About Ascend

Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings their firms into the new age. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a large CPA firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges and reach their full potential. Founded in January 2023, the company attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation.

For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.

About Alpine Investors

Alpine Investors is a people-driven private equity firm that is committed to building great companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Alpine prides itself on fostering cultures where people value empowerment, diversity, fairness, integrity, and intellectual honesty. Founded in 2001, Alpine specializes in investments in companies in the software and services industries. Alpine has over $15 billion in AUM and has offices in San Francisco, New York, and Salt Lake City.

For more information on the firm, visit www.alpineinvestors.com

Position Summary

Reporting to the Controller, the Accounting Manager will be a key member of the Finance team and a strategic business partner in preparing timely and accurate financial statements, integrating acquired Partner Firms into Ascend’s systems and reporting processes, and assisting and coordinating various key accounting projects with both internal and external stakeholders.

This individual will work with the Controller to (i) lead month-end close, consolidation, and reporting including MD&A and variance analysis, (ii) prepare and review month-end reconciliations (iii) assist with Partner Firm acquisitions and integrations, (iv) assist in various projects with internal and external partners including the year-end audit, tax filings, and technical accounting deliverables, and (v) drive automation and efficiency in finance and accounting processes by leveraging the Company’s tech stack.

This role represents a unique opportunity for an individual to join a startup Company with ambitious goals, yet one that has the sophistication, resources, and leadership caliber of a much larger firm. The Accounting Manager will work in an exciting, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment, and will help promote a team-oriented culture that values treating people well.

The role will be based in Northern Virginia (Arlington), with flexibility to work remotely as needed (expectation of ~3 days in office, most weeks).

Key Relationships

• Reports to: Controller
• Indirect Reports: Oversee experienced offshore accountant and future staff accountants.
• Relationships with key stakeholders: Ascend CFO, senior management, and employees, finance & accounting teams at Partner Firms, vendors, external financial and tax auditors, and lenders.

Key Responsibilities

Working with the Controller, the Accounting Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Lead month-end close process for consolidated (Corporate and subsidiaries) monthly three-statement financials, including reconciling all bank accounts, credit cards, posting and reconciling payroll, month-end accruals, general ledger and sub-ledger entries, and departmental review and reporting.
• Work with the Controller to publish monthly GAAP financial statements and operational reports within 15 days of month-end, including MD&A and variance analysis that is both concise and clear.
• Prepare work papers and month-end reconciliations for balance sheet accounts and select income statement accounts to support amounts reported in financial statements and general ledger.
• Oversee the Payables and Expense Reimbursement processes to ensure vendors and employees are paid and reimbursed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Support daily and weekly cash reporting.
• Support implementation and maintenance of new accounting standards (ASC 606 and 842), as applicable.
• Assist in business registrations, licenses, and establishing payroll tax accounts in various states.
• Oversee offshore accounting personnel to ensure weekly and monthly deliverables are met, as well as suggest training and process improvements.
• Assist with the implementation and utilization of system-based reporting software to manage both financial and operational data within the ERP system and leverage automated management reports in a real-time environment.
• Help seamlessly integrate acquired Partner Firms into Ascend’s reporting systems. Consolidate the financial reporting of acquired accounting practices within 30 days of deal closing and assist in the purchase accounting process.
• Assist in completing the Company’s annual audits and annual and quarterly tax filings (local, state, and Federal). Work closely with the Controller to prepare for annual audits and ensure that the Company moves through them efficiently. Identify policy and process improvements throughout the year that simplify audit work and tax preparation and filings.
• Promote a culture within the organization that emphasizes transparency as well as a focus on supporting the business with timely and accurate reporting, actionable information, and identifying cost savings opportunities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting.
• CPA Licensee or actively sitting for the CPA exam.
• Minimum of 7+ years progressive accounting experience. Public accounting experience with a large regional or Big 4 firm within the assurance or advisory practice is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Accomplished accounting professional with unquestionable integrity, a strong work ethic, and demonstrated success implementing and improving reporting processes.
• A ‘can-do’, solution-oriented individual and initiative-taking problem solver; intellectually curious, analytical, and committed to self-improvement.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks in a demanding environment. Able to initiate, manage, and execute projects with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal), with the ability to interact with all levels of the organization.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP accounting and financial statement preparation (I/S, B/S, and CFS).
• Experience working with ERP, payables, T&E, and banking systems is a plus.
• Highly proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.

What You Can Count on at Ascend

We live by our values:

• Own it. We seize growth opportunities with the passion, speed, and accountability of an entrepreneur.
• Serve wholeheartedly. We love our people and serve them with positivity and kindness.
• Be excellent. We set a high bar because our mission matters.
• Win together. We stay in sync, achieve as a team, and celebrate each other.
• Bring the sunshine. We have fun and bring enthusiasm to make the journey joyful.

Compensation and Other

• Highly competitive compensation package, including attractive benefits.
• Start date is as soon as practicable.

At Ascend, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.