Associate, Accounting Advisory

Associate. Accounting Advisory

About Palm Tree:

Join an elite team of respected experts who approach the needs of M&A differently, in a demanding, yet supportive and collaborative culture. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree is the modern M&A advisor. We are the single source for integrated investment banking and financial consulting services that enable businesses to better prepare for and execute on transactions, transitions, and transformations.

Palm Tree approaches strategic events from the perspectives of owners and operators. Our processes and deliverables enable our clients to make critical business decisions efficiently and to create value in strategic events. Strategic events include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings, and growth and performance improvement initiatives.

We were born out of private equity. It gives us the resilience, flexibility, and perspective of owners and operators. Our team comes from private equity, Big-4 accounting, investment banking, and business operations experience. We understand the time-sensitive, uncompromising demands of M&A to deliver advantageous outcomes for private equity firms and business operators alike.

What we offer:

• Accelerated, merit-based career advancement compared with more rigid, bureaucratic firms
• An opportunity to have an impact with a rapidly scaling, entrepreneurial, collaborative culture centered on growing people’s skills inside of fast-paced M&A environments
• Working with top private equity firms, M&A advisors, and corporations
• Experience with multiple facets of M&A and investment banking projects that require engagement and communication at all levels of the organization
• A principled culture that lives its core values through the actions of the firm and its individuals
• High-performing yet supportive and interconnected teams throughout the organization
• Highly competitive salary, bonus, and benefits structure
• A flexible, hybrid work environment with access to open office plans in strategic markets

Who we are seeking:

• An industry accounting professional with broad knowledge of US GAAP, including purchase accounting, derivatives, complex debt, and equity securities, stock-based compensation, revenue recognition, and lease accounting, who is seeking to get into client services/consulting
• An Accounting Advisory professional from the Big4 or other large consulting firm seeking to help grow a practice in an entrepreneurial environment.
• A high-performing Senior Associate or Manager in Audit seeking to pivot their expertise in US GAAP and technical accounting experience into a career in Accounting Advisory.
• Candidates who strongly align with our core values and are interested in private equity, entrepreneurship, M&A, and transaction services, will do well at Palm Tree.

About the position:

Palm Tree’s Transitions & Transformations group provides strategic FP&A, financial modeling, performance improvement, Accounting Advisory, and other Office of the CFO initiatives to our clients' portfolio companies. As part of our growth, we seek to expand our current team of Accounting Advisory Service Professionals with experience in the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting processes and assessing/implementing accounting standards.

Responsibilities & Duties:

• General management of Accounting Advisory engagements, providing guidance, direction, and assignment of tasks to colleagues, and leading communication with clients throughout the process
  • Lead the day-to-day execution of Accounting Advisory assignments, with primary responsibility for research and preparation of client deliverables
  • Prepare and review client deliverables, including internal and external financial reporting packages, accounting memoranda, accounting policies, external audit requests, supporting schedules, purchase price accounting work, and journal entries
  • Review and analyze current accounting/finance processes to identify improvement opportunities related to month-end close processes, reporting, automation, and internal controls.  This includes assessing root causes, providing solutions, and supporting the implementation of recommendations
  • Provide final quality control of client deliverables (including reporting packages, models, KPI reports, etc.) that highlight key financial, commercial, and other trends in the business
  • Review and finalize analysis on financial and operational data, KPIs, cashflow, net working capital, and debt items
  • Manage variance analysis process on critical areas of the income statement, balance sheet, and other reports, leading to operational insights and improvement opportunities.
  • Guide junior team members’ analysis of financials, including review of their work; help to bridge financial analysis to operational challenges/changes
  • Lead calls with clients to review and explain financial results
• Support incorporation of our reports, processes, and other deliverables into the client’s ongoing business operations
  • Lead meetings and conference calls in financial and business discovery, as well as change management activities
  • Perform detailed analyses on and synthesize actionable insights from data sets and unstructured information sources
  • Consult with clients on changes to team structure, business processes, and information needs
• Effectively and efficiently communicate engagement status updates to senior team members
• Leverage client relationships in planning and executing project deliverables and business development-related activities.
• Train, develop, and manage junior team members
• Begin to participate in developing new client relationships and other business development functions
  • Be actively involved in building and maintaining client relationships and other business development opportunities

Qualifications & Requirements:

Associate candidates should have an undergraduate degree in accounting or other related fields; any post-graduate degrees, including MAC or MBA, are helpful but not required. An active CPA is highly preferred.

Ideal Associate candidates should have 4+ years of relevant professional experience in technical accounting and financial reporting. A combination of audit/assurance experience and Accounting Advisory or corporate/industry experience is preferred.  An ideal candidate should have experience managing multiple team members across different engagements in their prior work experience. The ideal candidate will also have experience managing a year-end audit with external accounting firms.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with all aspects of Financial Reporting, both internal and external, with the ability to lead engagements and assist in implementing reporting efficiencies for our clients. 

In addition to demonstrating a strong work ethic, and a capability to lead teams and manage multiple engagements, candidates should have sound technical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. 

Other qualities we look for in a candidate:

• Is dedicated to delivering high-quality work products and always pushing themselves to do their best
• Is committed to a “team first” atmosphere and has the will to support their teammates and learn from those around them in each engagement
• Is proactive, motivated, and has a self-starter attitude with a desire to improve continuously
• Has an inquisitive personality that enjoys puzzles, combining strong analytical and critical thinking skills with attention to detail
• Has an ability to “stay cool” under pressure and thrive in demanding work environments
• Has excellent written, presentation, leadership, and interpersonal communication skills
• Is highly organized with strong project management skills

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, & Access

Our people are our greatest asset.

As skilled professionals faced with complex challenges, we value unique and creative ideas that help us grow stronger, smarter, and more adaptable for tomorrow. At Palm Tree, we view inclusion, diversity, equity, and access as critical to achieving excellence and belonging to foster an authentic culture where creative solutions flourish.

We believe that our work for clients and the well-being of our company are strengthened by the diversity of our people. We recognize the systemic barriers that have limited opportunities, access, and representation for women and minorities in the financial services industry. We are committed to developing a new paradigm to create a diverse and inclusive financial services firm of the future. We actively seek and welcome people of differences in background, from culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and age to gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, ability, neurodiversity, political views, veteran status, and more.

Together, we strive to create an environment that values diversity, promotes an inclusive culture, and establishes a profound sense of belonging for each team member.

Compensation:

The Associate position offers a base salary of $125k with a top-of-industry performance-based bonus. In addition, Palm Tree offers medical, dental, and vision premium coverage, a competitive 401k program, an unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy (no formalized limits; take as needed), a robust maternity/paternity leave program, and many other fringe benefits.

*Palm Tree requires 5% - 35% travel with the ability to work remotely and with offices in the L.A., Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas markets*

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