Director, Accounting Operations

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking a Director, Accounting Operations to join our Accounting and Payroll team in Seattle, WA.

Responsibilities

• Own Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable operations, including billing, collections, cash application, accounts payable, subcontract invoicing, vendor management, payments, and P-Card administration.
• Establish priorities, service levels, KPIs, and operating rhythms to drive operational performance, working capital results, and accountability.
• Translate business requirements into processes, controls, and operational readiness plans to ensure Accounting Operations can effectively support evolving business needs.
• Lead resolution of operational issues and risks impacting cash flow, controls, customer and vendor experience, and business performance.
• Provide Accounting Operations leadership for ERP implementation and ongoing updates, including supporting process design, testing, UAT, readiness, training, and go-live support.
• Build and develop a high-performing management team responsible for day-to-day execution across Accounting Operations.
• Define ownership, decision rights, and accountability to strengthen execution and leadership effectiveness.
• Develop managers and future leaders capable of independently leading operational performance, service delivery, and team development.
• Build succession plans and organizational capability across transactional accounting functions.
• Ensure operational processes operate within a strong internal control framework and remain audit-ready.
• Identify operational, compliance, and control risks and implement sustainable solutions.
• Partner with Corporate Accounting and External Audit to support audits, remediation efforts, and process discipline.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Business Partnership:
• Partner with Line of Business Operations and Project Management, as well as various Corporate Service Units such as Treasury, Procurement, IT, Enterprise Project Management, and other areas of Finance and Accounting to improve operational and financial outcomes.
• Serve as the Accounting Operations lead for business initiatives impacting Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, ensuring organizational readiness and successful adoption.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required; CPA required.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting, finance operations, or shared services leadership experience, including leadership of large transactional accounting organizations through managers and people leaders.
• 5+ Years as a manager of people leader.
• Public accounting audit experience preferred, with exposure to internal controls, financial reporting, compliance, and process improvement.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, project-based accounting operations, construction and service billing, collections, Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes, working capital management, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Experience leading accounting operations in complex project-based environments with diverse contract structures, subcontractor invoicing and payment workflows, decentralized stakeholders, and high-volume transactional activity.
• Demonstrated success building high-performing management teams, strengthening leadership capability, addressing organizational gaps, and driving operational performance through leaders.
• Experience establishing KPI frameworks, operating rhythms, accountability structures, and performance management practices that improve service delivery, operational effectiveness, and business results.
• Strong leadership, executive presence, communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional influencing skills.
• Proven ability to lead through growth, organizational complexity, change, and operational challenges while maintaining focus on execution, customer service, controls, and business outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and risk management capabilities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading accounting operations in complex project-based environments with diverse contract structures, subcontractor invoicing and payment workflows, decentralized stakeholders, and high-volume transactional activity.
• Experience building high-performing management teams, strengthening leadership capability, addressing organizational gaps, and driving operational performance through leaders.
• Experience establishing KPI frameworks, operating rhythms, accountability structures, and performance management practices that improve service delivery, operational effectiveness, and business results.
• Strong leadership, executive presence, communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional influencing skills.
• Proven ability to lead through growth, organizational complexity, change, and operational challenges while maintaining focus on execution, customer service, controls, and business outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and risk management capabilities.

Skills

• U.S. GAAP
• Project-based accounting operations
• Construction and service billing
• Collections
• Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes
• Working capital management
• Internal controls
• Audit requirements

Benefits

When it comes to the basics, we have you covered: Competitive pay, 401(k) with employer match and profit-sharing plan, Paid time off and holidays, Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision with low or zero deductible options and low out-of-pocket maximums.

McKinstry also offers additional benefits including: Family formation benefits, including adoption and IVF assistance, Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave, Transgender inclusive benefits, Commuter benefits, Pet insurance, “Building Good” paid community service time, Learning and advancement opportunities via McKinstry University, McKinstry Moves onsite gyms or reimbursement for remote workers.

This commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity is made equally as a social responsibility and as an economic and business necessity. McKinstry is a drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test, complying with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act and a Confidentiality Agreement, in addition to successful outcomes of background and reference checks. Applicants for this role will only be considered if they possess current US Work Authorization, and do not require employer-sponsored VISA support to begin or remain in this role.