Manager, Strategy & Operations, Finance Transformation

Elliott Davis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Flexible work schedules

Maternity & parental leave

Health and wellness benefits

One-on-one professional coaching

Leadership development programs

Beyond program

Job summary

Elliott Davis is a leading provider of strategic finance and CFO services to private equity portfolio and high-growth companies. You will deliver expert accounting and financial support to buy-side clients, assisting in enhancing finance functions for acquired entities, and provide sell-side advisory throughout the transaction process.

On the buy-side, you will play a key role in post-close activities, such as 100-day integration, accrual conversion, opening balance sheet, month-end close, FP&A

Qualifications

• 5+ years of public accounting, operational finance leadership and/or M&A experience.
• Experience transforming a finance function to be a strategic partner.
• Forward-thinking with interest in finance-technology intersection and BI/AI.
• Experience hiring, developing and leading a finance team.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Effective time management skills.
• CPA certification is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, high quality client service that meets or exceeds client expectations.
• Lead multiple finance transformation engagements and oversee workstreams including accounting, FP&A, and/or technology.
• Address and rectify financial information gaps by implementing robust accounting processes, policies, and procedures.
• Assist with opening balance sheets and post-close purchase price adjustments.
• Develop understanding of the client’s business and identify performance improvement opportunities.
• Be growth motivated, own client relationships and oversee engagement economics.
• Identify new client pursuits and contribute to proposals and thought leadership.
• Lead conversations with teams, clients and stakeholders to build trust.
• Collaborate with acquired entity personnel and client teams for smooth engagement
• Ensure all deliverables are completed on time and meet quality standards.
• Oversee engagement operations, including staff scheduling and budget management.
• Create a collaborative team environment and coach members.
• Other duties within the scope of the practice.

Skills

Public accounting

Finance leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Time management

Education

CPA (preferred)

Tools

BI tools

Job description

Who We Are

Elliott Davis pairs forward-thinking tax, assurance and consulting services with industry-leading workplace culture. Our nine offices — located in the fastest growing cities in the US — are built on a foundation of inclusivity, collaboration, and collective growth. We work daily to provide exceptional service to our people, customers, and our communities. Audit and assurance services are provided by Elliott Davis, LLC (doing business in NC and D.C. as Elliott Davis, PLLC), a licensed CPA firm.

Who We Are

Elliott Davis pairs forward-thinking tax, assurance and consulting services with industry-leading workplace culture. Our nine offices — located in the fastest growing cities in the US — are built on a foundation of inclusivity, collaboration, and collective growth. We work daily to provide exceptional service to our people, customers, and our communities. Audit and assurance services are provided by Elliott Davis, LLC (doing business in NC and D.C. as Elliott Davis, PLLC), a licensed CPA firm.

Job Summary

Elliott Davis is a leading provider of strategic finance and CFO services to private equity portfolio and high-growth companies throughout the lower middle market and middle market. Our team of experts partners with portfolio company leadership and investors to transform legacy finance functions into the storyteller and strategic driver for their businesses. We also partner with founder and family-owned businesses as they prepare for a capital event. In this role, you will deliver expert accounting and financial support to buy‑side clients, assisting in the enhancement of the finance function for acquired entities. You will also offer sell‑side accounting and finance advisory services to companies throughout the transaction process. On the buy‑side, you will play a key role in post‑close activities such as providing interim leadership support through the 100‑day integration plan including items such as converting to accrual accounting, establishing the opening balance sheet, expediting month‑end close, preparing reporting packages, building out FP&A, preparing for the first year audit, building out the internal team, and analyzing opportunities to better utilize technology throughout the finance function. On the sell‑side, you will help companies elevate their finance function to be more data driven and tell the narrative of business performance as well as develop a strategic roadmap, then serve as an advisor throughout the sell‑side or capital raise process.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, high quality client service that meets or exceeds client expectations
• Lead multiple finance transformation engagements and oversee workstreams including accounting, FP&A, and/or technology, often as part of interim finance leadership – both buy‑side post close and sell‑side preparation and diligence support.
• Address and rectify financial information gaps by implementing robust accounting processes, policies, and procedures to ensure the generation of accurate financial data
• Assist with preparation of opening balance sheets and post‑close purchase price adjustments
• Develop an understanding of the client's business and recognize key performance drivers, trends and developments and identify performance improvement opportunities and recommend creative solutions to complex issues and broaden our business relationships where possible
• Be growth motivated, own client relationships and oversee engagement economics and management of resources
• Identify new client pursuits, develop proposal and thought leadership content, and be visible in the market
• Lead conversations with teams, clients and stakeholders to build trust
• Collaborate closely with personnel from the acquired entity as well as client teams to facilitate smooth engagement execution
• Ensure all deliverables are completed on time and meet the firm’s quality standards
• Oversee engagement operations, including staff scheduling and budget management
• Create a collaborative team environment and motivate team through communication and actions
• Coach and develop team members
• Other duties within the scope of the practice

Requirements

• 5+ years of public accounting, operational finance leadership (Senior Accountant, Manager, Controller, Director), and/or M&A experience – ideally has worked for / with PE portfolio and other high‑growth companies
• Experience transforming a finance function to be a strategic partner throughout the business (building the bridge from accounting to FP&A to strategy)
• High level comprehension of accounting principles coupled with ability to effectively communicate
• Forward‑thinking, interested in intersection of finance and technology – experience implementing BI tools and looking for opportunities to utilize AI
• Experience in hiring, developing and leading a finance team
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability
• Effective time management skills
• CPA Certification is a plus, but not required

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US

We believe that when our employees are able to thrive in all facets of life, their work and impact are that much greater.

That’s Right – All Aspects Of Life, Not Just Your Life As An Employee, Because We Understand That There's Life Beyond Your Job. Here Are Some Of The Ways Our Work Works For Your Life, Your Growth, And Your Well‑being

• generous time away and paid firm holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s
• flexible work schedules
• 16 weeks of paid maternity and adoption leave, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, 4 weeks of paid and caregiver leave (once eligible)
• first‑class health and wellness benefits, including wellness coaching and mental health counseling
• one‑on‑one professional coaching
• Leadership and career development programs
• access to Beyond: a one‑of‑a kind program with experiences that help you expand your life, personally and professionally

NOTICE TO 3RD PARTY RECRUITERS

Notice to Recruiters and Agencies regarding unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions without prior express written approval. Resumes submitted or candidates referred to any employee of Elliott Davis by any external recruiter or recruitment agency by any means (including but not limited to via Internet, e‑mail, fax, U.S. mail, and/or verbal communications) without a properly executed written contract for a specified position by an authorized member of the Talent Acquisition team become the property of Elliott Davis. Elliott Davis will not be responsible for, or owe any fees associated with, referrals of those candidates and/or for submission of any information, including resumes, associated with individuals.

Ada Requirements

The physical and cognitive/mental requirements and the work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:

• Regularly required to remain in a stationary position; use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and to talk or hear, both in person and by telephone
• Required to have specific vision abilities which include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Cognitive/Mental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Use written and oral communication skills.
• Read and interpret data, information, and documents.
• Observe and interpret situations.
• Work under deadlines with frequent interruptions; and
• Interact with internal and external customers and others in the course of work.