Accounting Advisory Services – Senior Associate

About Chelsea Street

Chelsea Street is a boutique advisory firm headquartered in Boston, MA. We work with private equity sponsors, founder-led businesses, and strategic acquirers on transactions, financial operations, and growth strategy. Our clients expect sharp, direct analysis and senior-level attention — not leveraged associate work product. 

Our transaction advisory practice is expanding to meet growing demand from our private equity client base.

The Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and driven Senior Associate to join our Accounting Advisory Services practice. This role is central to helping our private equity clients execute buy-and-build investment strategies by supporting post-acquisition integration, process improvement, systems implementation, and operational finance transformation. While a strong accounting foundation is required, this position extends well beyond traditional accounting responsibilities and focuses on building the infrastructure, processes, and controls needed to help businesses scale. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex business challenges, can independently drive initiatives from concept to execution, and is energized by partnering directly with clients to support growth and create lasting operational improvements.

The Senior Associate will have direct contact with client stakeholders including CEOs, CFOs, general managers, accounting staff, private equity deal teams, and PE portfolio support personnel.

This role requires a willingness to alternate between strategic advisory work and hands-on execution. One day may involve advising a CFO on process design or on complex accounting matter, while the next may involve cleaning up reconciliations, reviewing AP workflows, or helping implement administrative processes. Candidates should be comfortable rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever is needed to help clients succeed.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to leverage their accounting background while expanding into finance operations, process improvement, systems implementation, and strategic advisory work. Individuals seeking a purely technical accounting or reporting-focused position may find the role less aligned with their career goals.

Key Responsibilities

Buy-and-Build Integration Support

• Play a key role in financial integration workstreams following acquisitions, including accounting system migrations, chart of accounts harmonization, and policy and procedure alignment across newly acquired entities
• Support treasury function setup and optimization, including cash management processes, bank account structures, and cash visibility reporting for multi-entity PE-backed platforms
• Assist in the implementation and optimization of accounts payable and procurement platforms, including Ramp and similar tools, ensuring proper controls, approval workflows, and integration with the general ledger
• Support the design and execution of scalable monthly close processes across multiple subsidiaries, including close calendars, task ownership matrices, and inter-company elimination procedures
• Work as part of a team to consolidate financial statements across subsidiaries in Excel prior to ERP implementation, and assist with ERP migration and go-live support as platforms scale

Advisory Services & Client Management

• Support delivery of accounting and finance advisory services to clients across various industries, with a focus on PE-backed middle-market companies executing acquisition-driven growth strategies
• Assist in managing client engagements from planning through execution and delivery
• Maintain strong client relationships through consistent, high-quality service delivery and proactive communication
• Process Development & Implementation
• Contribute to the design, development, and implementation of accounting and finance processes and procedures, including GAAP remediation roadmaps for clients previously reporting on a cash basis of accounting
• Document procedures and train client accounting staff and team members on new processes and controls

Post-Acquisition Accounting

• Perform complex journal entries and general ledger reconciliations, troubleshooting issues as they arise
• Maintain accuracy of general ledger accounts and supporting schedules across multiple entities
• Ensure proper documentation and support for all accounting entries
• Assess and reconcile differences in accounting systems, policies, and procedures across acquired entities

Required Qualifications

• Education & Certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
• CPA certification strongly preferred

Experience

• 4+ years of experience, with at least 2 years in public accounting and at least 1 year in industry with meaningful exposure to operational accounting
• Previous experience as a key contributor to the financial close process, ideally across multiple entities or in a high-growth environment
• Prior experience with post-acquisition integration, multi-entity consolidations, or PE-backed companies strongly preferred

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems, including QuickBooks; experience with NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or similar mid-market ERPs a plus
• Hands-on experience with AP and spend management platforms such as Ramp, Bill.com, or Concur preferred
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting requirements, including experience with cash-to-accrual conversions
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (consolidations, pivot tables, complex reconciliations) and PowerPoint

Core Competencies

• Self-Starting Initiative: Ability to work independently, identify priorities, and drive projects to completion without constant supervision
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to address complex, multi-entity financial challenges in dynamic environments
• Adaptability: Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving situations — particularly those common in post-close integration work
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective client interaction, PE sponsor engagement, and team collaboration

Compensation

Chelsea Street offers a competitive compensation package designed to reward performance and align incentives with long-term firm success. Specific economics are discussed directly with candidates.

• Base salary commensurate with market rates in Boston
• Annual performance bonus tied to engagement delivery and individual contribution
• Partner track with equity ownership available to qualifying Directors
• Flexible, hybrid working arrangement

Why Chelsea Street

• Senior visibility from day one — your work is seen directly by partners, sponsors, and buyers, not filtered through layers
• A defined path to partner with real equity — not aspirational language, but a structured progression with clear criteria
• Access to an active PE deal flow and a network of sponsors, lenders, and advisors built over years
• Small, senior team with no bureaucracy — your voice shapes how the firm operates
• Boston-based with flexibility; we believe in excellent work, wherever you do it best