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Director/Senior Director - Accounting Advisory, Office of the CFO

Ankura · Chicago, IL · $85,000–$200,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a client's accounting position. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can stand firm on technical judgment while keeping the client relationship.

How do you explain a complex accounting issue to a CFO who isn't a technical accountant?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate clearly with finance leaders who need to make decisions.

Tell me about a time you developed junior staff.

What they are checking: Whether they invest in growing the team as a director should.

What would you do

The client's auditors challenge your memo. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can defend positions with research and adjust when the challenge is valid.

How do you manage several client engagements with overlapping deadlines?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize and lead teams under pressure.

How would you help grow the Office of the CFO practice?

What they are checking: Whether they can contribute to business development and the practice's reputation.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd research and document the accounting for a complex transaction, like a business combination.

What they are checking: Whether they can apply accounting standards and write clear technical memos clients can rely on.

What areas of ASC 606 or ASC 842 do clients struggle with most?

What they are checking: Whether they have practical depth in standards that cause real client issues.

How would you help a company prepare for its first SEC filing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand SEC reporting requirements and readiness work.

How would you help a finance team fix a slow month-end close?

What they are checking: Whether they connect technical accounting to process and operational improvements.

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The full job description

As published by Ankura.

Ankura is a team of excellence founded on innovation and growth. Practice Overview Ankura Office of the CFO® (Ankura OCFO®) was established to support the strategic vision and evolving challenges and demands of the finance organization. Our focus is on enabling the CFO’s success by delivering holistic, tailored solutions to drive business performance, enable operational efficiency and effectiveness, and transform data into insights, and position the finance function as a strategic partner to the business. Ankura OCFO® team members have a strong collaborative spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset as we work together to continue our rapid growth and constant innovation. Role Overview Depending on candidates experience and qualifications, this role could be filled at the Director or Senior Director level. This is a hybrid-based position ideally based in Chicago, New York City, or Atlanta though other locations may be considered. Responsibilities • Technical Accounting: Provide complex accounting and financial reporting support to clients in various industries. This can include understanding complex issues involving accounting and finance processes and technical accounting matters. Perform accounting research related to complex transactions and create written outputs summarizing the application of accounting standards and any appropriate SEC guidance to specified transactions, with recommendation of the appropriate accounting treatment. Senior Director candidates should be comfortable serving as a subject matter expert, leading clients through complex accounting issues, and driving consensus around appropriate conclusions. • Financial Reporting Effectiveness and Efficiency: Optimize Financial reporting processes, operations and service delivery model while driving improvements and managing overall cost of financial reporting. Design external financial reporting focused reporting packages when appropriate. Contribute to client annual external financial statement audits by proactively anticipating and resolving technical accounting concerns. Ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial statements, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and, when applicable, SEC regulations. • Interim Management : Fill an interim or surge resource need specifically in a leadership or executive role, including positions such as Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, Financial Reporting Director; provide solutions to leverage human capital and experience when appropriate. Perform and/or lead corporate financial reporting functions by overseeing the periodic financial close process, guiding team operations, and collaborating with key stakeholders. Requirements • Graduate of accredited 4-year college / university, ideally with a major or concentration in accounting. • CPA, or relevant other qualification, such as Chartered Accountant, or equivalent technical/ GAAP accounting expertise is required. • 6+ years of experience related to financial reporting, financial statement auditing, and/or technical accounting. Proficient in periodic reporting processes, accurate and timely accounting trial balance conversion into financial statements, and financial statement analysis for anomalies. • Ability to identify and implement improved processes and internal controls around financial close, and related accounting processes that can impact financial reporting. • Experience leading strategies to drive financial reporting improvements goals. • A mix of Big Firm public accounting, firsthand client-side financial reporting, and client-facing accounting advisory consulting experience is preferred. • Financial Systems ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Workday Financials) and general ledger experience is preferred. • Willingness and ability to travel extensively up to 80%, as and when necessary for client engagements. • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future. For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in California, Colorado, or New York, Ankura is required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the said markets and considers a broad range of factors including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The range does not include additional benefits outside of salary. At Ankura, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each role. A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range is between $85,000 to $200,000; this range is not a promise of a particular wage. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MJ1 * Ankura is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters, if you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, submit an online application, or participate in an interview/assessment, please email accommodations@ankura.com or call toll-free +1.312-583-2122. This email and phone number are created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues unrelated to a disability, will not receive a response.

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