Director of Accounting - Dallas or Austin

Job Description

Job Description

Our non-profit client in Austin is looking for a FULLY REMOTE Director of Accounting.

THIS PERSON MUST LIVE IN AUSTIN OR THE DFW AREA ONLY!! You must be able to attend meetings occasionally in the Austin headquarters.

This job blends daily accounting management with future financial planning. At first, you will focus on fixing accounting tasks, training staff, updating old processes, and following government grant rules. Over time, you will work more closely with top executives to help them make smart business choices.

Key Accountability Areas

1. Strategic Financial Oversight

• Executive Advisory: Work closely with the CFO to plan ahead and protect the organization from financial risks.
• Governance Support: Build and review financial reports for executive leaders and the Board of Directors.
• Policy Architecture: Create, share, and update clear financial rules and safety checks across the company.

2. Confidential Accounting Operations & Reporting

• Operational Control: Run daily accounting tasks, including payroll, bills, and closing the books each month and year.
• Regulatory Alignment: Make sure all financial statements follow GAAP rules and official laws.
• Liquidity Management: Track cash flow and bank balances to ensure the organization always has enough money to operate.

3. Restricted Capital & Government Grant Custodianship

• Compliance Enforcer: Manage the accounting and reporting for all federal, state, local, and private grant money.
• Risk Mitigation: Check grant spending and budgets to avoid errors, overspending, or having to give money back to funders.
• Funder Intermediary: Lead the team during grant reviews, government check-ins, and audits.

4. Advanced Budgeting, Forecasting & FP&A

• Corporate Forecasting: Lead the yearly budget process with department heads while keeping sensitive pay data private.
• Variance Diagnosis: Study differences between planned budgets and actual spending, and tell the CFO about any risks or extra savings.
• Metrics Design: Build clear visual dashboards and scorecards to help track the organization's financial health.

5. Audit Defense, Tax & Risk Management

• Audit Liaison: Serve as the main point of contact for external auditors, organize their visits, and give them the right paperwork.
• Tax Compliance: Manage and check the preparation of the yearly IRS Form 990 tax return.
• Control Auditing: Test internal accounting safety checks regularly to stop mistakes and prevent fraud.

6. Personnel Development & Performance Metrics

• Targeted Supervision: Check and guide the daily work of the accounting and finance staff.
• Capability Building: Set clear work goals, coach employees, and organize training to improve team skills.
• Succession Planning: Build a strong team structure so the department runs smoothly even if staff changes.

7. Systems Optimization & Digital Security

• Workflow Automation: Review and update financial software to get rid of slow, repetitive manual tasks.
• Data Integrity: Secure software settings to keep data accurate and ensure the right people handle the right tasks.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a similar field.

• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license preferred

• 8+ years of growing accounting and finance experience.
• History of managing monthly book closures and ledger checks.

• 8–10+ years working in a grant-funded nonprofit.
• Deep knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and Single Audits.

Leadership

• 5+ years of experience managing, training, and reviewing staff.

• Success growing and restructuring developing accounting teams.

Technical

• Strong Excel skills (vlookups, pivots, formulas).
• Experience using mid-to-large scale accounting software (ERP).

• Experience helping an organization switch or upgrade to new software.

Core Competencies & Evaluation Criteria

• Technical Sovereignty: Deep knowledge of GAAP rules, internal checks, and accounting laws.
• Fiduciary Stewardship: Proven success managing complex, combined funding streams with zero errors.
• Discreet Communication: Ability to explain complex, private financial data clearly to non-financial managers.
• Strategic Agility: Ability to handle small daily details while also planning for the organization's future growth.

Company Description

Thomas Edwards Group is an Executive Search Firm specializing in the direct hire and interim placement of Accounting, Finance, HR and IT professionals. We’ve been in business since 1997 and the Dallas Business Journal has ranked us a Top Search Firm in Dallas and one of the “Best Places to Work” multiple times. Thomas Edwards Group also made the Inc. 5000 list in 2016 and our award-winning team of Search Consultants, which rank among the best and most experienced in the area, includes MBAs, CPAs, former Big 4 Professionals, Controllers, IT Search Professionals, Finance/Banking, and Business Professionals.

Company Description

Thomas Edwards Group is an Executive Search Firm specializing in the direct hire and interim placement of Accounting, Finance, HR and IT professionals. We’ve been in business since 1997 and the Dallas Business Journal has ranked us a Top Search Firm in Dallas and one of the “Best Places to Work” multiple times. Thomas Edwards Group also made the Inc. 5000 list in 2016 and our award-winning team of Search Consultants, which rank among the best and most experienced in the area, includes MBAs, CPAs, former Big 4 Professionals, Controllers, IT Search Professionals, Finance/Banking, and Business Professionals.