Director, Operational & Technical Accounting Advisory

London

Company Overview

There’s a better way to work in finance—and more specifically, a better way to unlock value potential in private equity-backed portfolio companies. Working at the intersection of sponsors and management teams across every stage of the investment lifecycle, our team provides hands-on, execution-oriented support to elevate the office of the CFO.

So, what does it mean to work at Accordion? It means joining 1,400+ finance & technology experts in a high-growth, collaborative, and agile environment while changing the way portfolio companies drive value. It also means making your mark on Accordion’s future.

With the London office launching our European footprint, London-based Accordionites will have a unique opportunity to flex their entrepreneurial muscles and drive our business forward in the European market.

Accordion is headquartered in New York City with 10 offices around the globe. Come join us as we build something great, together.

Operational & Technical Accounting Advisory Practice (O&T)

With the increase in complexity of the business environment and transactions, CFO’s of private equity-backed companies are increasingly being looked towards to drive strategic insights for their business. Finance organizations are no longer simply result reporters, but rather, they couple these results with forward-looking data to provide strategic insights which are leveraged to make business decisions. Efficiency of process and meaningful control environments allows for speed of financial reporting with increasingly accurate measures, leaving more time for the finance team to add future enterprise value, rather than look backwards.

Accordion’s Operational & Technical Accounting Advisory (O&T) Practice is comprised of a dedicated team providing accounting and financial advice to support PE-backed portfolio companies on a wide range of transactions and events, including enhancing accounting policies & procedures, accelerating the financial statement close process, designing and implementing the financial controls environment, addressing technical accounting matters, assessing the finance and accounting function & accounting and controlling organization standup post-carve-out or merger transaction. We are doers and problem solvers – making sense of complexity and bolstering sponsors’ value creation theses.

This role is based in our London office. Ideal candidates should be local to the desired location, with the flexibility to work remotely 1-2 days a week, blending the best of both worlds for efficiency and collaboration.

What You’ll Do:

The O&T Director will partner with Accordion’s leaders to service clients in maturing accounting processes around financial close and consolidation, supporting complex transactions (e.g. acquisitions, initial public offerings, carve-out’s) and address technical accounting matters. The O&T Director is expected to work collaboratively with management and the project team reporting to the project lead. The responsibilities specifically include:

• Establishing a high-performing and efficient accounting and controlling function by assessing current capabilities versus needs in a PE environment, identifying gaps and ensuring remediation steps are identified, communicated and implemented.
• Designing process maps and roadmaps around core accounting processes (order to cash, procure to pay, record to report).
• Overseeing and managing cross functional teams and stakeholders to ensure the Office of the CFO is being setup for success.
• Supporting the accounting team through complex transactions, such as adoption of IFRS standards, consolidation of multiple global packages including different currencies and addressing technical matters such as purchase accounting, revenue recognition, debt modifications, etc.
• Preparing financial statements, including ensuring IFRS compliance and adoption of key areas including IFRS 15, IFRS 16 and IFRS 18, among others.
• Assisting in the design and implementation of new accounting policies and procedures.
• Assessing and designing finance and accounting organizational structure.
• Onboarding and managing third party firms, including driving successful outcomes and mitigating risk and disruption to the client.
• Overall, bringing leadership and executive presence to all conversations, representing expertise in our skill sets and our firm while coordinating a collaborative solution for our clients.
• Additionally, coaching and mentoring junior team members including hands-on teaching of complex areas around carve outs and overall client-based work.
• Assisting in growing the firm by supporting business development activities.
• Identifying and sponsoring internal initiatives.
• Regular and extensive travel across Europe to work with clients in the relevant jurisdictions.

Ideally, You Have:

• Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant professional experience, working in a client serving role at a top-tier accounting or financial advisory firm, and/or mix of client service and private industry experience at a senior level,
• Proven experience successfully managing multiple projects at the same time, managing not only client/sponsor dynamics but internal team dynamics as well
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field; CA (or equivalent certification) is a plus,
• A strong and up-to date knowledge of IFRS (exposure to US-GAAP is a plus),
• Experience preparing financial statements and drafting footnote disclosures as well as navigating a company through a first-time audit,
• Experience performing financial and operational internal control reviews,
• Knowledge of performing IT assessments and financial system implementation experience is a plus,
• Experience working with Private Equity, with an understanding of the unique requirements of the Private Equity consulting environment,
• Bilingual (or more) proficiency is a plus,
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills and
• Strong client service mindset.

Ideally, You Are:

• Excited to be part of a growing team, with a focus on driving future growth,
• Experienced in advising clients on financial accounting issues,
• Knowledgeable of complex financial accounting and operations issues,
• Passionate about delivering exceptional client service,
• Experienced in advising clients on financial and transformation initiatives,
• Knowledgeable about the relationship between Private Equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, particularly within the office of the CFO,
• Willing to get your hands dirty in the details of a project while simultaneously seeing the whole picture,
• Comfortable managing projects with multiple complex workstreams while also focused on your single workstream (you are managing and doing),
• A self-starter with a strong work ethic,
• Full of entrepreneurial spirit and comfortable in a fluid, flat organization,
• Able to effectively communicate complex issues and solutions, and raise issues to senior team members when necessary,
• A team player, able to work with team members across all levels,
• Someone who enjoys mentoring others and doing meaningful work and
• A leader of others; you lead by example.

Accordion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under law.

Please note that as per Accordion policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our inclusive diversity values. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Accordion will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.