Senior CAS Accountant / Client Onboarding

Illumination Accounting & Consulting; Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory (MN); Remote; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Flexible schedule

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Illumination Accounting & Consulting, a Twin Cities-based CAS firm serving small to mid-sized businesses, seeks a senior accounting professional to own client portfolios, manage onboarding, and lead clean close processes. You’ll partner with managers on complex engagements, optimize workflows, and drive timely reporting with strong technical accounting knowledge.

You will design COA and reporting structures, optimize QuickBooks Online and CAS tools, and mentor staff while expanding automation

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of progressive accounting experience with full-cycle responsibilities.
• Experience in a CAS firm or outsourced accounting serving multiple clients.
• Proven onboarding, cleanup, and process-improvement project leadership.
• Strong communication with business owners and executives.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a portfolio of client engagements, including A/P, A/R, payroll, reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Serve as primary client contact and lead recurring financial review meetings with owners and executives.
• Prepare and present monthly financial packages, including variance analysis and actionable recommendations.
• Lead new client onboarding from signed engagement through first clean close; coordinate timelines and responsibilities.
• Assess existing accounting records and complete cleanup to establish accurate opening balances and reliable reporting.
• Design or refine charts of accounts, classes, projects, and reporting structures for meaningful management reporting.
• Evaluate, configure, and optimize accounting systems and related technology (QBO and CAS tools).
• Document and improve accounting processes, workflows, and client procedures for a repeatable onboarding experience.
• Develop reporting structures and financial packages that provide timely, useful information for decision-making.
• Coordinate with clients, prior bookkeepers, CPAs, and partners to gather data and resolve handoff issues.
• Partner with Accounting Manager or Controller on larger engagements and onboarding projects.
• Manage multi-entity accounting structures and intercompany reconciliations where applicable.
• Proactively identify financial risks, cash flow concerns, and opportunities for stronger controls.
• Mentor and support staff accountants and bookkeepers through coaching and technical guidance.
• Contribute to workflow improvements and AI-driven efficiency initiatives across the firm.

Skills

Client management

Onboarding clients

Financial reporting

Communication with executives

Process improvement

AI / automation interest

Accounting systems

Project leadership

Education

CPA or active licensure

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Yardi

Procore

Karbon

BILL

Ramp

Fathom

NetSuite

Acumatica

Sage

Job description

Illumination Accounting & Consulting is a Twin Cities-based Client Advisory Services (CAS) firm serving small to mid-sized businesses in construction, real estate, professional services, and inventory-driven industries. We function as our clients’ outsourced accounting department, delivering bookkeeping, controller oversight, and fractional CFO advisory services under one roof.

We are a collaborative, high-performing team that moves quickly, values continuous improvement, and takes pride in helping clients make better business decisions. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for experienced professionals who want to grow alongside us.

The Opportunity

This is a senior-level CAS role for an experienced accounting professional who enjoys both managing ongoing client relationships and taking the lead on new client onboarding. You will own a portfolio of clients while helping new engagements move from signed agreement to a clean, organized, and sustainable accounting process.

You will serve as the primary accounting contact for small and mid-sized engagements. For larger or more complex clients, you will partner closely with our Accounting Manager or Controller while maintaining direct client interaction and significant responsibility.

A key focus of this position is client onboarding, including accounting cleanup, chart of accounts design, accounting and technology system setup, process optimization, and development of useful financial reporting. You will evaluate how a client’s accounting function operates today, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and help establish a stronger foundation for accurate and timely reporting.

Success in this role requires strong technical accounting expertise, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to operate independently. Construction and real estate experience are strongly preferred, along with curiosity about AI, automation, and better ways to improve accounting workflows.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a portfolio of client engagements, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, bank reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Serve as the primary client contact for assigned engagements and lead recurring financial review meetings with business owners and executives.
• Prepare and present monthly financial packages, including variance analysis, financial insights, and actionable recommendations.
• Lead new client onboarding from signed engagement through the first clean close, coordinating timelines, responsibilities, and client communication.
• Assess existing accounting records and complete or coordinate accounting cleanup needed to establish accurate opening balances and reliable financial reporting.
• Design or refine charts of accounts, classes, projects, and other reporting structures to support meaningful management reporting.
• Evaluate, configure, and optimize accounting systems and related technology, including QuickBooks Online and integrated CAS tools, with a focus on efficiency and scalability.
• Document and improve accounting processes, internal workflows, and client procedures to create a consistent and repeatable onboarding experience.
• Develop reporting structures and financial packages that provide clients with timely, useful information for decision-making.
• Coordinate with clients, prior bookkeepers, CPAs, and other partners to gather historical information and resolve transition or handoff issues.
• Partner with the Accounting Manager or Controller on larger and more complex client engagements and onboarding projects.
• Manage multi-entity accounting structures, intercompany reconciliations, as applicable.
• Proactively identify financial risks, cash flow concerns, process inefficiencies, unusual activity, and opportunities for stronger controls.
• Mentor and support staff accountants and bookkeepers through coaching, review, and technical guidance.
• Contribute to workflow improvements, process documentation, and AI-driven efficiency initiatives across the firm.

Required Qualifications

• 5-8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including full-cycle accounting responsibilities.
• Prior experience in a CAS firm, outsourced accounting environment, public accounting, or a similar role serving multiple clients.
• Demonstrated experience onboarding clients, standing up a new set of books, or leading accounting cleanup and process improvement projects.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and communicate effectively with business owners and executives.
• Strong understanding of accrual-based accounting and financial statement preparation.
• Advanced proficiency in QuickBooks Online, including experience setting up or restructuring company files and reporting.
• Ability to evaluate accounting workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement practical process improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, client deadlines, and onboarding projects with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Yardi, Procore, or similar construction and real estate platforms.
• Familiarity with Karbon, BILL, Ramp, Fathom, or comparable CAS technology tools.
• Experience with NetSuite, Acumatica, Sage, or other mid-market ERP systems.
• Experience leveraging AI, automation, or workflow optimization tools.
• Prior experience mentoring, training, or reviewing the work of junior accounting staff.
• CPA or active pursuit of professional licensure.

What Success Looks Like

• New clients are onboarded within established timelines with clean, documented accounting setups and a clear path to timely monthly reporting.
• Accounting cleanup and transition issues are identified early, scoped appropriately, and resolved without creating surprises at first close.
• Client systems and processes are configured for efficiency, scalability, and strong financial reporting rather than simply replicating prior workflows.
• Your ongoing client portfolio receives accurate, timely financials and proactive communication.
• Onboarding processes and documentation continue to improve so the firm can scale quality consistently across new engagements.
• You identify meaningful opportunities to use technology, automation, and AI to reduce manual work and improve the client experience.

This role is designed for someone who wants more than technical execution. As the firm grows, high performers will have opportunities to expand their leadership responsibilities. Advancement is based on performance, leadership, client impact, onboarding ownership, and advisory capability rather than tenure alone.

• Fully remote position with a flexible schedule.
• Meaningful client relationships and direct impact on growing businesses.
• Opportunity to shape and improve the firm’s client onboarding process as we continue to grow.
• A forward-thinking firm actively investing in technology, automation, and AI.
• Clear advancement opportunities tied to results and professional growth.