Outsourced Accounting Lead Consultant (Higher Education)

WithumSmith+Brown; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Bonus program

Job summary

WithumSmith+Brown seeks an Outsourced Accounting Lead Consultant for our Buffalo, NY office. The hybrid role (3 days in office) leads staff and seniors to service multiple industries, overseeing AP, payroll, and month-end close with strong internal control emphasis.

You will drive client communications, budgeting support, and analytics, partnering with leadership to translate results into actionable decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required.
• CPA preferred and/or MBA equivalent.
• Progressive accounting experience with leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a team; assign work and review deliverables.
• Oversee accounts payable workflows and payroll approvals with documentation.
• Lead month-end close, journal entries, reconciliations, and GL integrity.
• Support budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and performance analytics.
• Coordinate external reviews and audits with timely deliverables.
• Strengthen internal controls and streamline close and reporting processes.

Skills

Leadership

Accounting expertise

GAAP

Team management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

CPA preferred / MBA equivalent

Tools

Sage Intacct

QuickBooks Online

Excel

Job description

Withum is a place where talent thrives - where who you are matters. It’s a place of endless opportunities for growth. A place where entrepreneurial energy plus inclusive teamwork equals exponential results.Explore different industries. Learn new skills. Connect with our diverse teams of professionals to gain insight into the career you envision. Your Career Starts with You.Experience the Transformative Power of Withum Plus You - that’s the Power in the Plus!Job Description:Withum’s Outsourced Accounting Systems and Services (OASyS) team is seeking an Outsourced Accounting Lead Consultant to join our growing team in our Buffalo, NY office. This role will be a hybrid-based position (3 days in the office required). The Outsourced Accounting Lead Consultant will oversee and work together with staff and senior team members to service a wide range of industries. Are you a proven problem solver with a knack for numbers? Are you dedicated, hardworking and a great team player? If so, this position may be for you!Withum’s brand is a reflection of our people, our culture and our strength. Withum has become synonymous with teamwork and client service excellence. The cornerstone of our success can truly be accredited to the dedicated professionals who work here every day, whose mission is to help our clients grow and thrive - to be in a position of strength. But our commitment goes beyond our clients as we continue to live the Withum Way, promoting personal and professional growth for all team members, clients, and surrounding communities.How You’ll Spend Your Time:Managing and mentoring a team of professionals; assign work, review deliverables, and support development through coaching and feedbackOverseeing accounts payable workflows, including review/approval of vendor and contractor payments and maintenance of appropriate supporting documentationReviewing and approving payroll processing and related filings in collaboration with client HR/payroll providersLeading the month-end close process, including reviewing proposed journal entries, ensuring timely reconciliations, and maintaining an accurate general ledgerReviewing and approving all proposed journal entries (e.g., revenue, payroll, accruals, reclasses) and confirm appropriate supporting detailsReviewing balance sheet reconciliations and resolve variances, including cash, AR, prepaid, fixed assets, accruals, and other key accountsSupporting budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and performance analytics; help clients translate results into actionable operational decisionsPartnering with client leadership (owners, administrators, controllers, practice managers) as the day-to-day point of contact; proactively communicate status, risks, and recommendationsCoordinating and facilitating external reviews and annual financial statement audits; manage auditor requests and support timely issuance of deliverablesEvaluating and strengthening internal controls; streamline close and reporting processes; help implement best practices across AP, AR, payroll, and general ledger activitiesThe Kinds of People We Want to Talk to Have Many of The Following:Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance requiredCPA preferred and/or MBA equivalent5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership and review responsibilitiesDemonstrated client service experience (outsourced accounting, advisory, public accounting, or consulting) with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlinesOutstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial results and recommendations to non-finance stakeholdersPreferred experience with Sage Intacct and/or QuickBooks Online; strong proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, and data validation)Experience working with construction, manufacturing, distribution and oilfield service industries; a basic understanding of accounting reporting preferredStrong knowledge of month-end close, GAAP-based financial statements, account reconciliations, and internal controls; continuous-improvement mindsetProven ability to lead teams, collaborate cross-functionally, and build trusted relationships with clients and internal stakeholdersInvolvement in their community and desire to “give back”The compensation for this position ranges from $85,000-$95,000. In addition to the base compensation, Withum offers a competitive benefits package and bonus program (for eligible roles) based on individual and firm performance. Final offer amounts are based on multiple factors such as the specific role, hiring location, as well as the individual’s skills, experience and qualifications. For additional information on our benefits, visit our website at https://www.withum.com/careers/.#LI-MD!1 #LI-HybridWithumSmith+Brown, PC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, (including pregnancy), genetic information, marital status, domestic partnership status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, weight, height, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.