Director, Financial & Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS)

Company: Intrinsic
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Why This Role Is Different Most senior advisory roles ask you to choose either the technical standard or lead the client relationship. This role demands both and adds a third dimension: building the practice itself. As a Director in our FAAS practice, you will set the quality bar for how we serve PE-backed portfolio companies through the most consequential moments in their finance function’s evolution. You’ll carry the authority to shape engagement strategy, make judgment calls on complex technical matters, and hold the room with PE sponsors, CFOs, and Boards who depend on your perspective to make high-stakes decisions. The Mandate: Own a portfolio of concurrent client relationships as the senior point of accountability, translating PE-backed finance challenges and goals into executable transformation plans. You take the goals that exist within the finance function and turn them into realities, fixing the past, building the infrastructure for the future, and ensuring every workstream connects back to enterprise value. This is equally an entrepreneurial leadership opportunity. You won’t just run engagements; you’ll have a seat at the table shaping the trajectory of our FAAS practice. As we scale, you’ll help define our delivery methodology, build the team, refine how we engage with sponsors and portfolio companies, and establish the frameworks and intellectual capital that become the foundation of this growing business. Why Intrinsic Private, independent firm with significant employee ownership —when the firm wins, you win Senior-level authority from day one —you own the quality standard, the client relationship, and the team Elite peer group —work alongside former Big 4 partners, PE operators, and portfolio company CFOs who challenge your thinking Hybrid flexibility —based in Denver or Chicago with remote options and meaningful work-from-anywhere policies Practice-building mandate —shape methodology, team structure, and delivery standards alongside FAAS leadership Growth trajectory —clear progression path within a high-impact practice at an inflection point This isn’t a staff augmentation role or a project management seat. You’ll operate as a trusted senior advisor to PE sponsors, CEOs, and Boards, providing counsel on decisions that directly impact enterprise value, operational readiness, and exit outcomes. What Makes You a Fit You bring seasoned technical command: CPA required (active or eligible) 8 years of progressive experience in Big 4 FAAS, PE-backed controllership or CFO advisory, top-tier consulting, or corporate finance leadership, with significant time in middle-market environments where companies undergo meaningful transformation Demonstrated mastery across multiple domains: close transformation, technical accounting (ASC 606/842/805), cash and working capital management, M&A integration, and exit preparation. You have led these workstreams, not just participated in them Authoritative command of US GAAP, PE-specific accounting (normalization, carve-outs), and ERP/system landscapes Deep fluency in the realities of middle-market finance functions: cash-to-accrual migrations, first-time audits, QuickBooks-to-ERP transitions, close process redesign, and building finance infrastructure to support scale and complexity Travel required for engagement kickoffs and firm meetings (estimated 20–30%) You carry executive-level presence: You command the room with PE Partners, CEOs, CFOs, and Boards, not because of your title, but because of the clarity and conviction you bring You translate complex accounting into plain-English business implications, and you bring your clients along with you as strategic decisions are made, obstacles are encountered, and priorities evolve You design and own workplans that align people, systems, and processes across organizational change You’ve navigated competing stakeholder priorities (sponsor vs. management vs. technical teams) repeatedly and with confidence; this is not new territory for you You operate with a director’s mindset: You set the standard—for quality, for client experience, and for what “done well” looks like on your engagements You’re decisive under pressure—high-stakes deadlines and ambiguity sharpen your judgment, not cloud it You’re intellectually versatile—equally credible discussing ASC 842 implications with an auditor and presenting a value creation roadmap to a PE operating partner You build teams, not just manage them—you hire well, develop people deliberately, structure capacity, and create an environment where others do their best work You’re entrepreneurial—you don’t need established processes or fully templatized frameworks to be effective. You build and refine methodology, deliverables, and playbooks as you execute Nice to have: FP&A experience or fluency in budgeting, forecasting, and value creation analytics What You’ll Own (Day-to-Day Realities) Client Accountability & Strategic Direction You are the senior point of accountability on your engagements. You set the strategic direction, define the workplan, and ensure every workstream ties back to the client’s finance goals and the broader investment thesis. You navigate multi-stakeholder dynamics, aligning sponsors, management teams, and technical advisors, and you surface risks and trade-offs before they become obstacles. You take the goals that exist within the finance function and turn them into realities by diagnosing root causes, remediating issues, and building the infrastructure for long-term success. . Engagement Leadership & Technical Oversight You lead concurrent engagements across post-acquisition integration and exit preparation. You are responsible for the quality and defensibility of all deliverables. You make the judgment calls on technical matters, set priorities when workstreams compete, and ensure the team delivers with precision and pace: Finance and accounting change management Month-end close acceleration and financial reporting transformation Technical accounting resolution (ASC 606, 842, complex transactions, carve-out accounting) Cash flow visibility, controls, and management Building reporting and KPI infrastructure to support scale and complexity Post-acquisition integration (COA harmonization, system consolidation, team assessment & design) Exit preparation and sell-side readiness Your deliverables must withstand investor and audit scrutiny and inform executive decision-making. Team Development & Practice Building You build the team around you. You are responsible for hiring, structuring capacity, developing talent, and ensuring the people on your engagements are growing in skill and judgment. You provide direct, constructive feedback, create opportunities for stretch assignments, and model the standard of work and client service you expect. Beyond your own engagements, you contribute to building the FAAS practice, refining delivery methodology, developing internal frameworks and intellectual capital, and helping shape how we operate and scale. Executive Communication & Stakeholder Counsel You present complex findings with boardroom-level clarity to CFOs, PE operating partners, and founders. You anticipate objections, frame trade-offs, and guide stakeholders toward aligned decisions. You don’t just translate, you bring people along the journey, ensuring clients understand the “why” behind all recommendations as strategic decisions are made, obstacles are encountered, and priorities shift. You navigate difficult conversations with conviction and care. Total Compensation & Benefits Base Salary : $155,000–$220,000 (based on experience, skills, and qualifications) Bonus: Eligible for an annual discretionary bonus of 20% of base salary Benefits Package: Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with employer contribution Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, company holidays) Paid parental leave Hybrid/remote work flexibility Professional development support and continuing education reimbursement Participation in the firm’s employee ownership structure How to Apply Using the link, submit your resume and a brief cover letter addressing: A transformation you led: Walk us through a finance function transformation where you were the senior person accountable for the outcome. What was broken? What did you build? How did it connect to the broader investment thesis or business strategy? A stakeholder challenge you navigated: Share a specific example where you managed competing priorities across sponsor, management, and technical teams. What was at stake? How did you bring alignment? What did you learn? Why this opportunity: Why does a Director role within a growing FAAS practice, one that blends senior client leadership with practice-building, appeal to you at this stage of your career? Questions? Reach out to our talent team at cstaples@intrinsicfirm.com

Keywords: Intrinsic, Bartlett , Director, Financial & Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS), IT / Software / Systems , Chicago, Illinois