Vice President of Accounting Greater Chicago, IL Area + 2 more

CSC Generation is the AI-native holding company re-engineering omnichannel retail. We acquire iconic brands and transform them with Genesis, our operating platform combining a Data Fabric, Automation Engine, proprietary tools, and shared services to modernize operations, elevate customer experience, and expand margins. With $1B+ in revenue across 13 brands, our portfolio includes Sur La Table, Backcountry, One Kings Lane, and others that serve as real-world innovation labs.

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Hybrid - 3x/week in-office); Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid) — Remote candidates in the US also considered

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About the Role

CSC Generation is building toward becoming a public company and tripling the size of the business. That trajectory requires an accounting function with the rigor, scalability, and credibility of a public company — and the Vice President of Accounting is the leader accountable for taking the function to that level.

As Vice President of Accounting, you will own the full accounting organization across every brand and legal entity: consolidation, financial reporting, internal controls, tax, AP/AR, fraud, and external audit. You will set the standards, design the infrastructure, and build the organization that carries the company through an IPO and into life as a public company. Success in the first year means a clear IPO-readiness roadmap with measurable progress, a SOX-ready controls environment, a consolidated close on a path to public-company timelines, a repeatable acquisition-integration playbook, and AI and automation deployed at scale.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

What You'll Do

IPO & Growth Readiness

Own the accounting and financial reporting workstreams of IPO readiness, including a gap assessment against public-company requirements and a phased roadmap to close those gaps.

Lead preparation of audited historical financial statements to PCAOB standards, and own the accounting, disclosure, and financial statement sections of the S-1 registration process in partnership with the CFO, legal counsel, auditors, and underwriters.

Build SEC reporting capability including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K processes, a disclosure committee, and earnings-cycle readiness.

Design and implement a SOX 404 compliance program across all brands and entities, including risk assessment, control documentation, testing, and remediation.

Accelerate consolidated close and reporting timelines to meet public-company filing deadlines with the accuracy and documentation to withstand external scrutiny.

Establish the technical accounting function, including formal position papers and policies for revenue recognition, equity and stock-based compensation, leases, and business combinations.

Accounting Standards, Consolidation & Reporting

Set the standards for how accounting operates across the portfolio: unified chart of accounts, consistent policies, standard close calendar, and common reporting definitions.

Hold ultimate accountability for the integrity of consolidated financial statements, intercompany accounting, and eliminations across all brands and legal entities.

Ensure inventory accounting, lease accounting (ASC 842), and real estate obligations are handled consistently and are audit-ready across all brands, distribution centers, and retail locations.

AI, Automation & Scalable Infrastructure

Set the multi-year vision for accounting technology, using AI and automation across close, reconciliation, intercompany, AP, and reporting to support 3x growth while keeping the function lean.

Partner with technology and systems leaders to ensure the accounting stack supports public-company reporting, SOX controls, and a growing number of entities.

Build improvements at the platform level so every current and future brand benefits from them.

M&A and Brand Integration

Lead accounting due diligence for prospective acquisitions, including quality-of-earnings support and identification of accounting, tax, and control risks.

Own purchase accounting (ASC 805), opening balance sheets, and purchase price allocations held to public-company standards.

Build and own a repeatable integration playbook that brings newly acquired brands onto CSC Generation's policies, systems, close process, and SOX controls.

Controls, Compliance & External Relationships

Own the consolidated external audit relationship and lead the transition to a PCAOB-standard audit.

Oversee tax strategy and all federal, state, and local tax and regulatory filings across a multi-entity structure, including pre-IPO entity structuring, sales tax nexus, and tax provision (ASC 740) readiness.

Oversee lender and credit facility compliance, including covenant reporting, borrowing base reporting, valuations, and field exams.

Serve as a primary liaison to external auditors, lenders, banking partners, underwriters, legal counsel, and other IPO advisors.

Strategic Partnership & Leadership

Report consolidated and brand-level results to the executive team, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee.

Partner with FP&A and brand finance leaders to provide a complete picture of the business across the P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet.

Lead and develop the accounting organization across Accounting, Tax, AR, AP, and Fraud, adding capabilities a public company requires such as SEC reporting, technical accounting, and SOX/internal controls.

Develop leaders across the team and plan the organization's structure ahead of the company's growth.

Required Qualifications

CPA designation required.

15+ years of progressive accounting experience, including 7+ years in senior accounting leadership leading multi-layered teams.

Direct, hands-on experience taking a company public through an IPO, including S-1 preparation, PCAOB audit readiness, SEC reporting readiness, and building public-company accounting and controls infrastructure.

Demonstrated experience implementing SOX 404 compliance programs.

Experience scaling an accounting function through significant growth, building the processes, systems, and team to support a business multiple times its starting size.

Hands-on experience owning consolidated financial reporting, intercompany accounting, and eliminations across multiple legal entities or business units.

Deep knowledge of accounting for direct-to-consumer businesses, including multi-location retail and e-commerce operations.

Thorough understanding of GAAP, including emerging pronouncements and technical accounting for complex transactions.

Demonstrated experience deploying accounting automation or AI tools (e.g., automated reconciliation, AI-assisted close, AP automation) at scale across multiple entities or business units.

Experience serving as the primary point of contact for external auditors, lenders, and Board or Audit Committee members.

Ability and willingness to travel to brand locations as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience operating as a public-company accounting leader after an IPO, including 10-K/10-Q reporting, earnings cycles, and Audit Committee reporting.

Experience in a holding company, private equity-backed, or multi-brand portfolio environment.

Experience leading purchase accounting and post-acquisition integration for multiple acquisitions.

Audit experience with a Big Four or national accounting firm, ideally serving public-company or IPO clients.

Experience with asset-based lending and lender covenant compliance.

Why Join

The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership, move fast, and want to see the direct impact of their work.

Executive Access: Work directly with the CFO, executive team, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee. Your reporting and judgment shape how the company and its future investors understand its financial position.

Leadership Opportunity: Build and lead the accounting organization through an IPO — one of the most significant milestones a company can reach — and design the public-company infrastructure from the ground up.

Portfolio-Wide Impact: Shape strategy at the portfolio level. Improvements you build once become the standard across every brand we own and every brand we acquire.

Competitive Benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k) match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts across our portfolio of brands.

Interview Process

Recruiter Screen - A 30-minute conversation with our recruiting team to align on the role, your background, and what you are looking for.

Hiring Manager Interview - A conversation with the CFO focused on IPO experience, scaling accounting organizations, and leadership philosophy.

Panel Interview - Meet with senior finance and cross-functional leaders to discuss collaboration, communication style, and how you build teams and drive change across business units.

Executive Interview - A conversation with executive leadership to assess strategic fit and long-term vision for the function.

In-Person Interview - We'd like to meet you at one of our hub offices. Details and logistics will be arranged with your recruiter.

Reference Checks - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.

Offer - We move quickly for the right candidate.

Interview process is subject to change. Any updates will be communicated promptly and clearly.

Please Note

Part of our interview process is a mandatory in-person interview with someone on our team prior to an offer. Candidates that are unwilling or unable to meet for an in-person interview will be removed from consideration immediately.

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CSC Generation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any characteristic protected by law. If you need an accommodation during the application process, contact hrbenefits@cscshared.com.

Employment is contingent on a background check, including verification of prior employment dates.