Senior Leader of Division Accounting/Controllership

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Director of Accounting is a strategic, hands-on finance leader responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial records and reporting for a multi-billion-dollar division. This role provides division-level leadership over accounting operations, the monthly, quarterly, half-year, and annual close processes, and compliance with U.S. GAAP and company policies. The ideal candidate brings strong technical accounting expertise, sound judgment, executive presence, and the ability to set direction, build talent, drive change, and engage in the details when needed to resolve complex issues and improve execution.

This position leads a dispersed accounting organization across multiple locations, including direct oversight of senior finance and accounting leaders. Success requires the ability to lead through influence, establish clear expectations, create accountability, strengthen team connection, and drive disciplined execution across a complex, matrixed environment. The Senior Director must bring exceptional organization, attention to detail, collaboration, process discipline, continuous improvement orientation, and a strong internal control mindset.

This position is hybrid in-office located in Morton Grove, IL or St. Louis, MO.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, half-year, and annual financial close processes, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

• Oversee the preparation and review of journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and other accounting transactions.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies and procedures.
• Direct the preparation of internal and external financial statements and supporting reports.

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls by identifying control gaps, process risks, and standardization opportunities and implementing sustainable solutions.

• Manage the general ledger and oversee the integrity of all accounting records and transactions.
• Review balance sheet accounts, transactions, reconciliations, variances, and financial results to identify trends, risks, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Review, analyze and monitor Bad Debt and Inventory Provision accruals.
• Partner with the Director of FP&A and business leaders to support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Coordinate and manage annual audits, tax filings, and other external reporting requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop accounting leaders and remote teams while building trust, alignment, and collaboration across Finance, Operations, FP&A, Tax, IT, and other business partners.
• Drive process improvement, automation, standardization, and system enhancements to increase efficiency, scalability, and control effectiveness.
• Evaluate accounting policies and procedures to ensure alignment with business growth and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and other strategic initiatives as needed.
• Serve as a senior-level advisor to executive leadership on accounting matters, financial controls, operational risks, process discipline, and business implications.
• Lead special projects and other responsibilities as assigned by senior management.

  Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• CPA designation strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including senior leadership of accounting functions, leaders, and teams in a complex business environment.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting operations.
• Experience managing month-end close, financial statement preparation, and external audits.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution and detailed problem solving.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience managing accounting leaders, developing high-performing teams, and influencing across functions and levels.
• Proven change agent with experience leading process improvement, standardization, automation, and internal control enhancements.
• Ability to go beyond the numbers in helping business leaders interpret numbers and exploit business opportunities for increasing revenue and improving overall profitability.
• Experience working in a multi-location or matrix business environment preferred.
• Experience leading remote or geographically distributed teams required.
• Excellent executive communication, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and collaboration skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to translate complex accounting matters into clear business implications.
• Ability to manage multiple strategic and operational priorities, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, and operate comfortably with ambiguity while maintaining discipline and accountability.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP/accounting systems.
• Experience with financial consolidations and reporting tools such as HFM, TM1, Blackline and Power BI.
• Periodic travel may be required.

Compensation: Salary Range $170,000 - $250,000 annually, based on education, experience and geographic location. 

The perks of being a Bunzl team member don’t stop at being part of a great team or being valued as our #1 asset. We offer a full range of benefits to help our employees take care of themselves and their families today, tomorrow and for the future.

• Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits effective the 1st day of the month after 30 days
• Paid Time Off - Vacation, Sick, Holidays and Personal Time
• 401K with generous company match
• Additional benefit information can be found on the Bunzl Careers home page under Benefits and Perks.

Bunzl is a global leader in the Cleaning & Hygiene, Food Processing, Grocery, Health Care, Non‑Food Retail, and Safety industries. We have grown both organically and through acquisitions to exceed $10 billion in sales. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Bunzl North America operates more than 100 warehouses and serves all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean and Mexico. With more than 10,000 team members and over 400,000 supplies, Bunzl is recognized as a leading supplier across North America—and proudly certified as a Great Place to Work®. At Bunzl, you’ll find  Unlimited Potential… your career, our future.

Bunzl Distribution offers competitive salaries, a comfortable work environment, and a full range of benefits including a 401k with a company   match.

Bunzl Distribution has a tradition of commitment to equal employment opportunity. It is the established policy to attract and retain the best qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex/gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, disability,  religion, national origin, sex/gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status as provided by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.