Director of Finance and Accounting

About IW Group

IW Group is the leading multicultural advertising and marketing agency with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Named Ad Age's 2025 Multicultural Agency of the Year and recognized by PRWeek for 2025 Best in Multicultural Marketing , IW Group produces culture-shaping campaigns for global and national brands.

IW Group drives impactful work by blending storytelling, cultural insight, and innovation to achieve measurable results. We represent multiple brands and deliver distinctive multicultural and cross-generational campaigns.

The Role

IW Group is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Finance & Accounting to lead and evolve our finance function and serve as a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership. This highly visible role blends strategic oversight with operational leadership and hands-on execution. Working closely with an experienced Fractional CFO, the Director will play a pivotal role in shaping financial strategy, driving performance improvements, and supporting the company's continued growth and scalability.

In addition, this position will gradually assume key responsibilities currently managed by the Controller, with a structured transition plan in place to ensure continuity and a seamless handoff.

What You'll Do

Strategic & Leadership Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and Fractional CFO on financial strategy, planning, and business decision-making
• Provide forward-looking insights on profitability, growth, and operational performance
• Act as a financial thought partner to department leaders across the agency
• Translate financial data into actionable insights that drive agency performance, profitability, and scalability
• Partner with Account, Media, Creative, and Strategy teams to align financial goals with execution
• Contribute to long-term planning, including scenario modeling, investment decisions, and resource allocation

Financial Oversight

• Lead all accounting and financial reporting functions
• Ensure accurate, timely, and insightful monthly and quarterly reporting
• Maintain strong internal controls and GAAP compliance
• Oversee the integrity of financial data across systems and reporting outputs
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes
• Build visibility into key agency metrics including: - Client and project profitability - Staff utilization and billability - Revenue forecasting and pipeline conversion
• Drive visibility into client profitability, utilization, and key performance metrics
• Identify opportunities to improve margins and operational efficiency
• Analyze variances and provide actionable recommendations, not just reporting
• Support pricing strategies, staffing models, and resource planning decisions

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Oversee cash flow planning, forecasting, and liquidity management
• Manage banking relationships and treasury activities
• Optimize working capital, including receivables, payables, and cash positioning
• Ensure adequate cash availability to support operations and strategic initiatives
• Own cash flow forecasting in a project-based, client-driven revenue environment
• Partner with account teams to improve cash conversion and reduce revenue leakage

Revenue, Expense & Systems Management

• Oversee agency-wide expense management, including vendor relationships and cost controls
• Monitor operating expenses against budget and provide actionable variance analysis
• Partner with department leaders to manage spending and improve cost efficiency
• Implement policies and processes to enhance financial discipline across the organization
• Establish and enforce agency-wide financial discipline and cost management practices
• Oversee revenue recognition, pricing, and billing processes
• Partner with account teams on forecasting and client financial performance
• Ensure accurate billing across retainer, project-based, and fee-based revenue models
• Partner with account leadership on scopes of work and client profitability
• Identify opportunities to improve pricing discipline and contract profitability
• Oversee and optimize Advantage (accounting) and Aqua (timekeeping) systems
• Improve financial workflows, reporting capabilities, and data integrity
• Lead initiatives to modernize and scale finance operations
• Ensure alignment between financial and operational systems for accurate reporting

Risk, Compliance & Team Leadership

• Oversee the agency's insurance programs, including general liability, professional liability, E&O, and other applicable coverages
• Manage relationships with insurance brokers and support policy renewals, coverage evaluations, and claims as needed
• Ensure appropriate risk mitigation practices are in place across financial and operational areas
• Maintain strong internal controls and compliance with GAAP and applicable regulations
• Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks
• Serve as primary liaison with the outside CPA firm for annual financial review
• Oversee preparation and coordination of federal and state income tax returns
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of other tax obligations, including city business licenses and personal property taxes
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory and reporting requirements
• Lead and develop the finance team
• Establish structure, accountability, and best practices across the function
• Foster a proactive, business-partner mindset within the team

What You'll Bring

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience with increasing responsibility
• Experience in advertising, marketing, media, or professional services
• Strong background in both accounting and financial planning/analysis (FP&A)
• Experience partnering with executive leadership on business strategy, not just reporting results
• Track record of improving financial performance, processes, or systems
• Experience managing cash flow, treasury, and operational finance functions

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
• Comfort working in a dynamic, project-based environment
• Ability to move beyond controllership
• Deep understanding of project-based financial models (utilization, billing, margins)
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, client-driven agency environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leveraging AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Claude, in a professional setting
• CPA or equivalent preferred
• Experience working with a Fractional CFO or external finance advisor a plus
• Direct experience with Advantage and/or Aqua a plus
• Experience overseeing audits, tax coordination, and regulatory compliance a plus
• Background in multicultural or diverse market-focused organizations a plus

Benefits & Perks

• Salary: $140,000 - $160,000, commensurate with experience
• Hybrid work model (three in-office days per week)
• 20 PTO days annually
• 19 paid holidays (including Thanksgiving & Christmas week)
• Birthday off
• Year-round Flex Fridays (half-day Fridays)
• Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-sponsored Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Parking and commuter benefits
• Employee referral program
• Collaborative, growth-oriented team environment

Company Culture

• Connectors: IW Group is a company founded with community at our core. We believe in building meaningful communities and encourage teams to connect with causes and missions that fuel their passions.
• Foodies: You will often find our teams sharing a meal. We love to explore new cultures and experiences through food and lived experiences.
• Explorers: Curiosity fuels our work. Whether it's testing new technologies, visiting art galleries, or discovering local coffee shops, we encourage teams to follow their creative interests.

The Hybrid Work Model

• Work Model: IW Group supports a hybrid work schedule. Teams are required to work in-office at least three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday.
• Work Environment: This role is based primarily in the IW Group office and may also involve working at client sites or other designated locations.
• Work Hours: Project timelines may occasionally require extended hours, including evenings or weekends.

Physical Requirements

• Engage in a variety of activities, from sitting and using your hands to talking, hearing, standing, walking, and occasionally stooping or kneeling.
• Vision abilities required include close vision.

Equal Employment Opportunity

IW Group is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. IW Group provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state, or federal law.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties or responsibilities. Roles and responsibilities may change at any time, with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.