Finance & Project Accounting Lead

About the Role

We are looking for a detail-oriented, organized, and growth-minded Finance & Accounting professional to join our expanding consulting practice. This individual will be crucial in overseeing the firm's daily financial and accounting operations, guaranteeing precise financial records, timely reporting, and continuous process enhancements. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, professional services setting and is eager to contribute to a lean, yet high-performing, team.

This position offers the opportunity to directly influence the firm's success through optimizing cross-functional finance and project accounting activities. The role involves close collaboration with Engagement Leads and Company Leadership to ensure accurate client invoicing and internal reporting. Leveraging expertise in a professional services environment, this role will be responsible for driving measurable improvements and shaping the firm's financial operations.

Metis Strategy, a management and strategy consulting firm, focused on the intersection of business and technology, continues to grow and is looking for highly motivated individuals to join the team in one of our three U.S. offices. We are trusted advisors to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, helping them meet their most critical business objectives through tailored engagements and deep professional relationships. We work across industries on topics related to business & digital strategy and navigating organizational change.

We are an entrepreneurial, fast-growing firm headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in the San Francisco Bay , Atlanta and Dallas Areas. The firm's presence from coast to coast allows us to serve clients throughout the United States and internationally. In our 20+ year history, we have established a track-record of making lasting impacts on organizational performance and help executives improve business outcomes. In a career with Metis Strategy you will experience high growth as you encounter new challenges with each client engagement; have a high degree of autonomy to craft the direction of your work; and become empowered to work directly with thought-leaders, C-level clients, and other decision-makers.

Responsibilities of an Associate

Accounts Payable (AP)

Enter invoices and process vendor payments via Expensify, Rippling and Bill.com. Or similar

Maintain accurate and timely accounting entries for ACH transactions and benefits-related disbursements (FSA, COBRA, etc.)

Exercise due diligence in validating new expenses and monitoring historical cost changes

Accounts Receivable (AR)

Collaborate with Engagement Teams to prepare and send client invoices using QuickBooks Online

Drive collections, perform daily follow-ups, and reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Reconcile AR records and address client PO discrepancies

Produce AR dashboards and KPI reports for Project Managers and Leadership

General Ledger & Month-End Close

Record journal entries related to payroll, reimbursements, and client billing

Drive month-end and year-end close activities, including account reconciliations

Assist with balance sheet reconciliations and internal financial reports

Prepare ad hoc payment or cash flow analyses

Project Support & Strategic Finance

Serve as Finance Business Partner Engagement Teams by applying strong commercial acumen to ensure profitability, accurate client invoicing and alignment of financial operations with business goals

Support financial planning and annual forecasting

Develop project valuations (NPV, ROI) and support cost optimization and profitability

Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to align on project budgets and reporting needs

Audit, Compliance & Controls

Assist with audit preparations and maintain documentation for internal controls

Help ensure GAAP and regulatory compliance across financial functions by collaborating with a third-party accountancy firm

Assist with vendor setup, W-9 collection, and federal ID verification

Employee Expense & Payroll Administration

Review and process employee reimbursements via Expensify

Ensure alignment with internal expense policies

Support HR personnel with ad-hoc payroll processes and benefits administration

Self-service Productivity :

Work with internal teams to enhance self-service productivity capabilities, empowering staff to leverage tools and resources independently for increased efficiency and innovation - i.e Professional Services Automation tools

Qualifications and Expectations

• 5-7 years of experience professional services or consulting environment of over $25M annually
• Understanding of the impact financial processes have on profitability and growth
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, Expensify, and ERP systems
• Demonstration of strong MS365 skills, namely MS Excel
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Able to handle competing priorities and meet tight deadlines
• Experience with financial audits, controls, and compliance practices is a plus
• Exposure to or interest in project-based finance and valuation modeling is a bonus
• Certifications or Degrees in relative field
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, effective across various functions and hierarchical levels within the organization.

What Metis Strategy has to Offer

Successful candidates will be motivated by the desire to make a difference by helping our clients achieve and maintain strategic and operational excellence while continuously improving their own skill set and embracing emerging intellectual challenges.

The standard base pay range for this role is $75,000 - $100,000, annually. This position is also eligible for bonus compensation. Additional benefits include comprehensive medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance, parental leave, family benefits, retirement contributions, paid time off, and more. Compensation and benefits are competitive and will be commensurate with each candidate's qualifications and relevant work experience. Eligibility to work in the U.S. without sponsorship is preferred.

In addition to individual compensation and individual professional growth, we offer the unique opportunity to help grow the intellectual, functional, economic, and geographic footprint of a thriving technology and business advisory firm. We not only support but expect all members of the team to identify new growth opportunities and pursue novel approaches to realize them in a way that benefits Metis Strategy and its client and partner ecosystem.

If you are driven by the desire to help some of the world's most renowned companies solve complex business problems and excited by the intersection of business strategy and technological innovation, you will enjoy being part of our team.