Director Project Finance

Job Description

Interim Controller — Finance Transformation & M&A Integration

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We're working with a growing $1B+ privately held company to find a senior accounting and finance leader who can combine strong Controller-level accounting experience with hands-on finance transformation, ERP implementation, M&A integration, and complex project leadership.

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This is not a traditional Controller role focused solely on maintaining the close and financial reporting. We're looking for someone who understands accounting at a deep level but has also spent significant time building, integrating, implementing, and transforming finance organizations.

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The right person will be comfortable moving between technical accounting and controllership responsibilities, ERP and systems projects, acquisition integration, process redesign, and executive-level project leadership. This is a long-term 9+ month consulting engagement with potential for long-term hire as the company expands.

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The work will span several interconnected priorities:

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• Controllership and accounting leadership — bringing a strong understanding of the close, consolidations, financial reporting, controls, chart of accounts, accounting operations, and scalable finance processes
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• ERP implementation and conversion — leading the finance and accounting workstream through design, configuration, testing, data migration, cutover, stabilization, and hypercare
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• M&A integration — integrating acquired businesses into the broader finance organization, including opening balance sheets, chart of accounts alignment, reporting, controls, systems, close processes, and accounting policies
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• Finance transformation — redesigning accounting and finance processes to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, accelerate the close, and support continued growth
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• Complex project leadership — driving large, cross-functional initiatives involving finance, accounting, IT, operations, external advisors, and senior leadership
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• Systems and data integration — ensuring financial data, reporting structures, master data, and accounting processes translate effectively into the future-state environment
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• Program governance and execution — establishing milestones, managing dependencies and risks, coordinating multiple workstreams, and providing clear executive-level reporting
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• Post-implementation optimization — identifying gaps after implementation or integration and ensuring new processes and systems are fully adopted and operating effectively
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What we're looking for:

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• 10+ years of progressive accounting and finance project experience
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• Strong foundation in GAAP accounting, month-end close, consolidations, financial reporting, controls, and accounting operations
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• Significant hands-on experience leading or playing a major finance-side role in ERP implementation, conversion, or migration
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• Experience with platforms such as JDE and Oracle highly preferred
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• Meaningful M&A and post-acquisition integration experience, preferably involving the integration of accounting processes, systems, reporting, and controls
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• Demonstrated success leading large, complex finance projects from planning through execution
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• Ability to operate at both the strategic and hands-on level — this person should be equally comfortable working with executives and getting into the details of accounting, systems, or integration issues
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• CPA strongly preferred; CMA or MBA also valued
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• Big 4 and/or consulting experience is helpful, but this role requires someone who has owned and executed transformation inside an organization — not simply advised on it
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The ideal profile:

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A current or former Controller / Corporate Controller / Assistant Controller / Accounting Director who has become the go-to person for major finance initiatives — ERP implementations, acquisition integrations, finance transformation, process redesign, and other projects where strong accounting knowledge and strong execution capability are equally important.

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Details:

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• Chicago area; flexible hybrid
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• 9+ month consulting engagement
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• Competitive hourly rate commensurate with experience
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