Chief Accounting Officer - Durham, NC

Chief Accounting Officer

The Chief Accounting Officer is a senior Finance leader responsible for Fortrea's global accounting, external reporting, internal controls, and compliance environment. This role leads the accounting organization, including record-to-report and payroll-related accounting processes, oversees external auditor relationships and annual audit activities, and partners closely with the CFO and cross-functional leaders to support disciplined decision-making and scalable finance transformation. The Chief Accounting Officer provides technical accounting leadership, supports strategic growth initiatives, and strengthens global accounting processes through public-company reporting expertise, enterprise leadership, and continuous improvement.

He/she further serves as the designated Principal Accounting Officer for SEC financial statement certification.

Accounting Leadership, Close & Reporting

• Lead Fortrea's global accounting function, including corporate accounting, record-to-report, consolidation, close management, payroll-related accounting, technical accounting, and accounting operations.
• Oversee timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, driving a disciplined close calendar, clear ownership, and resolution of material accounting matters.
• Lead external financial reporting processes, including SEC reporting, financial statement preparation, earnings support, and related disclosure controls in partnership with the CFO, Legal, Investor Relations, and external advisors.
• Establish, maintain, and interpret accounting policies, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SEC requirements, applicable company policies, and evolving regulatory standards.
• Provide technical accounting leadership for complex transactions, including revenue recognition, business combinations, restructuring, impairments, equity, compensation, leases, debt, and other significant accounting matters.

Controls, Compliance & Audit Governance

• Own the design, execution, and continuous improvement of internal control over financial reporting, including SOX compliance, control remediation, and partnership with Internal Audit and external auditors.
• Lead the external auditor relationship and annual audit process, ensuring audit readiness, quality deliverables, issue resolution, and transparent escalation of key matters.
• Support Audit Committee and executive leadership discussions by preparing clear, concise updates on financial reporting, technical accounting, finance policies, control status, audit progress, and critical projects.
• Promote and establish a culture of accountability, ethical conduct, compliance, and strong financial governance across the global accounting organization.
• Identify, assess, and escalate financial reporting, control, compliance, and audit risks with clear recommendations and executive-level judgment.

Finance Transformation & Operational Excellence

• Drive accounting transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, shared services optimization, finance systems improvements, scalable operating model design, and stronger end-to-end accounting workflows.
• Co-manage external contractor partnerships
• Identify and sponsor opportunities to improve close efficiency, data quality, reporting reliability, transparency, controls, and controllership capabilities while reducing manual effort across regions and functions.
• Support potential M&A, integration, capital structure, and other strategic processes

Leadership, Talent & Business Partnership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global accounting team with clear roles, succession depth, technical capability, and strong engagement.
• Provide enterprise-level counsel to the CFO and senior leaders on accounting implications, reporting risks, operational decisions, and regulatory considerations.
• Collaborate with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Legal, HR, Procurement, and business unit leaders while representing Accounting in cross-functional governance forums, transformation programs, and strategic initiatives requiring financial reporting or control expertise.
• Perform all other duties as needed or assigned.

Travel:
This role may require occasional domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 10 –20%, based on business, audit, leadership, and transformation needs.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional accounting qualification required where applicable to the role and jurisdiction.
• Comprehensive knowledge of US GAAP, SEC reporting, SOX, internal controls, financial statement preparation, external audit processes, public-company reporting obligations, and complex technical accounting matters.
• Deep experience with revenue recognition in project-based, long-term contract environments, including ASC 606, legacy ASC 605 considerations, contract modifications,…