Remote Accounting Manager for Education Management Company

Work From Anywhere in LATAM and the Philippines

Work Schedule: US Timezone (Flexible) • Minimum 4 hours overlap with US business hours

About Pearl Talent

Pearl works with the top 1% of candidates from around the world and connects them with the best startups in the US and EU. Our clients have raised over $5B in aggregate and are backed by companies like OpenAI, a16z, and Founders Fund.

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About the Client

A fast-growing, family-office-backed education platform built through an acquisition roll-up strategy — acquiring well-established, independently owned schools and integrating them onto one operating platform — is looking for an Accounting Manager to take full ownership of its accounting function as the business scales.

The company currently operates 11 locations and is targeting roughly 50 within three years, with revenue scaling from approximately $20M today toward $60M+ over the next two years. The finance function is being built for long-term growth and an eventual sale, giving this role real strategic weight beyond day-to-day bookkeeping.

About the Role

The accounting function relies on two fractional, outsourced resources who only get the books 60–80% of the way closed each cycle. This role exists to fix that: one dedicated, full-time owner who takes the close from 80% to 100%, brings structure to vendor and payables management, and builds the systems the organization needs as it multiplies in size. You'll shadow the Director of Finance and Accounting through the close in your first 30 days, then run it independently. Success means owning a 5–7 day close cycle, becoming the primary point of contact for vendor and payment questions, and delivering a systems and process-improvement roadmap within your first 90 days.

Core Responsibilities

Full-Cycle Accounting & Month-End Close

Own the full month-end close process end to end, targeting a 5–7 day close timeline. Prepare and review journal entries with clear, complete documentation of the reasoning behind each one. Progress from shadowing the close (Days 1–30) to running it independently (by Day 60) to full autonomy plus a systems roadmap (by Day 90). Maintain accuracy as a non-negotiable standard — never trade speed for correctness.

Vendor & Payables Management

Own oversight of the company's procurement and payables platform, including vendor onboarding. Process payables and serve as the primary point of contact for vendor payment-status questions. Apply a service-first, professional tone in all vendor and stakeholder communication.

Systems, Process Improvement & Audit Readiness

Identify finance systems and processes that won't scale, and drive improvements to completion. Deliver a systems and process-improvement roadmap by Day 90. Support consolidation of multiple school information systems where relevant to finance data flows. Lead the finance function through its first external audit, drawing on prior audit or audit-readiness experience.

Cross-Functional Communication

Communicate clearly and professionally with the Director of Finance, vendors, and site-level stakeholders. Bring proposed solutions, not just questions, when navigating ambiguity.

Requirements

Must-Have

5+ years of accounting experience at the Accounting Manager level or above, with demonstrated ownership of a full month-end close process end to end (not limited to AP, AR, or tax alone). Highly proficient in U.S. GAAP / U.S. company accounting — this is a hard requirement, not a nice-to-have. Direct audit experience, in one of two forms: (a) 5–7 years as an external auditor at a Big Four firm (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, or EY) auditing U.S.-based clients, or (b) proven experience leading a company through an external audit as the primary point of contact for the auditors. Ideal trajectory: 3–5 years as a Big Four auditor auditing U.S. clients, followed by 3–5 years as a corporate accountant owning or playing a key role in the close. Candidates with 5–7 years purely on one side (auditor ready to move into corporate for the first time, or corporate accountant ready to run their own show) will also be considered. Prior experience at a larger, higher-stakes, higher-transaction-volume organization — small-business-only bookkeeping backgrounds (e.g., a single small e-commerce or construction platform) are not a fit for the complexity of this role. Strong Excel proficiency demonstrated through complex reconciliations, multi-entity consolidation, or financial modeling. Proven ability to project-manage a full close process holistically across multiple workstreams, not just one function. Full-time availability and dedication to this role, with no concurrent clients or independent accounting practice. Minimum 4-hour overlap with U.S. time zones. Native-level English fluency (C1+ CEFR or higher) — proficient enough that, in conversation, the candidate would be indistinguishable from someone based in the U.S. An accent is fine; hesitation, translation lag, or non-native phrasing is not. Demonstrates ownership mentality — thinks and communicates like an owner, not just an executor.

Nice-to-Have

CPA or CPA-equivalent license. Not required, and not expected where an equivalent credential isn't standard practice (e.g., many LATAM countries) — in those cases, five-plus years of Big Four audit experience on U.S. GAAP / U.S. clients is treated as an equivalent proof point of technical proficiency. Experience with NetSuite, Ramp, ADP Workforce Now, ProCare, Playground, or Brightwheel (training provided where needed). Background in multi-location, multi-entity, or acquisition roll-up businesses. Prior experience scaling accounting functions at a company growing from ~$20M toward $60M+ in revenue.

Benefits

Competitive Salary: Based on experience and skills

Remote Work: Fully remote—work from anywhere Team Incentives: Recognition for maintaining 100% CRM hygiene and on-time reporting Generous PTO: In accordance with company policy Health Coverage for PH-based talents: HMO coverage after 3 months for full-time employees Direct Mentorship: Guidance from international industry experts Learning & Development: Ongoing access to resources for professional growth Global Networking: Connect with professionals worldwide

Our Recruitment Process

Application Screening Skills Assessment Topgrading Interview Client Interview Job Offer Client Onboarding

Ready to Join Us?

If you’re empathetic, organized, and passionate about improving patient experiences through operational excellence, this role is for you. Apply now to help make specialized healthcare more accessible to patients across the U.S.