Director of Accounting

Type: In-Office | Full-Time
Location: Houston, Texas

About Our Client

Our client is a growth-oriented organization operating a sophisticated oil and gas commodity trading business. Its fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment brings together accounting, trading, technology, and senior leadership to support continued expansion and long-term performance.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an accomplished accounting leader who can strengthen the organization’s financial foundation, build scalable processes, and develop a high-performing accounting team. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted partner to the Vice President and senior leadership, with the potential to progress into broader executive-level responsibilities as the organization continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

As the Director of Accounting, you will lead the accounting function within a complex physical and financial commodity trading environment. You will be responsible for the integrity of financial reporting, the effectiveness of accounting operations and internal controls, and the continued development of the accounting team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Financial Reporting & Accounting Operations:

  • Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
  • Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end close processes.
  • Assess the current close process, identify bottlenecks, and implement best practices that support a consistent and sustainable reporting cadence.
  • Oversee the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, overheads, inventory, hedge accounting, and bank reconciliations.
  • Maintain the accuracy, integrity, security, and reliability of financial data.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial regulations and reporting requirements.
  • Coordinate external audits and serve as the primary liaison with auditors.

• Hedge Accounting & Commodity Trading:

  • Oversee hedge accounting activities under ASC 815, including hedge designation, effectiveness assessments, documentation, and accounting treatment.
  • Support accounting activities related to commodity and derivative hedging.
  • Apply accounting expertise within a physical and financial commodity trading environment primarily focused on oil and gas.
  • Work confidently and credibly with traders and commercial stakeholders, ensuring the accounting function effectively supports the needs and complexity of the business.
  • Translate complex accounting matters into clear, commercially relevant information for business leaders.

• Leadership & Team Development:

  • Lead, mentor, and develop the Accounting team, including an Assistant Controller, three Senior Accountants, and three Staff Accountants.
  • Establish clear team goals, performance expectations, accountability measures, and success metrics.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, professional growth, and operational excellence.
  • Build scalable accounting practices that support the organization’s continued expansion.
  • Provide effective leadership in a fast-paced environment where new procedures and controls must be developed as business needs evolve.

• Strategic Partnership & Executive Support:

  • Serve as a trusted accounting partner and second-in-command to the Vice President.
  • Provide financial analysis and insights to support budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, and critical business decisions.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership on financial strategy, organizational growth, and business performance.
  • Partner with departments across the organization to maintain financial alignment with business objectives.
  • Work across Accounting, Trading, IT, and other functions to understand key business issues and organizational priorities.
  • Identify significant accounting, operational, or systems-related concerns and bring them forward for discussion and awareness at the senior leadership level.
  • Demonstrate the leadership maturity, business judgment, and ambition to progress into broader executive-level responsibilities over time.

• Process Improvement & Internal Controls:

  • Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, strengthen internal controls, and increase automation.
  • Evaluate existing procedures and implement practical improvements that enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
  • Establish accounting processes and controls that can adapt to changing business requirements.
  • Support the financial infrastructure required for the organization’s continued growth.

• Systems Implementation & Optimization:

  • Oversee the implementation and optimization of accounting systems and software.
  • Support the final stages of the RightAngle implementation and the transition away from the organization’s legacy system.
  • Partner with IT teams and programmers to ensure accounting requirements and processes are effectively aligned with the new system.
  • Identify and resolve accounting or process issues arising during the transition.
  • Contribute to the stabilization and continued optimization of accounting processes following implementation.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, candidates should demonstrate the following:

• Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • Eight to ten years of progressive accounting experience.
  • Three to five years of experience in an accounting leadership role.
  • Experience leading and developing accounting teams.
  • Experience working within a complex, fast-paced commercial environment.
  • A master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is preferred.
  • A Certified Public Accountant designation is preferred.

• Commodity Trading & Hedge Accounting Experience:

  • Direct experience in physical and financial commodity trading, primarily within oil and gas, is required.
  • Experience with hedge accounting under ASC 815, including hedge designation, effectiveness assessments, documentation, and accounting treatment.
  • Strong understanding of the accounting considerations associated with commodity and derivative hedging.
  • Experience within an energy commodity trading house, an oil and gas organization with significant trading activities, or a financial institution directly supporting oil and gas commodities.
  • Ability to communicate confidently and credibly with traders and senior commercial stakeholders.
  • Candidates whose commodity experience is exclusively outside the energy sector will not meet the specific industry requirements of this position.

• Technical Skills:

  • Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
  • Comprehensive understanding of accounting operations, month-end and year-end close, financial controls, and regulatory compliance.
  • Experience identifying process bottlenecks and implementing sustainable improvements.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics and Microsoft Excel.
  • Experience implementing or optimizing accounting systems and software.
  • Experience with RightAngle is considered a strong asset.
  • Experience building accounting processes, controls, and systems within a growing organization is preferred.

• Key Competencies:

  • Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and sound analytical judgment.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Executive-level presence with the ability to engage effectively with accounting, trading, technology, and senior leadership stakeholders.
  • Collaborative and hands-on leadership style.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to drive practical solutions.
  • Ability to identify significant issues, communicate their business implications, and escalate them appropriately.
  • Adaptability and confidence when working through organizational, procedural, and systems changes.
  • Ambition and readiness to progress into broader executive leadership responsibilities.

Work Environment

• In-office, open-office environment.
• Trade floor environment.
• Regular use of computers and financial systems.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a desk.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to access and navigate all departments within the organization’s facilities.
• Travel is expected to be rare, approximately 1%.

Why Join Our Client?

This is more than a traditional accounting leadership position. It is an opportunity to shape the financial infrastructure of a growing organization, influence strategic decision-making, and build an accounting function designed for the future.

The Director of Accounting will have the opportunity to solve complex accounting and systems challenges, work closely with experienced trading and executive teams, and play an important role in the continued evolution of the business.

For an established accounting leader who brings deep energy commodity trading expertise and is looking toward a future VP-level opportunity, this role offers meaningful impact, visibility, and long-term professional growth.

Apply Today

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About Us

Executrade is one of North America’s most comprehensive full-service recruitment firms, with over 52 years of expertise in connecting talented professionals with leading organizations.

We are proud to apply principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates. Our commitment to these values enables us to match organizations with a diverse range of top talent, fostering workplace cultures that thrive on innovation, collaboration, and respect.