Client Accounting Division Manager

Role Summary

The Client Accounting Division Manager runs their division as a self-contained business unit within Burkland. The role owns the division's P&L and staffing, and is accountable not only for its own scorecard but for the aggregate performance of every KPI held by roles within the division. Success is measured by both business and people outcomes: revenue, margin, utilization, service quality, and client retention, alongside the growth and engagement of the people doing the work. The division supports consumer and product-based startups, so the manager brings deep inventory and cost accounting expertise to guide the teamâ^@^Ys technical work and client advice.

This is a hands-on people leadership role. The manager is expected to understand strengths and development needs of each team member in their business unit, set clear expectations, give consistent feedback, address performance issues early, and build a team that can deliver both accounting and proactive advisory work at a high standard. The manager also owns key client relationships and serves as the first-line escalation point for client issues, with a defined handoff path for anything beyond their resolution.

This job description outlines the core of the role, but it isn't meant to cover everything you'll do. As Burkland grows, your responsibilities may shift and new projects, tasks, or priorities may be added along the way. We hope you'll see that as a chance to stretch, learn, and broaden your contributions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Division Performance and KPI Accountability

• Own the business unit's P&L, including revenue, margin, and utilization targets.
• Drive aggregate performance across all KPIs assigned to Accounting Associates and Client Accounting Advisors, in addition to the manager's own scorecard.
• Track division performance regularly, identify gaps early, and take corrective action at the individual and team level.
• Report on division results to the Director of Accounting Advisory, including risks, trends, and planned actions.
• Manage capacity and workload distribution across the division as well as assigning clients.
• Contribute to pricing and fixed-fee scoping, and monitor engagement profitability.
• Maintain awareness of AR and collections for division clients and address issues with the appropriate teams.

People Leadership and Staffing

• Set clear role expectations and performance goals tied to the KPIs each team member owns.
• Lead regular, structured 1:1s focused on goals, workload, development, and wellbeing, not only status updates. Use them to give direct, ongoing feedback that recognizes strong work and addresses gaps as they appear, rather than waiting for review cycles.
• Create clear growth plans and provide ongoing coaching to develop each team member, in partnership with the Director and People Team
• Conduct performance reviews, manage performance concerns directly, and contribute to compensation and promotion recommendations.
• Monitor team capacity and engagement to support retention and prevent burnout.
• Apply company policies consistently, manage time-off and leave requests, and bring performance concerns, employee relations matters, and escalations to the Director and People Team for guidance and resolution.
• Plan staffing against current and forecasted client demand and build the business case for new headcount.
• Lead hiring for the division through interviewing and selection, and onboard new team members so they reach full productivity within expected timelines.

Inventory Accounting and Technical Oversight

• Oversee inventory valuation, reconciliation, and physical and cycle count processes across the divisionâ^@^Ys client portfolio, making sure variances are investigated and resolved quickly.
• Set standards for costing methods (FIFO, LIFO, weighted average) and ensure the team applies them correctly by client and industry.
• Ensure the team delivers accurate GAAP financial statements, inventory reporting, and COGS and gross margin analysis tailored to each clientâ^@^Ys business model.
• Guide ERP and inventory software implementations, migrations, and improvements (partnering with ERP specialist where needed), and ensure client records stay audit-ready (as appropriate for the engagement size and scope).
• Coach the team to help clients reduce shrinkage, obsolescence, overstocking, and stockouts, and to improve working capital through metrics like inventory turnover and days on hand.
• Strong understanding of supply chain methods such as contract manufacturing and 3PL operations

Client Relationships and Service Quality

• Act as an escalation point for client relationship issues.
• Oversee quality control to ensure deliverables meet firm standards.
• Shift the team's work from solely report delivery toward proactive advisory.

Growth and Operations

• Own growth of the division's book of business through business development efforts to expand existing client relationships and identify service-expansion…