SVP & Chief Accounting Officer

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer will be a key member of WillScot's Finance team and partner to the CFO and executive leadership team. With a broad remit, the role will lead a team of approximately 50 employees.

This role will oversee and ensure the timely and accurate delivery of external reporting requirements, including quarterly and annual financials and will be the key point of contact for the Audit Committee and the company's independent audit firm. This individual will also provide leadership in developing harmonized financial reporting and an effective enterprise-wide system of internal controls to ensure the financial integrity of reported results for the business. The Principal Accounting Officer will lead WillScot's external reporting, accounting and controls, and tax functions. They will oversee the design and execution of financial reporting, revenue accounting, and corporate accounting functions and the development and implementation of related systems, controls, procedures, and policies. Additionally, this executive will lead accounting policy and ensure compliance with SOX, GAAP and other applicable rules and laws.

This SVP will be a skilled leader, able to provide superior financial reporting and technical accounting oversight, while also contributing to cross-functional strategic initiatives as a true partner to the business. They will work closely with senior management, field business leaders, and peers across other functions. Collaboration with the leadership team will be key in shaping the accounting function's organizational structure, processes, and capabilities to support a rapidly expanding business.

Stylistically, the Chief Accounting Officer will be a team player with high energy, a can-do attitude, and the ability to give and receive candid feedback. The ideal candidate will bring a track record of driving change, with ample executive courage to make difficult recommendations and/or decisions. They will possess a business partner mindset, an authentic leadership style, and bring impactful communication and influencing skills.

The ideal candidate will reside in the greater Phoenix area

• Accounting & Controls Direct and oversee all aspects of the accounting and control functions of the organization. Accountable for the development, deployment, and implementation of all company methods, procedures, and practices to safeguard the assets of the enterprise and to properly reflect its financial results. Accountable for the accurate and timely interpretation of GAAP accounting standards and the accurate incorporation of such interpretations into the company's financial records. Oversee and control the general accounting activities for the enterprise, including recording company transactions, classifications, and reconciliation of account balances in accordance with US GAAP and company policy. Help lead the implementation of new financial systems. Oversee accounting and control processes; modernize and simplify the function with a focus on improving efficiency while lowering costs, across financial processes in both field and corporate operations.
• Financial Leader & Thought Partner Serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO, CEO, and other senior leaders, as well as the board of directors, on financial accounting, financial reporting, and other key accounting and controls matters. Serve as a key partner to the CEO and CFO on strategic business initiative discussions by understanding and communicating the accounting and financial implications of various growth strategies and transactions.
• Vision & Strategy Set the strategic direction for the development and deployment of financial and reporting processes that ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, any other local accounting standards, and the regulatory environment, thereby mitigating risk in the marketplace. * Accounting Policy. Oversee and direct accounting questions and judgments for the enterprise; direct and control the accounts for the organization's balance sheet.
• Acquisition Due Diligence & Integration Participate in financial due diligence and integration activities, including accounting quality of earnings analysis, pre-close integration planning, post-close decentralized accounting activities, and post-acquisition business and system integration.
• Capital Markets Support Oversee all required company filings related to capital market activities.
• Data Integrity Provide robust, reliable data with consistent definitions such that the enterprise has a single view of the financial and business facts to support management decisions.
• Board Interaction Serve as primary management liaison to the Audit Committee, providing advice, counsel, and reporting and communicating with them, as appropriate, on vital issues.
• External Audit Serve as key point of contact with the external audit firm to ensure timely and efficient completion of all reviews and audits.
• Systems Maintain, upgrade, and/or implement the optimal ERP system and broader finance IT infrastructure necessary to record financial transactions and generate the company's financial statements.
• Tax Oversee tax team responsible for strategic planning to minimize cash tax exposure, timely and accurate statutory reporting, tax-related accounting estimates, and close collaboration with business operations on all indirect tax matters.
• Team Leader Attract, develop, motivate, and manage a high-performance and high-potential team.

Accounting Leadership

• A minimum of 15 years of accounting leadership experience in positions of increasing scope and responsibility.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. GAAP and public-company external and regulatory reporting requirements is required.
• Proven history of establishing, documenting, and implementing well-defined accounting and controls procedures, policies, and processes.

Relevant Industry & Scale

• Experience working in a publicly traded company; strong preference for those who bring experience from a complex industrial services background, ideally involving decentralized field-based operations.
• Select candidates from broader sectors will also be given consideration.

Leadership Experience

• Experience leading accounting teams at scale.
• A track record of recruiting, developing and retaining top talent.
• A focus on developing talent and bench strength as a coach and mentor; capable of providing individual staff members with opportunities for professional and personal growth.

Cross-Functional Experience

• Demonstrated experience working closely with senior management, field business leaders, and peers across other functions to improve or implement processes to support a rapidly expanding business.

Education and Professional Credentials

• A bachelor's degree or international equivalent in accounting, finance, or other related discipline.
• CPA certification is required.
• Big 4 experience is strongly preferred.