Director of Accounting, Assistant Controller

With more than 225 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 11,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 43 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit Job Description Director of Accounting serves as a key member of the finance leadership team and plays a critical role in managing the Company’s financial integrity. This position oversees the accounting function, including general ledger management, financial close processes, and ensuring compliance with GAAP and internal policies. This position leads process improvement and drives best practices, bringing structure, discipline, and consistency to an accounting function that is continuing to evolve. A key aspect of the role is leadership, mentoring, and developing accounting staff to foster a high-performing team culture through transformation. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills, while demonstrating the flexibility, pragmatism, and sound judgment needed to balance technical rigor with forward progress. 6-to-18-month deliverables for this role Gain a strong understanding of the organization, including its mission and vision, corporate structure, and services offered. Create and implement a scalable accounting infrastructure, systems, and controls to support a $2B+ enterprise. Drive precise, timely, and actionable financial reporting in a multi-entity, multi-state, and increasingly international environment. Evaluate the current month-end process and design, implement, and document best practices for the process, driving efficiency, accuracy, and consistency. Partner with the SVP, Corporate Controller to build a disciplined and accountable team culture with a continuous improvement mindset. Core Responsibilities Lead and execute monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with U.S. GAAP. Assign and manage workloads for the accounting team to ensure timely completion of close activities, reconciliations, and reporting deliverables. Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reports for completeness and audit readiness. Analyze financial data and variances, providing actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership. Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and regulatory requirements. Lead and mentor a team of accountants, both onsite and virtual, fostering high performance, accountability, and professional development. Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors, preparing documentation and responding to inquiries. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including finance, operations, and executive leadership, to support business initiatives and financial transparency. Identify and implement process improvements, leveraging technology and best practices to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Manage multiple priorities and deadlines, ensuring timely delivery of financial reporting and operational support. Proactively identify and resolve accounting issues, including root cause analysis and corrective action planning. Develop, train, and educate accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to support scalable growth. Provide technical guidance and oversight into complex accounting issues, ensuring adherence to internal controls and accounting standards. Conduct variance analyses and deliver actionable insights to support informed business decisions. Other duties as assigned. Requirements KNOWLEDGE/ SKILLS REQUIRED: Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including 7+ years in a managerial role at a comparably sized company. Experience in both public accounting and corporate environments is a plus. Proven experience managing multi-location or multi-entity accounting operations. Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team development abilities. In-depth knowledge of U.S. GAAP with the ability to interpret and apply complex accounting principles. Strong understanding of ASC 842 and fixed asset accounting. Strong analytical thinking skills, with the ability to think critically under pressure. Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel skills. Demonstrated success in process improvement initiatives and cross-functional collaboration. Detail-oriented, proactive collaborator who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes initiative. Skilled in balancing accuracy and accountability with the need for timely execution, prioritization, and business momentum. Must be able to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment. Strong customer orientation with the ability to communicate effectively with previous company owners and their accounting teams. Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex accounting issues clearly and concisely to non-accountants. Proactive problem-solver with a keen ability to identify root causes and implement efficient solutions. Collaborative mindset with experience working across departments and remote teams. Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to manage, train, and mentor an accounting team. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration is required. MBA preferred. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation required. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr