Accounting Advisory Principal

Responsibilities

• Hands‑on engagement leader responsible for delivering complex accounting advisory engagements, leading teams, managing client relationships, and building the practice.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in accounting, finance, and financial reporting practices, addressing service needs related to technical accounting application (e.g., US GAAP), accounting operation shortcomings, staffing voids, assurance and tax readiness, financial analysis and budgeting, post‑acquisition integration, and other scenarios where clients lack capacity or acumen.
• Direct all phases of client engagements, including planning, execution, analysis, and reporting.
• Lead and deliver multifaceted accounting and finance advisory engagements across a wide range of industries.
• Oversee development of client‑ready reports and presentations outlining findings and recommendations.
• Ensure timely technical reviews and uphold quality standards across all engagements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop engagement teams; provide direction, coaching, and timely performance feedback.
• Oversee staffing, delegation, and team performance to support engagement objectives and staff development.
• Conduct performance reviews and career‑planning discussions aligned with practice and firm goals.
• Contribute to recruiting, retention, training, and broader people initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative team environment consistent with firm values.
• Manage multiple engagements and client relationships while maintaining high client satisfaction.
• Own engagement economics, including budgeting, realization, billing, and collections.
• Coordinate internal and external resources to deliver high‑quality advisory services.
• Anticipate client needs, proactively address issues, and serve as a trusted advisor.
• Maintain awareness of market trends and the competitive landscape to position the firm effectively.
• Drive practice growth through client expansion, cross‑serving, referrals, and new service offerings.
• Lead proposal development and engagement‑letter execution.
• Actively build and manage a portfolio of senior client decision‑makers.
• Develop and execute a personal marketing plan and contribute to firm‑wide business development efforts.
• Mentor others in practice development capabilities and support team‑based sales efforts.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or Business Administration (required).
• CPA strongly preferred; other financial or accounting credentials equivalent to the designation are acceptable.
• Proven practice development experience (required).
• Demonstrated expertise in managing complex client engagements and administrative demands simultaneously.
• Expertise with current hot topics for CFOs, Controllers, VPs of Finance, Board of Directors Audit and Finance Committees, and related accounting and finance governance roles (preferred).
• Ability to navigate accounting systems and other financially oriented tools.
• Strong coaching skills with the ability to extract high performance from team members, even on stretch engagements.
• Excellent coordination of information flow among multiple stakeholders and client personnel, with strong diagnostic and client‑needs assessment abilities.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary sitting position for at least 75% of the time.
• This is an exempt position; overtime may be required beyond the standard 40‑hour work week.

Compensation – $165,000.00 – $245,000.00 (CO, IL, OH, and MA). Compensation is based on responsibilities, education, experience, and geography.

Eligible staff receive a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible time off, holiday pay, 401(k) plan, travel reimbursement, and, for qualified staff, a discretionary bonus plan.

Plante Moran is an Equal Opportunity Employer.