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Fortrea

Chief Accounting Officer - Durham, NC

LocationDurham
Work modehybrid
Typefull-time
DepartmentFinance
Company size10,000+ people
First seen1w ago
Last seen2d ago
Job Overview:
The Chief Accounting Officer is a senior Finance leader responsible for Fortrea’s global accounting, external reporting, internal controls, and compliance environment. This role leads the accounting organization, including record-to-report and payroll-related accounting processes, oversees external auditor relationships and annual audit activities, and partners closely with the CFO and cross-functional leaders to support disciplined decision-making and scalable finance transformation. The Chief Accounting Officer provides technical accounting leadership, supports strategic growth initiatives, and strengthens global accounting processes through public-company reporting expertise, enterprise leadership, and continuous improvement. He/she further serves as the designated Principal Accounting Officer for SEC financial statement certification.
Summary of Responsibilities:
Accounting Leadership, Close & Reporting
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Lead Fortrea’s global accounting function, including corporate accounting, record-to-report, consolidation, close management, payroll-related accounting, technical accounting, and accounting operations.
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Oversee timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, driving a disciplined close calendar, clear ownership, and resolution of material accounting matters.
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Lead external financial reporting processes, including SEC reporting, financial statement preparation, earnings support, and related disclosure controls in partnership with the CFO, Legal, Investor Relations, and external advisors.
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Establish, maintain, and interpret accounting policies, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SEC requirements, applicable company policies, and evolving regulatory standards.
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Provide technical accounting leadership for complex transactions, including revenue recognition, business combinations, restructuring, impairments, equity, compensation, leases, debt, and other significant accounting matters.
Controls, Compliance & Audit Governance
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Own the design, execution, and continuous improvement of internal control over financial reporting, including SOX compliance, control remediation, and partnership with Internal Audit and external auditors.
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Lead the external auditor relationship and annual audit process, ensuring audit readiness, quality deliverables, issue resolution, and transparent escalation of key matters.
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Support Audit Committee and executive leadership discussions by preparing clear, concise updates on financial reporting, technical accounting, finance policies, control status, audit progress, and critical projects.
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Promote and establish a culture of accountability, ethical conduct, compliance, and strong financial governance across the global accounting organization.
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Identify, assess, and escalate financial reporting, control, compliance, and audit risks with clear recommendations and executive-level judgment.
Finance Transformation & Operational Excellence
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Drive accounting transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, shared services optimization, finance systems improvements, scalable operating model design, and stronger end-to-end accounting workflows.
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Co-manage external contractor partnerships
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Identify and sponsor opportunities to improve close efficiency, data quality, reporting reliability, transparency, controls, and controllership capabilities while reducing manual effort across regions and functions.
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Support potential M&A, integration, capital structure and other strategic processes
Leadership, Talent & Business Partnership
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Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global accounting team with clear roles, succession depth, technical capability, and strong engagement.
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Provide enterprise-level counsel to the CFO and senior leaders on accounting implications, reporting risks, operational decisions, and regulatory considerations.
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Collaborate with FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Legal, HR, Procurement, and business unit leaders while representing Accounting in cross-functional governance forums, transformation programs, and strategic initiatives requiring financial reporting or control expertise.
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Perform all other duties as needed or assigned.
Travel: This role may require occasional domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 10–20%, based on business, audit, leadership, and transformation needs.
Qualifications (Minimum Required):
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Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
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Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent professional accounting qualification required where applicable to the role and jurisdiction.
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Comprehensive knowledge of US GAAP, SEC reporting, SOX, internal controls, financial statement preparation, external audit processes, public-company reporting obligations, and complex technical accounting matters.
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Deep experience with revenue recognition in project-based, long-term contract environments, including ASC 606, legacy ASC 605 considerations, contract modifications, pass-through costs, reimbursables, and CRO-specific revenue accounting practices.
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Experience overseeing global statutory reporting, local audits, legal entity accounting, and coordination across regional finance teams.
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Experience supporting SEC filings, including Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, earnings materials, disclosure controls, and Audit Committee reporting.
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Experience leading accounting activities related to M&A, divestitures, integrations, purchase accounting, and complex restructuring initiatives.Demonstrated ability to lead global accounting teams and external contractors, manage complex reporting deadlines, advise executive stakeholders, and operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment across Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, HR, IT, and business leadership.
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Strong business judgment, executive communication, enterprise leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, change leadership, and ethical decision-making skills.
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Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience and successful project outcomes in lieu of educational requirements.
Experience (Minimum Required):
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15+ years of progressive accounting, controllership, external reporting, audit, or finance leadership experience, including substantial experience in a public-company environment.
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10+ years experience in senior leadership (CAO, Corporate Controller, VP Finance & Accounting, or equivalent senior finance leader).
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Executive-level experience leading accounting organizations, external financial reporting, SOX/control frameworks, global close processes, and audit relationships.
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Experience presenting to or supporting Audit Committee, Board, executive leadership, external auditor, and investor-facing processes.
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Experience leading finance transformation, process automation, shared services, ERP or finance systems initiatives, and global operating model improvements.
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Experience in global and regulated industries preferred; clinical research, pharmaceutical services, healthcare, technology, or similarly complex environments are advantageous.
Physical Requirements:
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Ability to work in an upright and/or stationary position for 6-8 hours per day.
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Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists to operate lab equipment.
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Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
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Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.
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Light to moderate lifting and carrying, or moving of objects, including luggage and laptop computer with a maximum lift of 15-20 lbs.
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Regular and consistent attendance.
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Varied hours may be required.
Work Environment:
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Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
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Occasional drives to site locations may be required.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
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