Director of Finance & Accounting

About the role

The Director of Finance & Accounting leads and oversees all financial operations of the company, including accounting, payroll, and financial planning and analysis, for an organization of approximately 110 employees. The Director is responsible for leading the company’s finance and accounting function, overseeing day-to-day financial operations while providing strategic financial leadership to ownership and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Partner with ownership and executive leadership, providing financial insights and data-backed recommendations to support company goals
• Analyze profitability, pricing, and key business trends, providing actionable recommendations that improve financial performance and support informed business decisions
• Drive the annual budget planning process in partnership with the Senior Director of Business Operations and department heads, ensuring budgets align with company strategy and financial targets
• Conduct analysis on performance, revenue mix, and cost efficiency to identify opportunities for margin improvement and develop actionable recommendations for leadership
• Lead monthly/annual closes, producing financial statements, and preparing cash flow projections
• Collaborate with executive leadership to define metrics and KPIs to continually measure and track financial performance, profitability, and efficiency
• Oversight Overseeing day-to-day functions including AP/AR, treasury management, cash management, and bank relationships
• Maintain oversight of payroll, vendor payments, and employee reimbursements, ensuring timeliness and accuracy
• Oversee the company’s accounting function, ensuring accurate, GAAP-compliant financial records and timely month-end/year-end closes
• Ensure accurate client billing, revenue recognition, and expense coding to support profitability tracking
• Utilize advanced Excel and financial modeling tools to analyze financial data, build forecasts, and support strategic decision-making
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements prepared by the accounting team
• People Management Supervise and mentor an Accounting Manager and support staff, fostering clarity of roles, accountability, and professional growth
• Represent the Finance & Accounting department as part of Got Light’s Department Heads leadership team
• Compliance, Risk, and Governance Manage compliance with all local, state, and federal tax obligations (sales, business, payroll, property)
• Oversee 401(k) plan administration, including contribution uploads, employer matching, and reconciliation
• Coordinate with external CPA on income tax filings, audits, and depreciation schedules
• Support and execute internal controls, financial policies, and risk management frameworks to safeguard company assets, mentoring team members on compliance responsibilities
• Maintain insurance renewals and risk coverage in coordination with HR and operations teams
• Systems, Process, and Data Optimization Evaluate and implement financial systems and reporting tools to streamline processes, improving real-time visibility
• Drive finance automation initiatives to reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and enhance scalability, mentoring the finance team on process improvements
• Embrace an ongoing “continuous improvements” approach to collaborating on cross-team process improvements and recommendations with Department Head leadership and beyond

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (MBA or CPA preferred)
• Industry Experience: 7-10 years of progressive finance experience, including leadership of accounting or FP&A functions
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, cash flow management, and financial modeling
• Proven ability to oversee both day-to-day accounting operations and high-level strategic planning
• Skilled in Excel/Google Sheets modeling and familiar with tools such as QuickBooks, ADP Workforce Now, and modern ERP or BI software
• Soft Skills & Competencies: Executive communication and presentation skills, Ability to translate complex financial data for non-financial audiences, Change management skills, Proactive, highly organized, detail-oriented, team-driven, systems thinker

What we offer

• A dynamic and creative work environment within a thriving event production company
• Opportunities for growth and development in a high-energy industry
• Competitive pay and benefits package
• 15 days PTO per year plus paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, and chiropractic benefits
• Matching 401K
• Collaborative team culture where your contributions directly impact the success of our events

Schedule

M-F: 9am-5pm, in person at Got Light’s San Francisco office

Compensation

$150,000 - $175,000 per year