Director of Accounting (Chicago)

For more than three decades, our client Aeris (Chicago Loop) has been a trusted cellular IoT leader, enabling some of the world’s largest IoT programs across Automotive, Utilities & Energy, Fleet Management & Logistics, Medical Devices, and Manufacturing. Our technology serves 7,000 enterprise customers, 30 mobile network operator partners, and more than 100 million connected devices worldwide. Aeris powers today’s connected world with technology and borderless connectivity that simplify management, enhance security, optimize performance, and drive growth.

Aeris is seeking an accomplished Director of Accounting to lead our global accounting function and strengthen the company’s financial infrastructure as we enter our next phase of growth. Reporting to the Corporate Controller and partnering closely with the CFO and broader CFO organization, this leader will oversee core accounting operations while driving improvements in financial reporting, accounting policies, processes, controls, and automation.

Following a multi-year period of M&A activity and private equity partnership, Aeris is navigating increased complexity and preparing for its next stage of growth. This is an opportunity to build scalable processes, develop a high-performing team, and help establish the accounting infrastructure needed to support a sophisticated, potentially public-company environment.

Key Responsibilities :

Global Accounting Leadership

• Lead day-to-day global accounting operations across multiple entities, geographies, and currencies.

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

• Oversee the general ledger, account reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, reserves, and other core accounting activities.

• Ensure appropriate accounting for complex transactions, including revenue, M&A, intercompany activity, and foreign currency.

• Maintain strong balance sheet integrity and accounting controls.

• Partner with the Corporate Controller and CFO to identify risks, resolve issues, and improve the accounting function.

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting

• Oversee preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reporting.

• Provide technical accounting guidance on complex transactions and emerging accounting issues. • Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures.

• Partner with external auditors and advisors on audits and technical accounting matters.

• Help build the policies, processes, controls, and reporting infrastructure needed to support an SEC-reporting environment.

• Monitor changes in U.S. GAAP and assess their impact on the business.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline accounting processes and reduce manual work.

• Lead accounting transformation initiatives across close, revenue, order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, consolidation, and reporting.

• Strengthen internal controls while building scalable, efficient processes.

• Leverage technology, data, and AI tools to improve accounting workflows, reporting, and decision-making.

Tax & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Tax and external advisors on tax accounting, transfer pricing, and other global accounting matters.

• Oversee accounting-related intercompany activity and ensure appropriate reconciliation and reporting.

• Partner with FP&A, Treasury, Legal, IT, Operations, and other business leaders on accounting and financial matters.

• Serve as a trusted advisor, translating complex accounting issues into clear business guidance.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing accounting team.

• Assess organizational needs and build the team and structure to support future growth.

• Recruit and retain top accounting talent while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Balance strategic leadership with a willingness to roll up your sleeves when needed.

What We're Looking For :

The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise, public-company experience, operational discipline, and people leadership. You are comfortable in a dynamic environment and can move between strategic priorities and hands-on execution.

You will bring:

• Deep understanding of the transition from a private company to a public, SEC reporting organization.

• Strong technical accounting skills and the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to business stakeholders.

• Experience leading a global, multi-entity, multi-currency accounting function.

• A track record of improving processes, controls, and automation.

• Experience building and developing accounting teams.

• Strong judgment and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, fast-changing environment.

• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to teach, delegate, and empower others.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Interest in technology and emerging tools, including AI, that can improve the accounting function.

Requirements :

• 9+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience in Big Four or another large, multinational public accounting firm.

• Experience with both private and public company financial reporting preferred.

• Experience with SEC reporting and/or public-company readiness.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and technical accounting.

• Experience with process improvement, automation, and internal controls.

• Experience leading and developing accounting teams.

• Experience in a global, multi-entity, multi-currency environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Active CPA license.

• Experience in technology, SaaS, recurring-revenue, or subscription-based businesses.

• M&A accounting and post-acquisition integration experience.

• Private equity-backed company experience.

• ERP implementation, accounting automation, or finance transformation experience.

• Experience preparing an organization for SEC reporting.

• Experience leveraging AI tools to improve accounting processes and analysis.

Why This Opportunity :

This is more than a traditional accounting leadership role. The Director of Accounting will have the opportunity to shape the global accounting organization, strengthen financial infrastructure, develop talent, and build scalable processes for Aeris’ next stage of growth. You will work closely with the Corporate Controller, CFO, and broader CFO organization while having meaningful ownership of the accounting function and its continued evolution.