Chief Accounting Officer - Durham, NC

Senior Finance leader responsible for Fortrea’s global accounting, external reporting, internal controls, and compliance environment. This role leads the accounting organization, including record-to-report and payroll-related accounting processes, oversees external auditor relationships and annual audit activities, and partners closely with the CFO and cross-functional leaders to support disciplined decision-making and scalable finance transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fortrea’s global accounting function, including corporate accounting, record-to-report, consolidation, close management, payroll-related accounting, technical accounting, and accounting operations.
• Oversee timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, driving a disciplined close calendar, clear ownership, and resolution of material accounting matters.
• Lead external financial reporting processes, including SEC reporting, financial statement preparation, earnings support, and related disclosure controls in partnership with the CFO, Legal, Investor Relations, and external advisors.
• Establish, maintain, and interpret accounting policies, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SEC requirements, applicable company policies, and evolving regulatory standards.
• Provide technical accounting leadership for complex transactions, including revenue recognition, business combinations, restructuring, impairments, equity, compensation, leases, debt, and other significant accounting matters.
• Own the design, execution, and continuous improvement of internal control over financial reporting, including SOX compliance, control remediation, and partnership with Internal Audit and external auditors.
• Lead the external auditor relationship and annual audit process, ensuring audit readiness, quality deliverables, issue resolution, and transparent escalation of key matters.
• Support Audit Committee and executive leadership discussions by preparing clear, concise updates on financial reporting, technical accounting, finance policies, control status, audit progress, and critical projects.
• Promote and establish a culture of accountability, ethical conduct, compliance, and strong financial governance across the global accounting organization.
• Identify, assess, and escalate financial reporting, control, compliance, and audit risks with clear recommendations and executive-level judgment.
• Drive accounting transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, shared services optimization, finance systems improvements, scalable operating model design, and stronger end-to-end accounting workflows.
• Co-manage external contractor partnerships.
• Identify and sponsor opportunities to improve close efficiency, data quality, reporting reliability, transparency, controls, and controllership capabilities while reducing manual effort across regions and functions.
• Support potential M&A, integration, capital structure, and other strategic processes.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global accounting team with clear roles, succession depth, technical capability, and strong engagement.
• Provide enterprise-level counsel to the CFO and senior leaders on accounting implications, reporting risks, operational decisions, and regulatory considerations.
• Collaborate with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Legal, HR, Procurement, and business unit leaders while representing Accounting in cross-functional governance forums, transformation programs, and strategic initiatives requiring financial reporting or control expertise.
• Perform all other duties as needed or assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional accounting qualification required where applicable to the role and jurisdiction.
• Comprehensive knowledge of US GAAP, SEC reporting, SOX, internal controls, financial statement preparation, external audit processes, public-company reporting obligations, and complex technical accounting matters.
• Deep experience with revenue recognition in project-based, long-term contract environments, including ASC 606, legacy ASC 605 considerations, contract modifications, pass-through costs, reimbursables, and CRO-specific revenue accounting practices.
• Experience overseeing global statutory reporting, local audits, legal entity accounting, and coordination across regional finance teams.
• Experience supporting SEC filings, including Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, earnings materials, disclosure controls, and Audit Committee reporting.
• Experience leading accounting activities related to M&A, divestitures, integrations, purchase accounting, and complex restructuring initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead global accounting teams and external contractors, manage complex reporting deadlines, advise executive stakeholders, and operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment across Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, HR, IT, and business leadership.
• Strong business judgment, executive communication, enterprise leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, change leadership, and ethical decision-making skills.
• 15+ years of progressive accounting, controllership, external reporting, audit, or finance leadership experience, including substantial experience in a public-company environment.
• 10+ years experience in senior leadership (CAO, Corporate Controller, VP Finance & Accounting, or equivalent senior finance leader).
• Executive-level experience leading accounting organizations, external financial reporting, SOX/control frameworks, global close processes, and audit relationships.
• Experience presenting to or supporting Audit Committee, Board, executive leadership, external auditor, and investor-facing processes.
• Experience leading finance transformation, process automation, shared services, ERP or finance systems initiatives, and global operating model improvements.
• Experience in global and regulated industries preferred; clinical research, pharmaceutical services, healthcare, technology, or similarly complex environments are advantageous.

Schedule

• Varied hours may be required.
• Occasional domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 10–20%, based on business, audit, leadership, and transformation needs.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in an upright and/or stationary position for 6-8 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists to operate lab equipment.
• Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying, or moving of objects, including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs.
• Regular and consistent attendance.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment. Occasional drives to site locations may be required.