Director, Accounting Operations

Director, Accounting Operations

Build the future, spark innovation and align your career with purpose. McKinstry is innovating the waste and climate harm out of the built environment and creating lasting impact. Together, we're building a thriving planet.

Buildings are a leading contributor to the climate crisis, generating nearly 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions. We're making a lasting impact on our industry and within our communities by addressing the climate, affordability and equity crises through:

• renewables and energy services
• engineering and design
• construction and facility services

To get where we're going, we need big thinkers, problem solvers and collaborative mindsets. Does that sound like you?

The opportunity with Mc Kinstry

We are currently seeking a Director, Accounting Operations to join our Accounting and Payroll team in Seattle, WA. This position is responsible for leading Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable operations, driving operational performance, working capital results, internal controls, and scalable service delivery. Serves as a critical leadership bench role for the Controller organization, responsible for developing future Finance & Accounting leaders and strengthening operational governance across Accounting Operations.

Ensures efficient and effective transactional operations, develops and strengthens leadership capability, and continually assesses and improves the team's structure, processes, and operating discipline to support long-term growth.

Additional responsibilities include:

Operational Leadership & Performance

• Own Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable operations, including billing, collections, cash application, accounts payable, subcontract invoicing, vendor management, payments, and P-Card administration.
• Establish priorities, service levels, KPIs, and operating rhythms to drive operational performance, working capital results, and accountability.
• Translate business requirements into processes, controls, and operational readiness plans to ensure Accounting Operations can effectively support evolving business needs.
• Lead resolution of operational issues and risks impacting cash flow, controls, customer and vendor experience, and business performance.
• Provide Accounting Operations leadership for ERP implementation and ongoing updates, including supporting process design, testing, UAT, readiness, training, and go-live support.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build and develop a high-performing management team responsible for day-to-day execution across Accounting Operations.
• Define ownership, decision rights, and accountability to strengthen execution and leadership effectiveness.
• Develop managers and future leaders capable of independently leading operational performance, service delivery, and team development.
• Build succession plans and organizational capability across transactional accounting functions.

Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure operational processes operate within a strong internal control framework and remain audit-ready.
• Identify operational, compliance, and control risks and implement sustainable solutions.
• Partner with Corporate Accounting and External Audit to support audits, remediation efforts, and process discipline.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Business Partnership

• Partner with Line of Business Operations and Project Management, as well as various Corporate Service Units such as Treasury, Procurement, IT, Enterprise Project Management, and other areas of Finance and Accounting to improve operational and financial outcomes.
• Lead initiatives that improve cash flow, service levels, operational efficiency, and business performance.
• Serve as the Accounting Operations lead for business initiatives impacting Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, ensuring organizational readiness and successful adoption.

What you need to succeed at Mc Kinstry

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required; CPA required.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting, finance operations, or shared services leadership experience, including leadership of large transactional accounting organizations through managers and people leaders.
• 5+ Years as a manager of people leader.
• Public accounting audit experience preferred, with exposure to internal controls, financial reporting, compliance, and process improvement.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, project-based accounting operations, construction and service billing, collections, Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes, working capital management, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Experience leading accounting operations in complex project-based environments with diverse contract structures, subcontractor invoicing and payment workflows, decentralized stakeholders, and high-volume transactional activity.
• Demonstrated success building high-performing management teams, strengthening leadership capability, addressing organizational gaps, and driving operational performance through…