Chief Accounting Officer - Durham, NC

Job Overview:

The Chief Accounting Officer is a senior Finance leader responsible for Fortrea's global accounting, external reporting, internal controls, and compliance environment. This role leads the accounting organization, including record-to-report and payroll-related accounting processes, oversees external auditor relationships and annual audit activities, and partners closely with the CFO and cross-functional leaders to support disciplined decision-making and scalable finance transformation. The Chief Accounting Officer provides technical accounting leadership, supports strategic growth initiatives, and strengthens global accounting processes through public-company reporting expertise, enterprise leadership, and continuous improvement. He/she further serves as the designated Principal Accounting Officer for SEC financial statement certification.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Accounting Leadership, Close & Reporting

• Lead Fortrea's global accounting function, including corporate accounting, record-to-report, consolidation, close management, payroll-related accounting, technical accounting, and accounting operations.

• Oversee timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, driving a disciplined close calendar, clear ownership, and resolution of material accounting matters.

• Lead external financial reporting processes, including SEC reporting, financial statement preparation, earnings support, and related disclosure controls in partnership with the CFO, Legal, Investor Relations, and external advisors.

• Establish, maintain, and interpret accounting policies, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SEC requirements, applicable company policies, and evolving regulatory standards.

• Provide technical accounting leadership for complex transactions, including revenue recognition, business combinations, restructuring, impairments, equity, compensation, leases, debt, and other significant accounting matters.

Controls, Compliance & Audit Governance

• Own the design, execution, and continuous improvement of internal control over financial reporting, including SOX compliance, control remediation, and partnership with Internal Audit and external auditors.

• Lead the external auditor relationship and annual audit process, ensuring audit readiness, quality deliverables, issue resolution, and transparent escalation of key matters.

• Support Audit Committee and executive leadership discussions by preparing clear, concise updates on financial reporting, technical accounting, finance policies, control status, audit progress, and critical projects.

• Promote and establish a culture of accountability, ethical conduct, compliance, and strong financial governance across the global accounting organization.

• Identify, assess, and escalate financial reporting, control, compliance, and audit risks with clear recommendations and executive-level judgment.

Finance Transformation & Operational Excellence

• Drive accounting transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, shared services optimization, finance systems improvements, scalable operating model design, and stronger end-to-end accounting workflows.

• Co-manage external contractor partnerships

• Identify and sponsor opportunities to improve close efficiency, data quality, reporting reliability, transparency, controls, and controllership capabilities while reducing manual effort across regions and functions.

• Support potential M&A, integration, capital structure and other strategic processes

Leadership, Talent & Business Partnership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global accounting team with clear roles, succession depth, technical capability, and strong engagement.

• Provide enterprise-level counsel to the CFO and senior leaders on accounting implications, reporting risks, operational decisions, and regulatory considerations.

• Collaborate with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Legal, HR, Procurement, and business unit leaders while representing Accounting in cross-functional governance forums, transformation programs, and strategic initiatives requiring financial reporting or control expertise.

• Perform all other duties as needed or assigned.

Travel: This role may require occasional domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 10-20%, based on business, audit, leadership, and transformation needs.

Qualifications (Minimum Required):

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional accounting qualification required where applicable to the role and jurisdiction.

• Comprehensive knowledge of US GAAP, SEC reporting, SOX, internal controls, financial statement preparation, external audit processes, public-company reporting obligations, and complex technical accounting matters.

• Deep experience with revenue recognition in project-based, long-term contract environments, including ASC 606, legacy ASC 605 considerations, contract modifications, pass-through costs, reimbursables, and CRO-specific revenue accounting practices.

• Experience overseeing global statutory reporting, local audits, legal entity accounting, and coordination across regional finance teams.

• Experience supporting SEC filings, including Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, earnings materials, disclosure controls, and Audit Committee reporting.

• Experience leading accounting activities related to M&A, divestitures, integrations, purchase accounting, and complex restructuring initiatives.Demonstrated ability to lead global accounting teams and external contractors, manage complex reporting deadlines, advise executive stakeholders, and operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment across Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, HR, IT, and business leadership.

• Strong business judgment, executive communication, enterprise leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, change leadership, and ethical decision-making skills.

• Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience and successful project outcomes in lieu of educational requirements.

Experience (Minimum Required):

• 15+ years of progressive accounting, controllership, external reporting, audit, or finance leadership experience, including substantial experience in a public-company environment.

• 10+ years experience in senior leadership (CAO, Corporate Controller, VP Finance & Accounting, or equivalent senior finance leader).

• Executive-level experience leading accounting organizations, external financial reporting, SOX/control frameworks, global close processes, and audit relationships.

• Experience presenting to or supporting Audit Committee, Board, executive leadership, external auditor, and investor-facing processes.

• Experience leading finance transformation, process automation, shared services, ERP or finance systems initiatives, and global operating model improvements.

• Experience in global and regulated industries preferred; clinical research, pharmaceutical services, healthcare, technology, or similarly complex environments are advantageous.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in an upright and/or stationary position for 6-8 hours per day.

• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists to operate lab equipment.

• Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.

• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.

• Light to moderate lifting and carrying, or moving of objects, including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs.

• Regular and consistent attendance.

• Varied hours may be required.

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.

• Occasional drives to site locations may be required.

Application Deadline: August 14, 2026

Learn more about our EEO & Accommodations request here.