Accounting Operations Manager

Chery Finn CPAs is seeking an experienced Accounting Operations Manager to lead the firm's client accounting function. This person will own the quality, timeliness, and day-to-day execution of recurring accounting, payroll, sales tax, and financial reporting work while managing a three-person accounting team in the Philippines. This is a hands-on leadership role. The Accounting Operations Manager will personally own a complex client relationship and step into difficult accounting work when needed, but the majority of the role will focus on higher-level review, team leadership, workflow management, quality assurance, and client advisory. The successful candidate will be comfortable leading client meetings, explaining financial results in plain language, resolving difficult issues, and ensuring that work is completed accurately and on time without routine intervention from the Managing Shareholder. This is an immediate opening. Applications will be reviewed as received, and Chery Finn CPAs intends to move quickly for the right candidate. Core Outcomes The Accounting Operations Manager will be accountable for the following results: Recurring accounting, payroll, sales tax, and reporting deadlines are controlled and consistently met. Work is assigned effectively across the accounting team based on skill, capacity, risk, and deadline. Financial statements and other client deliverables receive a thorough final review and meet the firm's quality standards before release. Month-end close is managed as a disciplined, repeatable process rather than a last-minute scramble. Clients understand their financial results, receive timely communication, and view the Accounting Operations Manager as a trusted primary contact. Complex, unusual, or high-risk accounting matters are identified early, resolved appropriately, and escalated when necessary. The Managing Shareholder is not required to manage routine accounting production or correct preventable errors. Primary Responsibilities Accounting Operations and Quality Assurance Oversee the full client accounting delivery cycle, including month-end close, financial statement preparation, payroll, sales tax, and related recurring compliance work. Perform final review of monthly and periodic financial statements before delivery to clients. Review reconciliations, adjusting entries, supporting schedules, and workpapers for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and appropriate documentation. Establish and enforce close calendars, review procedures, quality-control standards, and delivery deadlines. Identify accounting errors, unusual balances, incomplete records, and process weaknesses, then direct or perform the necessary corrections. Monitor recurring deadlines and open items so that client work does not depend on last-minute follow-up. Maintain responsibility for one complex client engagement and remain willing to perform difficult work directly when circumstances require it. Team Leadership and Workflow Management Directly manage three accounting team members based in the Philippines. Delegate work clearly, set priorities and deadlines, monitor capacity, and rebalance assignments when needed. Review team output, provide practical feedback, coach team members, and hold the team accountable for quality and follow-through. Build repeatable procedures, review checklists, and documentation that reduce errors and improve consistency. Coordinate effectively across time zones and maintain clear written and verbal communication with the offshore team. Surface staffing, capacity, quality, and deadline risks to the Managing Shareholder before they affect clients. Client Relationship Ownership Serve as the primary accounting contact for assigned clients and own those relationships from onboarding through ongoing delivery. Lead recurring client accounting and controller meetings. Explain financial statements, cash flow, trends, risks, and accounting issues in clear business language. Manage difficult client questions and service issues calmly, professionally, and with sound judgment. Set appropriate expectations, follow up on missing information, and keep clients informed of matters affecting timing or quality. Recognize issues that require tax, legal, or Managing Shareholder involvement and escalate them appropriately. Advisory and Special Projects Support cash flow reporting, management reporting, controller services, and practical accounting advisory for small business clients. Lead or support accounting cleanup and catch-up engagements. Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable review, cleanup, and process improvement. Lead the accounting portion of new-client onboarding, including reviewing prior records, identifying risks, establishing workflows, and defining close requirements. Help improve the firm's accounting systems, service delivery, documentation, and internal controls. Payroll and Sales Tax Oversee payroll processing and related workflows, filings, reconciliations, notices, and client communication. Oversee sales tax calculation, reporting, filing, reconciliation, and issue resolution. Review payroll and sales tax work for accuracy and timeliness and resolve exceptions before they become client problems. Required Qualifications At least 7 years of progressively responsible accounting experience. Experience in public accounting, client accounting services, outsourced accounting, or a multi-client environment is strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience leading accounting staff, delegating work, reviewing deliverables, and enforcing deadlines. Advanced proficiency in both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Strong working knowledge of payroll operations and payroll-related accounting. Strong knowledge of month-end close, account reconciliations, adjusting entries, accrual-basis accounting, and financial statement preparation. Experience reviewing financial statements and supporting work prepared by other team members. Ability to diagnose and resolve complex accounting issues rather than merely identify them. Confidence leading client meetings, explaining financial results, and managing difficult client conversations. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Excellent judgment, attention to detail, organization, and follow-through. Ability to work full-time from the firm's Houston office. Preferred Qualifications Active CPA license or prior public accounting experience. Experience managing remote or offshore accounting professionals. Experience with client accounting services, outsourced controller services, or advisory engagements. Experience with accounting cleanup and catch-up projects, client onboarding, cash flow reporting, and AP/AR process improvement. Familiarity with sales tax compliance across multiple clients or jurisdictions. Experience improving accounting workflows, review checklists, and quality-control procedures. Work Arrangement This is a full-time, in-office position in Houston, Texas. The role requires consistent availability during normal business hours and sufficient overlap with the Philippines-based team to provide direction, review work, and resolve open issues. #J-18808-Ljbffr Chery Finn CPAs PLLC