Lead - General Accounting

Artificial Intelligence. Automation. Cloud engineering. Advanced analytics. For business leaders, these are key factors of success. For us, they’re our core expertise. We work with iconic brands worldwide, bringing them a unique value proposition through market-leading technology and business process excellence. We’ve created over 200 unique inventions under several patents across AI and other critical technologies. Leveraging our advanced products and platforms, we drive digital transformation, optimize critical business operations, reinvent experiences, and pioneer new solutions—all provided through a seamless “as a service” model.

For each company, we provide new keys for their businesses, the people they work with, and the customers they serve. We tailor proven and rapid formulas to fit their unique DNA, combining human expertise and artificial intelligence to develop digital chemistry that unlocks new possibilities, transformative outcomes, and enduring relationships.

Established in 1986, Sutherland is a global provider of business process and technology management services. We offer an integrated portfolio of analytics-driven back-office and customer-facing solutions that support the entire customer lifecycle. Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., Sutherland employs thousands of professionals across 19 countries, with a digital backbone spanning 144 countries. We operate 61 delivery centers handling over 43 million transactions monthly for approximately 70 clients. Our team of 38,000 global professionals is operationally effective, culturally meshed, and committed to our clients and one another—what we call One Sutherland.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Client-Facing Accounting Lead to be based at our client’s Virginia office. This role will serve as the critical link between the client’s finance organization and the offshore accounting delivery team. You will work closely with the offshore Senior Accounting Manager and accounting team, providing on-site support to the client, understanding business requirements, addressing accounting issues, coordinating deliverables, and ensuring work is executed accurately and on time.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on accounting experience, particularly in complex journal entries, reconciliations, month-end close, and accounting analysis, combined with excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills. This is a bridge role—the individual will not replace the offshore accounting leadership but will collaborate closely with them to ensure seamless coordination between the client and offshore teams.

Responsibilities

Client-Facing Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day accounting contact at the client location and build a strong working relationship with client finance and accounting stakeholders.
• Understand client requirements, priorities, processes, and accounting issues and communicate them effectively to the offshore team.
• Bridge communication and execution gaps between the client team and offshore accounting team.
• Attend client meetings, understand business requirements, capture action items, and ensure timely follow-up with the offshore team.
• Provide on-site support to resolve accounting questions, issues, and escalations.
• Proactively identify potential issues and communicate risks, dependencies, and delays to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensure client expectations are clearly understood and translated into actionable deliverables for the offshore team.

Accounting Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on support for complex accounting entries, journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end close activities.
• Review and analyze accounting transactions and supporting schedules prepared by the offshore team.
• Assist in resolving complex reconciliation items, variances, and accounting discrepancies.
• Support the client with accounting analysis and interpretation of financial information.
• Help ensure accounting activities are performed in accordance with applicable accounting policies, internal controls, and U.S. GAAP.
• Participate in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities and help ensure deliverables are completed within agreed timelines.
• Provide accounting guidance and clarification to the offshore team when required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of accounting experience, preferably in a corporate, professional-services, or client-facing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • Complex journal entries
  • General ledger accounting
  • Balance sheet reconciliations
  • Month-end close
  • Variance analysis
  • Accounting research and analysis
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and accounting principles.
• Experience working with offshore/shared-services accounting teams is highly preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with both senior client stakeholders and offshore teams.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP/accounting systems.