Client Accounting Manager

District Partners is engaged by an established CPA and accounting advisory firm in the Greater Philadelphia area to identify a Manager for its growing Client Accounting Services (CAS) practice. The CAS group acts as an outsourced accounting and controller function for a diverse portfolio of small and mid-sized businesses, including nonprofits, medical and dental practices, restaurant groups, law offices, and other professional services organizations.

This is a hands-on role for an accounting professional who wants controller-level ownership across multiple clients, not just one voice in a large in-house team. The Manager reviews work prepared by staff and client-side bookkeepers, provides direct financial oversight for an assigned client portfolio, and plays a key role in developing junior team members.

The firm can offer schedule flexibility, including a reduced-hours arrangement for the right candidate, and it's a team that genuinely values working together in person and solving problems in real time rather than over email.

What You'll be Owning:

•     Manage and provide controller-level oversight for a portfolio of approximately 8–12 clients, spanning industries such as nonprofits, healthcare practices, hospitality, and professional services

•     Review work prepared by staff-level accountants and client-side bookkeepers, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement packages

•     Oversee technical accounting areas such as prepaid schedules, deferred revenue, and month-end close deliverables

•     Take ownership of unstructured client situations, assessing new engagements and figuring out the right path forward independently

•     Train, mentor, and develop junior staff, including accountants being groomed for advancement

•     Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for assigned clients, building strong day-to-day relationships

•     Support business development efforts, including contributing to proposals for new client engagements

•     Collaborate with firm leadership across the broader practice on cross-functional client needs

What You Bring to the Table:

This firm has learned through experience that technical depth is what actually makes someone successful in this role, not just holding a CPA on paper. The ideal candidate can prepare and review work papers, post accurate journal entries, and perform financial statement review with minimal oversight.

•     5+ years of progressive accounting experience; Manager or a strong Supervisor ready to step into a Manager role

•     CPA preferred but not required; demonstrated technical proficiency matters more than the credential alone

•     Comfortable owning the full scope of accounting work for small business clients (not solely a specialized function within a larger organization)

•     Proficiency with QuickBooks Desktop and Online required; familiarity with NetSuite or Xero a plus

•     Prior experience in a CAS, outsourced accounting, or multi-client/multi-entity environment strongly preferred

•     Strong client-facing communication skills and a genuine sense of ownership over client relationships

•     Experience mentoring or training junior accounting staff

•     Prior industry accounting experience in construction, non-profit and/or hospitality is a plus

•     Based in or willing to work from the Greater Philadelphia area; this role works closely in person with the team

Why this Role?

•     You'll manage a diverse client portfolio with real decision-making authority, not a narrow slice of one company's books

•     There's a clear path for advancement within an established and growing CAS practice

•     Schedule flexibility is on the table for the right candidate, including a reduced-hours arrangement

•     It's a small, collaborative team that actually solves problems together instead of everyone working in a silo

•     Clients span nonprofits, healthcare, hospitality, and professional services, so the work stays varied