Director of Client Accounting Services

Description

 The Director of Client Accounting Services oversees the day-to-day operations, quality, and financial performance of Trout CPA’s CAS practice. This role puts CAS strategy into action through consistent processes, effective staffing, and practical use of technology. The Director works with Partners, CAS leaders, engagement teams, Human Resources, Finance, and other service lines to support responsive client service, team development, and profitable growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Practice Operations & Service Delivery

• Develop and maintain CAS policies, procedures, workflows, internal controls, and quality standards.
• Maintain an operating calendar for recurring client deliverables, close cycles, payroll, reviews, renewals, and internal planning.
• Oversee work intake, engagement setup, assignments, scheduling, workload balancing, reviews, deadlines, and issue escalation.
• Monitor service delivery and address risks to deadlines, quality, scope, staffing, and client expectations.
• Lead regular operating meetings to review capacity, overdue work, upcoming deadlines, staffing and technology issues, and corrective actions.

Client Experience & Engagement Operations

• Standardize client onboarding, transitions, offboarding, documentation, file management, and engagement administration.
• Monitor client service and help engagement leaders improve communication, responsiveness, issue resolution, and client retention.
• Bring significant client, scope, service, or relationship concerns to the responsible Partner and coordinate a response.

Financial Oversight & Performance Management

• Work with firm leadership to set operational and financial goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), budgets, and productivity expectations.
• Monitor revenue, realization, profitability, write-offs, work in process, billing, scope changes, staffing costs, and efficiency.
• Report on performance and recommend improvements to underperforming engagements through changes in scope, pricing, workflows, staffing, or client transitions.

People Leadership, Coaching, & Talent Development

• Provide operational oversight to CAS leaders, staff, specialists, and offshore teams through the engagement leadership structure.
• Coach CAS leaders on workload management, delegation, performance feedback, and operational decisions.
• Work with Partners and Human Resources on staffing plans, role expectations, recruiting, onboarding, retention, and development.
• Ensure managers maintain engagement plans, clear responsibilities, backup coverage, and escalation procedures.
• Help guide CAS technology priorities with firm technology leaders and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate and improve accounting, payroll, bill pay, expense, reporting, workflow, analytics, automation, and AI tools.
• Ensure consistent system setup and use, supported by documentation, access controls, training, change management, and data quality standards.
• Use operational data to identify bottlenecks, recurring issues, and opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, capacity, and client service.
• Maintain capacity plans and allocate work across onshore and offshore teams. Align staffing and skills with client commitments, anticipated work, seasonal demands, and growth plans.
• Encourage collaboration across service lines to coordinate services and better support clients.

Risk Management and Quality Assurance

• Implement and monitor quality standards for accounting, reconciliations, reporting, payroll coordination, documentation, reviews, and client deliverables.
• Ensure teams follow firm policies, professional and ethical standards, confidentiality requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain a process to report, resolve, and document service issues, control gaps, complaints, and recurring errors, and use findings to improve practices.
• Work with quality control leaders and the responsible Partner on complex technical, compliance, independence, and risk matters.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressive experience in public accounting, private accounting, CAS, or related advisory services, including 5 years in a leadership role.

License/Certification:

• CPA designation desired; CMA, CGMA, PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or other relevant credentials are beneficial.

Software:

• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including advanced Excel proficiency.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online/Desktop, Sage Intacct, and other cloud-based financial systems.
• Proficiency with Power BI or similar analytics tools, workflow software, automation, and AI tools.

Other Knowledge, Skill, & Abilities:

• Demonstrated skills in operational leadership, process design, capacity planning, project management, and change management.
• Strong financial analysis and KPI management skills, with the ability to turn findings into action.
• Ability to build workflows, accountability, service standards, and quality controls that support growth.
• Experience leading and developing teams in a professional services environment with competing deadlines.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including identifying root causes and lasting solutions.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, lead large initiatives, and meet deadlines.
• Integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical practices.
• Working knowledge of industry trends, regulatory requirements, operational risks, and emerging CAS technologies.
• Ability to collaborate across service lines and communicate clearly with clients, leaders, and team members.