CAREERS / JOB OPENINGS

Accounting Manager, Independent Contractor & Client-Facing Leader

~ 20 hrs/week | Hourly 1099 | Remote/Hybrid (San Diego County Preferred)

Rancho Bernardo, California

OVERVIEW

Lodestar Financials is looking for an Accounting Manager–someone who can both lead and do. You will review work, set direction, and hold standards, but you will also roll up your sleeves and execute often. If you only want to manage, this is not the role. If you only want to execute, this is not the role. Lodestar is looking for someone who does both naturally.

• Approximately 20 hours per week

• Hourly, 1099 independent contractor

• Ongoing, not project only

• Flexible schedule within agreed availability windows

ABOUT YOU

You’ve done the hard thing. You built your career in public accounting, followed by some time in corporate roles. You learned rigor, discipline, and how to think like an auditor. Now your life looks different, and you want your work to fit it, not fight it. Lodestar Financials is built for experienced accounting professionals who want meaningful work, flexible hours, and a fun, high-trust culture.

We are looking for a proven accounting leader who is both detail-oriented and has a strong desire to build the systems and processes that will propel us to new heights.

You are naturally client-facing. You enjoy leading conversations, explaining numbers in plain English, and helping business owners see what matters most. You do not wait to be told what to do. You finish your work, check it yourself, and then come back asking for the next problem to solve.

• Lead and review high-quality accounting for growing businesses

• Take ownership of messy financial situations and bring them to clarity

• Lead client conversations as a trusted financial guide

• Coach and elevate junior team members when needed

• Apply public-accounting rigor to real-world small and midsize businesses

ABOUT THE ROLE

As an Accounting Manager, you’ll collaborate directly with Lodestar’s owners to bring order, visibility, and accountability across both client engagements and internal operations. You’ll serve as the key bridge between our technical accounting expertise and our clients’ strategic goals, ensuring every report, process, and system reflects Lodestar’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

This role starts part-time and contract. It is built for someone who wants to grow into a core leader at Lodestar as the firm grows. The more you build, the more opportunity opens. As Lodestar grows, this role can grow in hours, responsibility, compensation, and potentially into a W-2 leadership position, if both sides agree it is the right fit.

EXPECTATIONS

In this role, success requires that you:

• Operate in full alignment with Lodestar Financials’ Office Policy & Professional Conduct Guide, including standards for professionalism, communication, confidentiality, and accountability

• Take full ownership of assigned work and outcomes; proactively identify issues, risks, or opportunities and communicate them early

• Complete work thoroughly, self-review for accuracy, and proactively follow up when tasks are finished

• Maintain high standards for timeliness, accuracy, and client responsiveness consistent with Lodestar’s deliverable promises

• Communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally with clients and team members, especially in client-facing settings

• Partner with leadership to continuously improve systems, workflows, and standards of excellence

    • Manage and maintain strong client relationships through responsive, proactive communication

    • Oversee timely and accurate financial reporting for multiple clients, ensuring GAAP compliance

    • Own month-end close and optimize workflows using Financial Cents, Reach Reporting, and related systems

    • Build custom financial packages for clients using Reach Reporting; lead discussions with clients

    • Build and refine systems and SOPs that drive operational efficiency and accountability

    • Mentor and train staff accountants and bookkeepers to strengthen technical and client service skills

    • Provide strategic financial insights and due diligence support to clients and owners

    • Identify issues before being asked and propose solutions

    • Hold timelines and quality standards for both yourself and others

    • Improve workflows, not just follow them

    • Former Big Four or large regional CPA firm experience strongly preferred

    • 7+ years total accounting experience, including leadership responsibility

    • Proven history of taking ownership and operating without constant direction

    • Comfortable being client-facing and leading financial conversations

    • Strong command of GAAP and experience resolving complex accounting issues

    • Must be able to create financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet & Statement of Cash Flows) from scratch (using only a Trial Balance)

    • Proven ability to build and optimize accounting systems, processes, and SOPs (QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, Gusto, Reach Reporting)

    • Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and data analytics tools

    • Strategic thinker with high accountability, problem-solving ability, and teaching mindset

    • Exceptional written and verbal communication; client-facing confidence required

    • Demonstrated ability to lead teams, coach staff, and uphold Lodestar’s core values (Honesty, Excellence, Teamwork, Innovation, Client Focus, & Diligence)

OUR HIRING PROCESS

Finalists will complete a live technical and communication exercise. You will be given a trial balance and asked to build:

• P&L

• Balance Sheet

• Statement of Cash Flows

You’ll do this live over Zoom so we can see how you think, not just what you produce. You will then walk us through your work and explain your decisions. This is intentionally challenging. We are not looking for perfection; we are looking for how you think, communicate, and handle pressure.

Lodestar Financials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.