finance operations.
• Evaluate emerging finance technologies and implement scalable solutions.
• Support finance system implementations, testing, documentation, and training.
• Champion continuous improvement through automation and process optimization.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Excel skills

Education

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

Tools

NetSuite

ERP platforms

Automation tools

Job description

Connect Search, LLC partners with a private investment and technology platform to hire a Finance Operations Manager in Chicago, IL or Austin, TX. The role leads the finance shared services, drives automation, and partners with IT and HR to optimize processes across multiple entities.

You will oversee Accounts Payable, Travel & Expense, accounting support, and ERP systems, manage a multi-entity team, and report to senior leadership.