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CFO Advisory Consultant

Kirkland, WA

Who We Are

About Sweeney Conrad

At Sweeney Conrad, our foundation of “people first” begins with our employees—because we know the success of our firm stems from the relationships within it. We consider our employees family and foster a positive work culture, encouraging a healthy balance between work and life; building a career over having a job; continuing education and skill development; and being actively involved in the Puget Sound community where we live, work, and play.

We’re proud of our employees and our culture and have been recognized by Accounting Today as one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” and by Puget Sound Business Journal as one of “Washington’s Best Workplaces”. For more information, visit www.sweeneyconrad.com.

About Ascend

Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best-of-breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.

Client Accounting & Advisory Services

Our Client Accounting & Advisory Services practice delivers the full spectrum of outsourced finance support — from Reactive Accounting (end to end general ledger accounting , AP, spend management, invoicing, payroll, and state/local tax reporting) to Proactive Accounting (cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, Controller and CFO advisory, pre-acquisition diligence, and systems evaluation/implementation).

We serve clients through specialized teams across four industry verticals: Professional Services, Real Estate & Construction, Technology & Manufacturing, and High Net Worth Individuals (outsourced family office). Our team operates by a simple ethos — Curious, Humble, Honorable — and we're building toward a future where advisory work, not transactional accounting, defines how we serve clients.

CFO Advisory Consultant

We're looking for a strategic, client-facing professional with a background in accounting — ideally with experience in both public accounting (audit) and private industry (controller or CFO-level). This role is essential to execute on our Proactive Accounting engagements. You'll serve as an outsourced CFO for a portfolio of clients, translating financial data into strategic guidance that shapes how they run their businesses. This position reports directly to the Principal, Director of Client Accounting & Advisory Services and is based in Kirkland, Washington, with a hybrid work schedule.

Specific Duties Will Include

  • Serve as the outsourced CFO for a dedicated portfolio of clients, acting as a trusted strategic advisor to ownership and leadership teams
  • Lead forecasting, budgeting, and cash flow strategy to support client decision-making in real time
  • Build dashboards and KPI reporting (leveraging tools such as Reach Reporting) that turn financial data into forward-looking insight
  • Analyze financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
  • Advise clients on best practices for accounting and finance operations, including process improvement and systems evaluation/implementation
  • Partner with key client stakeholders to lead change management through growth, transitions, or operational shifts
  • Support pre-sale and pre-acquisition diligence as needed
  • Manage and prioritize a portfolio of clients independently, balancing virtual and on-site engagement
  • Collaborate with internal account teams (including our Global Team) to ensure the right work happens at the right level
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the department managers

The successful candidate will have

  • Bachelor's degree required in accounting or finance
  • A minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience, ideally including at least three (3) years in public accounting (audit preferred) and three (3) years in private industry in a Controller or senior finance role
  • Demonstrated experience operating at or near the CFO level, including strategic planning, forecasting, scenario analysis, and executive-level communication
  • Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards
  • A track record of managing multiple client relationships or business units simultaneously, with strong organizational and prioritization skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate financial details into clear guidance for non-financial stakeholders
  • Demonstrates a curious and collaborative mindset, consistently bringing thoughtful solutions and insights to clients and leadership
  • Ability to work effectively across a diverse team environment, including coordination with offshore/global team members

While not required, the following skills would be considered an asset

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation preferred
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation is a plus

Benefits:

The pay range for this role is $135,000-$189,000 per year. This range includes the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on various factors, including experience, education, and/or skill level.

For employees working 30 or more hours per week, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as dependent coverage; Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; and employer-paid life and disability insurance; and a 401(k) plan with employer match. We also provide flexible time off (PTO) and 13 paid holidays.

At Ascend, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.

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