Senior Associate-Fund Accounting — Westside (LA), CA | Pacific Executive Search

Senior Associate-Fund Accounting

(Job ID: 1941)

Westside (LA), CA

Hybrid

Direct Hire

Fin Serv - Investment

$110,000 – $125,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic team as a Senior Associate in Fund Accounting, where you will play a pivotal role in overseeing investment fund and special purpose vehicle accounting. This position offers a unique opportunity to impact financial reporting and investor relations while mentoring junior team members. Our collaborative and innovative work environment fosters professional growth and development, allowing you to enhance your skills in the asset management industry.

Responsibilities

Review and approve month-end NAV reporting and investor allocations from third-party administrators, ensuring accuracy and compliance with US GAAP.
Manage the annual financial statement audits for Funds and SPVs, facilitating auditor requests and reviewing financial statements prepared by external partners.
Collaborate with the tax function to review K-1s and other tax reporting documentation.
Conduct initial reviews of wire payments and provide administrative support for new account openings and Fund/SPV launches.
Prepare key inputs for compliance reporting, including Form PF and AIFMD, while identifying and implementing process improvements within the accounting function.
Participate in ad hoc projects to support the accounting team and enhance operational efficiency.
Mentor and train junior Analysts and Associates, overseeing daily tasks of offshore resources to ensure quality and accuracy.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
3-6+ years of experience in the asset management industry, with a strong understanding of fund accounting practices.
Experience with a Big 4 or national CPA firm is preferred.
CPA certification is preferred.
Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with data processing and analytical tools.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience with accounting software such as SAP or NetSuite.
Knowledge of compliance regulations and reporting standards, including ASC-740.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do companies mis-hire at the Senior Accountant level?
Because they hire based on task lists instead of ownership. Two candidates may both mention reconciliations, journal entries, and close support, but only one has truly owned balance sheet areas, resolved issues independently, worked directly with auditors, and operated with minimal supervision. Titles vary widely in the market. Ownership is the more reliable signal.
When is a Senior Accountant actually ready for promotion?
Usually when they stop simply executing assigned work and start identifying issues before they surface. Promotion to Accounting Manager or a broader leadership track is less about how many close tasks someone can perform and more about whether they have become a source of reliability, judgment, and escalation control.
Why are SaaS accounting and finance roles different from general corporate roles?
Because recurring revenue models create different pressure points around revenue recognition, deferred revenue, forecasting, metrics, and scale. Even strong general accounting or finance candidates can struggle if they have not operated in an environment where recurring revenue and growth-stage process discipline matter.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.

Senior Associate-Fund Accounting

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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