Lead Accounting Operations - Freelance

Project overview

Context

Our client is a fast-growing tech player, present in several countries.

They are looking for a Lead Accounting Operations to ensure a temporary replacement at the head of their accounting teams. The mission begins with a handover from the current post holder. The role involves managing an already structured organization that is growing quickly, with tight closing deadlines and various accounting issues.

Main Missions

Manage the accounting organization

Maintain closing discipline

Improve processes

Compliance and audit

Profile Sought

Candidates whose experience is limited to less complex environments (single business line, traditional sector, few entities), or who have not managed closings under tight deadlines with a team of at least 10 people, will not be considered.

• Start Date: As soon as possible, with handover before the end of December 2026
• Duration: 6 months, full-time
• Location: Paris
• Reporting to: Group Accounting Director
• Working language: French and English daily
• Directly supervise the R2R, O2C, and P2P Accounting Managers, and through them, a team of over 10 people
• Define the roles, responsibilities, and indicators for each manager, and ensure deadlines are met
• Develop the managers and contributors in their responsibilities
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual closings from end to end, without being the operator
• Anticipate delays with the R2R manager and handle escalations
• Ensure audit-ready accounts for all group entities
• Identify bottlenecks and lead automation, reliability, and control initiatives
• Collaborate with FP&A, Treasury, Tax, and Financial Control
• Act as the point of contact for statutory auditors, tax advisors, and local teams
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, French GAAP, and local regulations
• Accounting expertise: DEC, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent
• 12 to 20 years of experience in accounting, including at least 3 years in audit with a Big Four firm
• At least 5 years of management experience, including successful experience managing managers
• Experience managing multi-entity closings under tight deadlines in a complex international group; experience in a tech scale-up or a high-growth company is a significant plus
• In-depth mastery of IFRS and French GAAP
• SAP S/4HANA: a plus
• Fluent English is essential, used daily, as well as French
• We are primarily looking for a demanding manager, comfortable with challenging and escalating, rigorous, and who enjoys improving processes.

Project details

• Start: flexible
• Remote: hybrid
• Location: Paris, France, FR
• Rate: 125-125 EUR/h
• Languages: French