Director of Accounting Shared Services

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

The Director Of Shared Services will lead the Shared Services Function which includes the GL and AP, Payroll, and Equity functions for Upwork.  This individual will be responsible for building and directing many of the Company’s financial processes as we grow and scale internationally and develop the future shared services footprint. This role requires an experienced accounting professional who is highly motivated and has a proven track record of building and leading successful global finance operations teams

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide strong, hands-on leadership, mentoring, coaching, and development to direct reports
• Oversee the overall month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close for your team
• Leading cross-functional projects such as ERP implementation and M&A integrations
• Lead the Shared Services team to ensure timely, accurate payments, and develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to maintain efficiency
• Operational Leadership: Provide strategic planning, direction, and coordination for finance and accounting functions
• Collaborating closely with other Accounting teams, Tax, Treasury, and FP&A teams within finance, while also working closely with cross-functional partners to transform processes that have the greatest impact, and deliver value or reallocate resources and re-design to optimally mitigate risk and deliver on business goals 
• Develop the Shared Services roadmap and identify other processes that would benefit from the inclusion in a shared services model
• Work with external auditors during quarterly, interim, and annual audits.
• Ensure the finance team operates in accordance with SOX policies and procedures, approved desktop procedures, and general accounting governance
• Work closely with broader finance and internal teams to analyze financial performance, develop service-level agreements, and provide recommendations to senior leadership for improvement, and support for key decision-making

What it takes to catch our eye:

• Extensive operational accounting experience at a multi-national company and Big 4 or equivalent
• CPA, or MBA is preferred
• Strong ERP implementation and functionality experience
• Ability to transform strategic goals into tactical project plans, including the ability to track within defined timelines
• Strong commercial acumen and customer service focus with the ability to understand how the business operates and the upstream and downstream activities that impact and are impacted by Shared Services
• Experience in Marketplace business, FinTech, or SAAS Industry (preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as the ability to tailor presentations for the audience
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analysis
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
• Self-starter and strong ethical standards
• Capacity to assess process and internal control weaknesses and identify improvements
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to anticipate needs and pre-plan work
• Be detail-oriented, flexible, and organized – flexibility to cross-regional time zones and cross-functional teams
• Be able to prioritize workload and perform in a fast-paced and challenging environment

The annual base salary for this position in California and Washington ranges from $150,000 - $210,000 The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals.  While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees. 

At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.

We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.