Article
Hiring to fix a slow month-end close
Start a Search Financial Headhunters Salary Guide
Financial Headhunters: How do you determine the correct accounting level needed to automate entries and reduce your month end close cycle?
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
01
Hiring Levels for Accounting Teams
Select your level based on your current process maturity. What specific bank accounts require reconciliation? Who approves the final journal entries? A Controller handles technical accounting, external audit relationships, and consolidated financial statements. VP levels focus on policy, internal controls, and enterprise reporting. Avoid over-hiring for routine tasks. Use Senior Accountants for complex reconciliations and flux analysis. Use Managers for process oversight. Reserve Controllers for high level reporting and technical accounting compliance.
- 01Staff roles perform daily GL maintenance and account reconciliation.
- 02Manager roles oversee the month end calendar and staff workflow.
- 03Controller roles manage external audit PBC lists and consolidation software.
- 04VP roles own technical accounting memos and policy adherence.
02
Interview Bank for Accounting Roles
You need concrete examples of process improvement. Ask how they reduced the close timeline in their last firm. Listen for specific software or automation usage. Ask about specific ASC 842 or revenue recognition challenges. Watch for candidates who cannot explain the flow from a sub-ledger to the general ledger. Ask about their role in the audit PBC list process. Verify their technical depth by asking how they handle intercompany eliminations or multi-entity reporting. If they rely on external help for technical memos, they might lack the needed depth for a Controller seat.
- 01AskWhat was the specific duration of your month end close and how did you reduce it?
- 02AskWhat ERP or consolidation software did you use to automate entries?
- 03AskHow do you handle complex GAAP compliance or technical memos for audits?
- 04Follow upDescribe a time a reconciliation did not balance and your steps to fix it.
03
Common Hiring Mistakes
Do not hire for size of team alone. Some managers prefer small, manual environments and fail in high volume settings. Do not ignore ERP experience. If you use a specific software, look for candidates who have worked in that exact system. Do not overlook the CPA status. While not every role requires a license, the exam rigor provides a baseline for GAAP knowledge. Avoid candidates who rely on outside help for every audit request. Do not hire someone who has only worked in large, rigid corporate settings if you need them to roll up their sleeves and fix broken processes.
- 01Ignoring specific ERP or consolidation software expertise.
- 02Misinterpreting big firm titles for hands on accounting capability.
- 03Failing to check if they have managed a full audit PBC list independently.
- 04Overestimating a candidate who has not managed staff or processes.
04
Credentials Explained
The AICPA issues the CPA license based on exam performance and state experience rules. This verifies foundational accounting knowledge rather than system proficiency. The IMA issues the CMA for management accounting focus. A degree indicates academic exposure. Verify current license status through state board records. Do not assume certification substitutes for direct multi-entity consolidation or tax reporting experience. We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
- 01CPA proves core accounting theory and ethics knowledge.
- 02CMA demonstrates focus on cost analysis and internal financial management.
- 03State board websites are the source for license status verification.
- 04Degrees indicate foundational coursework but require practical validation.
05
Conditional Reasons to Move
Accounting professionals typically look for new roles when their current process becomes stagnant. If they have spent years in a system that does not allow for automation, they will seek roles using cloud based ERP software. They move if they reach a ceiling where they no longer own the full close or audit process. They look for roles that offer exposure to more complex technical accounting issues or public company reporting requirements. If the current team is under-resourced and they are forced to do manual work that could be automated, they will look for environments with better process discipline. When an external audit process becomes dysfunctional due to poor preparation, they will seek to apply better control practices elsewhere.
- 01Desire to move from manual spreadsheets to automated ERP systems.
- 02Requirement for greater technical depth in multi-entity environments.
- 03Lack of ownership over the full cycle and audit coordination.
- 04Need for improved internal controls and cleaner close processes.
06
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
Questions people ask
What is the best way to test for close speed proficiency?
Ask for specific examples of software modules or manual processes they used to shorten the close. Listen for evidence of process documentation and ledger cleanup.
Do I need a CPA for a Senior Accountant level role?
A CPA is preferred for high level reporting and complex GAAP issues. For standard GL and reconciliations, deep ERP experience often matters more than the license.
Why would an Accounting Manager leave a stable role?
They often leave when they stop learning, when the ERP stack remains outdated, or when they are excluded from the audit process.
Can the hire document specific reconciliation steps for entities using different functional currencies?
Ask them to explain their process for intercompany eliminations and mapping disparate charts of accounts into a consolidated statement.