Associate Director, Accounting Policy & Governance

About the role

We are seeking an Associate Director of Accounting Policy and Governance to drive the development, standardization, and governance of accounting policies and procedures across the firm. This role will establish a comprehensive accounting policy manual, conduct gap assessments, lead policy updates, and ensure uniform application of policies across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive accounting policy manual, ensuring enterprise-wide GAAP compliance and consistency.
• Maintain centralized documentation and tracking for all policy documents.
• Conduct ongoing gap assessments to identify missing, outdated, or inconsistent accounting policies.
• Prioritize policy updates based on financial reporting risk and complexity, maintaining a risk-based policy roadmap to address high-impact areas first.
• Evaluate existing accounting policies for relevance and effectiveness, identifying opportunities to modernize and streamline policies for consistency and clarity.
• Lead the end-to-end policy update process through formal governance channels, coordinating cross-functional stakeholder input and securing necessary approvals.
• Partner closely with various business units and functional teams to ensure uniform interpretation and application of accounting policies, resolving discrepancies as needed.
• Standardize key Controllership-related processes by developing clear procedural documentation, ensuring teams execute processes consistently and in line with approved policies.
• Serve as a Controllership subject-matter expert on finance transformation initiatives or process redesign projects, advising on accounting implications and ensuring new systems and processes incorporate appropriate policy requirements and controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• CPA, CIA, or other relevant professional accounting certification preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in accounting, audit, or controllership, with deep knowledge of financial reporting processes and internal controls.
• Experience in a large corporate finance or Big 4/public accounting environment preferred.
• Proven ability to think strategically about accounting issues and provide governance leadership.
• Experience driving cross-functional initiatives or policy implementations within a complex organization required.
• Exceptional analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to identify patterns and evaluate compliance of practices against policies.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to influence and partner with stakeholders across different departments required.
• Prior exposure to accounting policy development, internal audit, or financial governance roles preferred.
• A background in establishing or managing control frameworks (e.g., SOX compliance, risk management programs) required.

About the Ideal Candidate

We seek a proactive, thoughtful leader who can combine big-picture perspective with attention to detail. The ideal candidate is confident in challenging the status quo and driving alignment across diverse teams. This individual will be passionate about strengthening the firm’s financial foundation by ensuring that clear, consistent accounting policies guide our operations. They should be comfortable working in a dynamic environment, adept at managing stakeholder relationships, and committed to upholding the highest standards of financial governance.

Benefits

This role offers the opportunity to shape the firm’s accounting policy framework and make a lasting impact on the organization’s financial integrity and efficiency. The Senior Manager will play a visible part in enhancing our controllership function, increasing transparency and consistency in how we operate, and ensuring our accounting practices keep pace with the firm’s growth. This is a high-impact position suited for a seasoned professional who excels at building structure in a complex environment and enjoys leading change at an enterprise level.

RSM offers a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.

RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.

RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.

At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Compensation Range: $120,000 - $205,200

Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.