Senior Accountant (US Based experience required)

About the role

Location: Remote, based in Latin America, with initial sourcing focused on Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. Client geography: United States Availability: California local time, Pacific Time, including daylight-saving changes About the role We are seeking an experienced Senior Accountant who can lead teams, work directly with U.S.-based clients, and improve accounting processes and systems. This client-facing leadership role requires technical accounting expertise, exceptional attention to detail, proactive communication and strong relationship management. You will coordinate people and deliverables, review accounting work and contribute practical improvements through automation and appropriate AI tools. Prior hands-on accounting experience with U.S.-based clients or businesses is required. Company overview VargasAndrews is an international professional services firm specializing in business transformations and turnarounds. We support business owners through accounting, finance and business improvement services, with a vision to become an international market leader in business transformations. Our values: Teamwork & Camaraderie; Hiring & Developing the Best; Agility & Lean Thinking; Customer Obsession; Curiosity & Systemization; Ownership & Accountability. Essential functions 40% - Senior accounting work: manage the full accounting cycle (Order to Cash, Procurement to Pay, Record to Report), financial reporting, budget preparation, variance analysis, payroll oversight, and complex reconciliations across multiple client accounts. 30% - Client engagement and team leadership: act as primary client point of contact, lead team task distribution, conduct review meetings, and ensure delivery quality and on-time completion. 20% - Review, quality control, and mentoring: review and approve work of Junior and Intermediate Accountants, conduct onboarding and training of new hires, and support recruitment activities. 10% - Process improvement and innovation: design and implement accounting SOPs, drive automation and AI-tool adoption, and coordinate strategic improvement initiatives with the Fractional Controller. Qualifications and professional credentials Education and mandatory professional status Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, or a recognized local university degree in Accounting or Public Accountancy that qualifies the holder for the relevant professional accounting credential. A general business or finance degree alone does not meet this requirement. Candidates must hold the relevant current professional public-accounting certification, license or registration in good standing. A degree alone, an examination pass without the required professional status, or experience working under a CPA is insufficient. Required professional credential by Country Mexico - Contador Público qualification and professional license (cédula profesional), together with current Contador Público Certificado (CPC) certification issued by IMCP. Colombia - Contador Público qualification and valid Tarjeta Profesional issued by the Junta Central de Contadores (JCC), with professional status in good standing. Argentina - Contador Público qualification and active matrícula with the relevant Consejo Profesional de Ciencias Económicas, in good standing. Applicants must identify the credential, issuing authority, jurisdiction and registration or license number. Credentials will be verified before engagement. Candidates from other LATAM countries must hold the corresponding recognized public-accounting credential, subject to verification. An active U.S. CPA license is an additional advantage. It does not replace any locally required authorization. CMA certification is also an advantage and does not replace the mandatory public-accounting credential. Experience and capabilities 5 to 7 years as a Senior Accountant or in a similar leadership role, preferably in an outsourced or international setup. Prior accounting delivery for U.S.-based clients or businesses is mandatory. Solid knowledge of U.S. GAAP, IFRS, applicable tax laws and reporting standards. Excellent spoken and written English, including the ability to manage client relationships and explain complex accounting concepts clearly. Strong leadership, mentoring and review skills, with accountability for quality and delivery. A meticulous approach to problem-solving, reviewing work and maintaining accurate records. Proven ability to manage tight deadlines, multiple priorities and team workloads in a demanding environment. Experience in cost accounting is an advantage. Experience using AI-driven tools or systems is highly desirable. Ability to align availability with California local time and use Hubstaff as required for the engagement. Scope of services and delivery standards The following service areas and KPIs retain the existing RCFO engagement framework for the Senior Accountant I role. Leadership and client management Lead and act as the primary point of contact for clients, addressing inquiries, concerns, and requests promptly and effectively. Facilitate meetings, presentations, and discussions to deepen client understanding and satisfaction. Monitor client satisfaction and feedback, taking proactive measures to address issues and enhance the overall client experience. Create detailed client project plans, timelines, and schedules to ensure timely completion of all deliverables. Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members, providing guidance and support as needed. Conduct regular project meetings to review status, discuss challenges, and make necessary adjustments. Accounts Receivable Reconciliation of customer invoices with the accounting system and bank payments/deposits received. Preparation and submission of monthly invoices to clients no later than the agreed deadline (as applicable). Ensure customer payments are recorded at most 1 day from receipt of payment. Consistent monitoring and follow-through of customer payments, especially invoices more than 30 days past due. Ensure that AR Aging reports are delivered to clients on a weekly basis and that escalation SOPs are followed as required. Bank Reconciliation Daily checking of the bank statement and daily recording of bank transactions in the client's accounting system. Reconcile bank statement to book statement at most 2 days from the previous month-end. Accounts Payable Ensure all payments are properly approved and substantiated with supporting documents. Ensure all Purchase Orders are duly approved by the Board. Send AP Aging Report with notes for important payables. Weekly monitoring of AP Aging and prompt reporting of any inconsistencies or new transactions to the Fractional Controller. Senior accounting work continued Payments to Employees and Contractors Prepare the manual Pay Report on salaries and fees paid to employees and contractors within at most 2 days from the end of the payment cut-off period. Record detailed payroll expenses no later than 2 days after the end of the payment period, with journal entries referencing the Pay Report. Record payments to employees and contractors no later than 2 days from the payment period. General Accounts Accrue revenues and expenses for the month as needed. Reverse accrued revenues and expenses for the month as needed. Record prepayments and adjust as needed. Review, record, and adjust other accounts as needed. Financial Statement Closing Process Prepare financial statements, financial statement consolidation, and variance and trend analysis reports in coordination with the Fractional Controller. Ensure the completeness of accruals at most 3 days following the month to be closed. Aid in the preparation of data to compute and present monthly budgets and forecasts required by the Client. Review and reconcile balance sheet accounts on or before the 2nd Monday of the following month. Policies and Procedures Design and implement processes and procedures to improve the accounting processes of the Client and its related entities. Other Required Tasks Other related tasks that may be assigned by the SLT, Chief Financial Officer, and/or Fractional Controller, as communicated to the Contractor. Tools and systems Required: QuickBooks, advanced Microsoft Excel and Hubstaff. Preferred: Xero, Bill.com or similar accounts payable platforms. Advantage: NetSuite, Sage or similar ERP systems; AI and automation tools. Client engagement and improvement Build trusted relationships with U.S. clients through professionalism, clarity and reliable follow-through. Identify improvements in accuracy, processes and service delivery. Use approved AI and automation tools responsibly, verify outputs and protect confidential information. Engagement package and recruitment process Contractor fee Proposed monthly contractor fee: USD 3,000–4,000 gross. The final fee will reflect qualifications, demonstrated accounting capability, client communication skills and experience, subject to the approved offer. A more competitive offer may be considered for an exceptional candidate. Service breaks and wellness provisions Service-Break Credits: Earn up to 120 hours per year for personal time, rest or unexpected emergencies, under the same applicable service-break program used for Philippine engagements. U.S. Observance Day Credits: Credits for 13 recognized U.S. observance days per year, separate from the regular service-break credits. Monthly Wellness Allowance: Eligibility begins in month 7, after six months of continuous engagement, under the applicable program. Dependent Wellness Allowance: Annual dependent wellness allowance after the qualifying period of continuous engagement, under the applicable program. Remote LATAM setup: Deliver services from a suitable location in Latin America with reliable connectivity and appropriate confidentiality and security arrangements. California time and Hubstaff Candidates must be able to follow California local time, Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Time as applicable. The s