Director, Technical Accounting

Job Description

Head of Accounting Policy & Technical Accounting | Raymond James

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Raymond James, located in Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA. Raymond James is a diversified financial services firm that values a client-first approach and a conservative, long-term view. This role is critical as the primary subject matter expert responsible for ensuring consistent application of accounting standards across the organization. The position directly supports informed business decisions and appropriate accounting outcomes for complex transactions and strategic initiatives.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid – Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA

• Team: Oversees a team responsible for researching, interpreting, and applying accounting guidance, partnering closely with various business and support functions.
• Mission: To serve as the primary subject matter expert for accounting policy and technical accounting, ensuring consistent application of accounting standards and supporting strategic business decisions.
• Tech Stack:

What You’ll Actually Do
• Policy & Research: Serve as the primary subject matter expert for accounting policy, technical accounting research, and support for complex transactions, ensuring consistent application of accounting standards.
• Product & Initiative Support: Assess accounting implications of new products, business initiatives, and strategic transactions, providing guidance during design and implementation to ensure appropriate accounting and reporting.
• Standards Implementation: Lead technical accounting assessments for new accounting guidance, develop implementation plans, and communicate accounting and reporting implications to stakeholders and Finance leadership.
• Policy Development & Governance: Lead the development, maintenance, and governance of the Company’s accounting policy framework, drafting, updating, and communicating policies and guidance.
• Strategic Engagements: Lead efforts related to acquisition accounting, including identifying third-party specialists and documenting controls, while also engaging with external auditors on technical accounting matters.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required. Serves as a primary subject matter expert and trusted advisor, leading a team within a financial services context.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of accounting experience. Significant experience in technical accounting research and accounting policy development is required. Public accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Skills: Technical accounting research and analysis; preparing accounting memoranda and position papers; interpreting accounting standards and regulatory guidance; evaluating new product and transaction accounting impacts; presenting technical conclusions to executive leadership and auditors.
• Bonus: Experience with acquisition accounting preferred. Experience supporting new products, complex transactions, or strategic initiatives preferred. Financial services industry experience preferred.