Vice President, Accounting Advisory

Vice President - Accounting Advisory

About Palm Tree
Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree specializes in supporting private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, and performance improvement initiatives. The firm's unique model combines the expertise of private equity, Big-4 accounting, and investment banking, delivering actionable solutions tailored to the challenges of middle-market businesses.

Position Overview
The Vice President role at Palm Tree is a senior management position combining strategic execution, technical accounting expertise, client leadership, and team development. Ideal candidates bring 7-10+ years of relevant experience-including audit/assurance, technical accounting, advisory work, and private-equity-related environments.

Vice Presidents in Accounting Advisory oversee accounting and reporting projects, advise clients on technical issues and CFO initiatives, and ensure quality in financial reporting, month-end close, and standards implementation. They mentor junior team members and contribute to firm growth through business development, innovation, and thought leadership.

Responsibilities
Client Engagement & Delivery

• Lead and manage Accounting Advisory engagements, serving as the primary client point of contact.
• Oversee design and execution of work streams, including:
  • Technical accounting research and accounting memoranda
  • Accounting policies, financial statement disclosures, and supporting schedules
  • Purchase price accounting analyses and related journal entries
  • Month-end close optimization, reporting enhancements, automation opportunities, and internal controls improvements
• Review and finalize deliverables such as reporting packages, KPI dashboards, models, cash flow and working-capital analyses, and board-level materials.
• Conduct detailed analysis of financial and operational data to identify trends, insights, and value-creation opportunities.
• Lead client meetings, discovery sessions, and change-management discussions, guiding clients on how to operationalize recommendations and embed improved processes.

Leadership & Team Development

• Manage and mentor junior colleagues, providing coaching, direction, and quality control across engagements.
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and excellence in all team deliverables.
• Support firm-wide training programs and share best practices across Palm Tree's Accounting Advisory and broader consulting teams.

Strategic Contributions & Business Development

• Participate in business development efforts, including scoping discussions, proposals, and relationship building.
• Identify opportunities for additional work within existing accounts (e.g., reporting efficiencies, FP&A support, technical accounting needs, audit readiness).
• Support firm-building initiatives such as talent acquisition, process improvement, and thought leadership.

Qualifications
Education & Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
  ; MAC/MBA preferred.
• Active CPA is highly preferred
  ; other certifications (e.g., CFA) are a plus.

Experience

• 7-10+ years of relevant experience in technical accounting, financial reporting, audit/assurance, or accounting advisory.
• Experience managing year-end audits with external accounting firms.
• Proven track record leading multiple engagements and teams in a client-service environment.
• Familiarity with financial reporting (internal and external), accounting automation, month-end close optimization, and Office of the CFO initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power Point .
• Strong command of U.S. GAAP, technical accounting standards, and financial statement preparation.
• Experience with BI tools or data visualization platforms is a plus.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities; detail-oriented.
• Highly organized with excellent project-management capabilities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Thrives under pressure in fast-paced M&A-driven environments.

Other Qualities We Value

• Commitment to high-quality work and continuous improvement.
• Team-first mentality with a collaborative and supportive mindset.
• Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Alignment with Palm Tree's core values:
  integrity, collaboration, excellence
  .

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary of $175k-$200k
  , plus performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, unlimited PTO.
• Hybrid work environment with access to offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York (and strategic markets firm-wide).
• Merit-based advancement in an entrepreneurial, private-equity-aligned culture.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, & Access

Our people are our greatest asset.

As skilled professionals faced with complex challenges, we value…