What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Accounting Services position at Rockwater Tax?
About Rockwater Tax
We are a national professional services and technology organization with a rapidly growing presence across the United States, now expanding with a new office in Carlsbad, California. Our platform brings together Rockwater Tax, a high-touch tax services firm serving businesses nationwide, and TaxRock, a technology-driven compliance and risk intelligence platform that empowers organizations to proactively monitor and manage tax exposure.
Together, we combine deep expertise with innovative technology to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions while creating opportunities for our team to grow, take ownership, and make a real impact.
The Role
We are seeking a Director of Accounting Services to help lead and scale an Accounting Services team, while serving as a trusted advisor to a portfolio of clients. This is a highly visible, client-facing leadership role responsible for ensuring exceptional service delivery, strong team performance, and consistent financial accuracy across monthly, quarterly, and annual engagements.
The ideal candidate is a licensed CPA with deep technical accounting expertise, strong people-leadership skills, and the ability to communicate confidently with business owners and executives.
Key Responsibilities
Client Leadership & Advisory
- Lead and oversee the Tax Preparation Department, ensuring operational excellence, team performance, and high-quality client service.
- Serve as the primary senior-level accounting and tax contact for an assigned portfolio of clients.
- Act as a trusted advisor by providing guidance on financial reporting, accounting best practices, compliance requirements, and operational improvements.
- Facilitate and lead client meetings, including monthly and quarterly financial reviews, strategic planning sessions, and advisory discussions.
- Proactively identify client risks, challenges, and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations and solutions to support client success.
- Collaborate closely with the Tax, Payroll, and Advisory teams to deliver seamless, integrated client experience and ensure service consistency across departments.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships through responsive communication, strategic insight, and exceptional service delivery
Accounting Services Delivery
- Manage to an 80% utilization rate across yourself and your team
- Complete and oversee the delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting services, including:
- Financial statement preparation and review
- General ledger management and reconciliations
- Accruals, revenue recognition, and expense analysis
- Month-end and year-end close processes
- Ensure accounting work complies with GAAP and firm quality standards
- Review complex accounting matters and resolve escalations
- Drive consistency, accuracy, and timeliness across all client deliverables
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Accounting Staff on your team
- Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and performance feedback
- Set clear expectations and hold your team accountable to KPIs and deadlines
- Assist with hiring, onboarding, and training of accounting team members
- Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and client-focused culture
Process Improvement & Scaling
- Improve systems, workflows, and controls to support growth and scalability
- Leverage technology and automation to increase efficiency and margins
- Champion AI adoption across the team, identifying opportunities to apply AI tools to accounting workflows and client deliverables
- Partner with leadership to refine service models and pricing strategies
- Contribute to departmental planning, capacity management, and forecasting
Qualifications
- Active CPA license (required)
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (Master’s preferred)
- 8–12 years of progressive accounting experience
- Tech-forward mindset with a focus on AI adoption, efficiency, and continuous improvement
- Background working in a fast-growth or scaling environment
- Experience with cloud-based accounting systems (e.g., QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero)
- Prior experience in public accounting, outsourced accounting, or accounting services
- Proven experience managing teams and client relationships
- Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards
- Strong leadership, mentorship, and people-management skills
- Exceptional client communication and relationship-building abilities
- High attention to detail with the ability to think strategically
- Comfortable handling multiple priorities and deadlines
- Confident decision-maker with strong judgment
- Experience leading an accounting services or client-accounting department (preferred)
- Exposure to multiple industries and complex client environments (preferred)
- Background working in a fast-growth or scaling environment
- Full-time M-F in office, Carlsbad CA
Why Rockwater
- Senior leadership role with meaningful client impact
- Opportunity to help shape and scale a growing accounting services department
- Competitive base salary
- Full benefits package including health, dental, and company matching 401(k)
- Company-wide winter break – we shut down for a full week over Christmas
- PTO paid holidays
- Professional development support
- Growth opportunities in a fast-scaling company
- A role with local presence and national impact
- Be part of a culture built on integrity, transparency and relentless client focus.