Director, Accounting Transformation

Job Overview

Financial management is critical to the performance and success of any company, and the Coursera Finance team plays a key role in driving growth and achieving our mission. As our organization evolves, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director, Accounting to help transform and elevate our accounting function. This role is pivotal in ensuring operational excellence, delivering high-quality results on tight timelines, and maintaining a strong, scalable control environment.

The ideal candidate will bring a balance of leadership and technical expertise, thriving as both a team leader and an expert individual contributor, depending on the needs of the function. This individual will be instrumental in driving strategic transformation initiatives, streamlining processes, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and support the company's growth. This is an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking accounting professional to make a significant impact on a growing global company by fostering operational excellence and building a best-in-class accounting function.

Responsibilities

• Drive Accounting Transformation Initiatives: Collaborate with other members of the accounting leadership team to lead or support key projects focused on streamlining and automating accounting processes, including system implementations, process redesign, and control enhancements.
• Enhance Operational Efficiency: Partner with the accounting team to identify and implement opportunities to improve the efficiency and accuracy of month-end close, account reconciliation, and financial reporting processes. Act as a resource to complement existing workflows and drive improvements.
• Support Strategic Initiatives: Provide accounting expertise and leadership for critical business initiatives, such as international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic projects, working closely with other members of the accounting leadership team and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop Business Insights: Leverage data and analysis to deliver actionable financial insights to business partners, supporting informed decision-making and strategic planning. Collaborate with the accounting team to ensure alignment and consistency in reporting.
• Build Team Capacity: Serve as a utility player within the accounting team, providing additional expertise, support, and coverage during peak periods. Adapt to shifting team needs and overflow responsibilities to ensure the team remains effective and efficient.
• People Management and Mentorship: Partner with other members of the accounting leadership team to provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members, fostering their professional growth and development. Act as a resource to help build a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
• Collaborative Leadership: Work alongside other members of the accounting leadership team to strengthen the overall function. Step into broader leadership responsibilities as needed or over time, based on the evolving needs of the team and organization.

Why This Role?

This role is designed to complement and enhance the existing accounting leadership team by providing additional expertise, capacity, and focus on transformation initiatives. It offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with a talented team while driving impactful changes that support the company’s growth and success.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Active CPA designation
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in corporate and/or public accounting, including experience in a public company environment
• Demonstrated success in leading transformational projects and initiatives, with a focus on driving process improvements, enhancing operational efficiency, and achieving measurable results
• Deep working knowledge of US GAAP, with the ability to effectively communicate technical accounting concepts to diverse audiences, including non-financial stakeholders
• Hands-on experience performing and/or managing controls within a SOX framework
• Proven experience managing teams and collaborating with cross-functional partners to achieve organizational goals
• Experience implementing process automation tools and technologies to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and reduce manual effort

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the technology industry or other high-growth, fast-paced environments
• Advanced knowledge of NetSuite or other major ERP systems, with the ability to optimize functionality to support and streamline accounting processes
• Familiarity with accounting for global operations, including international subsidiaries, foreign exchange, and cross-border transactions

If this opportunity interests you, you might like these courses on Coursera:

• Leading Transformations: Manage Change
• Digital Transformation for Agile Organizations
• Effective Leadership: Master Management Styles
• ChatGPT for Project Management - Leveraging AI for Success Specialization

Compensation

US Zone 1 - San Francisco Metro, New York City Metro or Seattle Metro

This role is not available in Zone 1

US Zone 2 - CA (outside of SF Bay Area), CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, MA, MD, NY/NJ (other than NYC), OR, RI, TX, VA, WA (other than Seattle)

$155,975 - $183,500 USD

US Zone 3 - all other locations not listed in Zone 1 or 2

$147,050 - $173,000 USD

The range listed above is the expected annual base salary for this role, subject to change.

Salary is just one component of Coursera’s total rewards package. All regular employees are also eligible for a bonus program and equity in the form of RSUs.

A number of factors are taken into account when determining pay, which includes: job level, location, training/education, business need, skill set, and internal equity.