Project Lead & Lead Accounting Consultant

Overview

This role serves as senior accounting authority and overall delivery leader for a multi-year engagement supporting the Maryland Department of Labor’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program.

This is a hands-on leadership position. The successful candidate will actively participate in accounting and financial operations while also facilitating meetings, solving problems, coordinating teams, engaging stakeholders, and driving deliverables forward.

Responsibilities span general accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, GAAP compliance, internal controls, financial systems, risk assessments, and financial modernization. The role also serves as the primary point of contact for FAMLI leadership and is responsible for overall contract delivery.

Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Management

• Lead general accounting operations, including chart of accounts, period close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and GAAP compliance.
• Oversee accounts receivable/contribution collections, including revenue recognition, cash application, audit trails, and transaction-level controls.
• Oversee accounts payable/benefit payments, including payment workflows, segregation of duties, error handling, and fraud-mitigation controls.
• Design, implement, test, and document internal controls.
• Lead quarterly accounting risk assessments.
• Provide guidance on GL structures, sub-ledgers, interfaces, financial reporting, and audit preparation.

Financial Systems & Modernization

• Support financial system configuration, implementation, integration, and process improvement.
• Lead accounting process and workflow modernization.
• Develop policies, procedures, controls, and financial process documentation.
• Support organizational readiness and adoption of new accounting systems and processes.

Contract & Delivery Leadership

• Lead end-to-end contract delivery and accounting-focused workstreams.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for FAMLI leadership.
• Facilitate meetings and drive decisions, issues, and deliverables to resolution.
• Manage resources and coordinate additional accounting and financial SMEs.
• Monitor milestones, risks, compliance, quality, and overall performance.
• Provide leadership-level reporting and program updates.

Stakeholder & Change Leadership

• Act as the liaison between financial management, technical teams, and program leadership.
• Translate accounting requirements into actionable technical and operational plans.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and organizational readiness activities.
• Guide teams through implementation of new accounting processes, systems, and controls.

Requirements

• Public Sector Experience: Minimum of 5 years of financial management or accounting advisory services to large organizations specifically within the public sector.
• Financial Sub-Organization Development: Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting clients in developing and implementing new financial sub-organizations.
• References: Willing to provide 3 professional references from the past 5 years who can attest to the candidate’s direct experience in these areas.
• Hands-On Leadership: Comfortable working within the details of accounting and financial operations while also leading teams, facilitating meetings, managing stakeholders, and driving work forward.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of financial management, accounting operations, financial systems implementation, or government program accounting experience.
• Deep expertise in GAAP, internal controls, AR/AP, financial reporting, risk management, and accounting system design.
• Experience leading accounting modernization or financial transformation initiatives.
• Strong experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex financial engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to work with executive and public-sector stakeholders.
• Experience with PMBOK-based project management practices preferred.
• CPA, CMA, CGFM, PMP, or PROSCI preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Location

• Primarily remote.
• Occasional onsite visits in Maryland as needed.
• This is a remote position.