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 people-focused private equity firm Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms via acquisition 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 ascendtogether.com.

Position Summary

Ascend is seeking an Associate, Financial Planning & Analysis (“FP&A Associate”) that will be a key member of the Finance & Accounting team. S/he will act as a strategic business partner to help Ascend build world class reporting systems, forecasts, and analyses from the ground-up, while helping to drive overall company performance. This individual will support the Finance and Accounting leadership teams to build and publish in-depth financial reports and analyses, provide KPI visibility to key stakeholders, and assist in deploying M&A integration playbooks.

The FP&A Associate will report to the Vice President, Finance (“VP”) and is an onsite position located in Arlington, VA. This role also has the option to be remote.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide key stakeholders with accurate, timely, and relevant financial data, KPI reports, and other analyses to drive performance visibility across all facets of the organization to assist in strategic decision making
• Utilize system-based reporting software to manage financial and operational data within the ERP system, generating automated management reports in a real-time environment
• Work with the CFO, VP, and Controller to prepare monthly financial statements and operational reports within 15 days of month-end, including MD&A that is both concise and clear
• Interface with Ascend’s treasury and risk management functions to prudently manage the balance sheet, including cash flow forecasting, capital investments, working capital, liquidity needs, and debt levels to support growth
• Assist the CFO in preparation of the annual strategic plan, annual budget, quarterly financial forecasts, board presentations, and long-range business plans
• Identify and communicate key performance drivers and explanations for variances from budget
• Help seamlessly integrate acquired practices into Ascend’s reporting systems:
• Consolidate the financial performance of acquired accounting practices within 30 days of deal closing and assist in the purchase accounting process
• Quickly produce actionable insights pre/post-closing that drive financial performance at new subsidiaries
• Support the implementation of enterprise-grade ERP, HRIS, and BI systems
• 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
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in an FP&A or directly related role (e.g., corporate finance, private credit, investment banking, private equity, or consulting with a due diligence focus); M&A integration experience is strongly preferred
• Superior financial acumen, attention to detail, and intellectual curiosity, backed by exceptional analytical, organizational, time management, and prioritization skills
• Outstanding proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• A natural customer service orientation and can-do attitude
  
  

Ascend’s Values

• Serve whole-heartedly
• Own it
• Be excellent
• Win together
• Bring the sunshine
  
  

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

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.