BDO Chicago , IL 60602
Posted 2 weeks ago
Job Summary:
The Technology Manager, Accounting, Advisory & Outsourcing manages the full-life cycle of NetSuite Implementation engagements. We are seeking a professional with a public accounting background and extensive experience in NetSuite implementations. The successful candidate will be adept at leveraging their accounting expertise to design and deploy sophisticated cloud-based financial systems using NetSuite.
This role will work with a team of technology leaders, software developers, client facing outsourced finance and accounting professionals and various other SMEs to manage project work to successful completion. The individual in this role will be responsible for leading discussions and overseeing client's (internal and external) needs to strive to build and maintain strong delivery as well as ensure client expectations are successfully met.
Job Duties:
General
Spearheads NetSuite implementation projects, ensuring seamless transition and integration of financial operations
Utilizes knowledge of public accounting to inform system configuration, ensuring both compliance and efficiency
Engages with clients to translate complex accounting needs into effective NetSuite solutions
Manages client (external and internal) expectations and delivers difficult messages when necessary to keep project delivery on course
Drives the vision of the project solution
Prepares formal and informal presentations for client meetings and internal meetings
Identifies new business opportunities and communicates such opportunities to his/her engagement superiors
Acts as liaison between change requester and software development team and addresses development team needs efficiently and effectively; creates release timelines and plans; coaches' team on solution delivery and risk mitigation
Facilitates meetings with developers by providing functional clarification and setting delivery expectations with team and client while also managing budget
Supports the projects on-time delivery, finds and eliminates impediments, actively addresses issues, and builds a high-performing, continuous improvement team environment
Manages all time input and billing activities ensuring completion in a timely manner
Independently designs and implements the repackaging of third party or BDO proprietary software to ensure consistent installation with minimal to no user interruption
Collaborates with team members in the development of utilities and/or tools to improve efficiency of internal and external users with regard to workstation related tasks
Evaluates business rules to determine the most efficient manner to meet end-user requirements
Recommends modifications or workarounds, if necessary, to incorporate new versions into the existing BDO environment
Creates technical documentation to assist with Quality Assurance code review
Collaborates with the Quality Assurance team to ensure thorough and complete testing and remediation of technical solutions
Remains current on latest technologies and emerging trends in area of expertise, and recommends ways to utilize new technologies in the BDO environment
Other duties as required
Client (external and internal) Service Delivery
Understands the technology packages clients are using to support their accounting/finance functions; describes the major functions each system performs, and knows how the system performs those functions; explains the purpose and value of system functions that a client may not be using; identifies when a client is not using a technology package in a proper or efficient manner; learns new technology quickly, understands the essence of technologies, how they can be used, how they interact with other technologies and business functions, determines what the best methods/benefits are for using them, and applies these technologies to an engagement
Facilitates effective discovery meetings with clients; uses open ended questions to identify what their objectives are, what financial information they value for management/decision making and why, as well creates a map of their current internal finance and accounting structure
Designs integrated solutions that respond to the specific situation; knows BDO well enough internally to identify when services outside of the business line should be included and describes what these services achieve and how they operate; outlines the solution in a concise document and vets it internally with their leaders and other BDO stakeholders
Accurately determines the cost of building a client solution; calculates the benefit to a client in dollar terms of the solution, using the pricing process; compares the differences between the perspectives, and if there is sufficient margin in between (given our confidence in our calculations) to have a profitable engagement, proposes a fixed fee based on current scope for review by leadership
Works with Senior Managers to learn to formulate recommendations to client leadership on technical accounting issues, financial accounting policies and procedures and financial management issues; educates clients on how their finance and accounting needs will change as their business evolves; helps clients identify areas of opportunity and future business needs
Periodically reviews solutions with their clients to determine if it is still the right solution for the current state of the business and recommends appropriate changes
Manages conflict; proactively engages senior leadership when conflict arises
Supports the client through business changes and helps to develop and execute the change management plan; handles full-life cycle of all assigned engagements by providing technical management for all areas within the accounting function
Gathers information necessary from the client to execute on engagements; maintains a running list of information that is needed and follows up to gather information that is missing; organizes this information so it is easily accessible for the team and the client as applicable
Creates, develops, and maintains strong business relationships with clients, both internal and external
Business Development
Learns business development strategies and service offerings targeted for various industries; ensures prospect and sales information is entered into CRM as appropriate
Recommends and designs solutions for clients
Evaluates clients for acceptance (e.g., general risk matters, regulations that affect our work, international business, background checks, etc.), and develops statements of work based on solutions they have proposed, with support from leadership
Develops exposure to industry teams and business development resources; develops an awareness of the impact that different industries and service offerings have on the technical work and final deliverable; participates in industry trade groups and networking events
Listens for and identifies new opportunities with existing clients, and communicates those potential opportunities to leadership
Articulates the Advisory service offerings, as well as the broader firm, to a client, prospect, or contact
Understands and articulates the value proposition and understands the target market/client profile
Developing Others
Fosters a culture that embraces change and accountability
Identifies staff needs to develop analytics and forecasting skills at a level where they are capable of interpreting financial results, recognizing trends and gaining insights into business performance improvements
Ensures Senior Associates and Associates are trained on all relevant software, processes, and resources
Participates in recruiting efforts for Associates and Senior Associates and assists with the new employee on-boarding process
Serves as a resource for Associates and Senior Associates, while developing an in-depth knowledge and understanding of finance and accounting functions, and technology for supporting these functions; knows what is required from a compliance perspective and develops an understanding of what is considered a standard or best practice for the industry or business structure
Project Management
Creates a work plan following best practices of project management (breaking down projects into phases and tasks, estimating time/budget, setting milestones, managing dependencies, and measuring and reviewing progress)
Bills engagements in a timely and effective manner, appropriate to the client's situation and the state of the work; contributes to economic management matters such as forecasting and monitoring/managing to key metrics
Scopes new projects and constructs a fee estimate/budget that considers all appropriate details, including, but not limited to: architecting, designing and planning/estimating a tailored client solution; identifies resource requirements and develops transition plans and estimates appropriate margins for the client engagement and the overall picture of the client relationship
Oversees client satisfaction with quality of work products, assigned staff, and engagement performance
Ensures clients are billed timely in accordance with the statement of work (SOW) and follows billing and collections best practices; works with team to resolve any client billing issues
Other duties as required
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Supervises the day-to-day workload of the team on assigned engagements and reviews work product
Evaluates the performance of Senior Associates and Associates and assists in developing goals and objectives to enhance professional development that aligns with the firm's and business line's objectives
Acts as mentor to team, as appropriate
Acts as a Career Advisor to Senior Associates and Associates, as appropriate
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education:
Experience:
Six (6) or more years of experience performing general accounting transactions and functions, required
Three (3) or more years of professional experience leading technical solution projects, strategic or integration/implementation of NetSuite, required
Three (3) or more years of experience with software development life cycle and demonstrate success leading multiple project teams to completion while mitigating risks, required
Two (2) or more years of experience leading software development teams and coaching meetings with internal teams, required
Two (2) or more years of supervisory experience, preferred
Experience working with outsourced and/or delivery center operations, preferred
Consultative or business advisory experience, preferred
Client facing consulting experience, preferred
Previous experience in managing scope, timeline, or budget, preferred
License/Certifications:
NetSuite Implementor certification, required
CPA certification, preferred
Sage Intacct Implementation certification, preferred
Software:
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, required
Experience utilizing industry standard accounting software such as Netsuite, Sage Intacct, BILL, Expensify, preferred
Prior experience utilizing industry recognized accounting research tools, preferred
Language:
Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong business process analysis & design and process flow skills
Understands the finance and accounting functions generally performed by a business (e.g. sales, purchasing, A/R, etc.) and common best practices/processes for how they operate, as well as how they interact; understands other business imperatives/functions (e.g. data security, internal controls, etc.) and how they can affect the finance and accounting functions; uses this knowledge to analyze the current structure of a client and identify what services or processes may be inefficient or missing and where we can add value
Presents well in one-on-one and small group settings; presents well to all levels of management, internally and with clients; projects confidence and expertise; communicates in a clear and concise manner that emphasizes key points; persuades others to their points of view; self-aware - knows when an approach is not working and can change course immediately
Strong analytical and basic research skills
GAAP knowledge, financial statement presentation, and report writing
Strong analytical, facilitation, documentation, and communication skills
Strong project planning, scoping and management skills
Solid organizational skills especially the ability to meet project deadlines with a focus on details
Proven ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously, while focusing on quality, customer satisfaction and service delivery
Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks while working independently or within a group environment
Ability to act as the primary contact on assigned engagements and effectively manage a team of professionals including delegating work assignments as needed
Ability to effectively manage a team of professionals and contribute to the professional development of assigned personnel, while delegating work assignments as needed
Interacts effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm as well as the capability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and client personnel
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Able to manage projects within a software solutions environment
Capacity to work in a deadline-driven environment while handling multiple projects/tasks simultaneously with a focus on details
Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, along with strong facilitation and collaboration skills
Excels at operating in a fast-paced technical environment
Ability to solve problems, identify solutions, and appropriately escalate issues
Keywords: NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Implementation, CAS service, PowerPoint, User Experience, User Enablement, Data Visualization, Application Development, Software, Data Analytics, CRM, Cloud Strategy
Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.
California Range: $90,000 - $125,000
Colorado Range: $90,000 - $125,000
NYC/ Long Island/Westchester Range: $90,000 - $125,000
Washington Range: $90,000 - $125,000
BDO