We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals.

Job overview and responsibilities

The Senior Manager, Accounting Transformation role combines technical accounting expertise with a strategic focus on process improvement, digital transformation and change management. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying opportunities to optimize ongoing processes, implement automation, and enhance the overall efficiency and accuracy of our financial operations while ensuring compliance with accounting rules. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment within an evolving industry.

This position, in part, will support the monthly close process and preparation of financial reports as well as other day-to-day accounting related activities that can include reporting on trends/KPIs of business data and collaboration with business partners to early-detect anomalies.

In addition, this role is responsible for leading continuous improvement opportunities and business process redesign with the objective to improve efficiencies, elevate the division’s ability to provide insight to our business partners and gain transparency into trends in financial data. This role will include:
Strategically assessing current accounting processes for process improvements through simplification and standardization
Collaborating with leaders throughout the organization to improve manual processes through identification of automation opportunitiesServe as a change agent and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation and continuous improvement

This role requires the leader to partner with internal business areas to drive process efficiency end-to-end and earlier visibility to trends in data.

Strategically lead accounting operations
Provide strategic leadership for accounting operations, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely financial reporting through effective oversight of month-end close processes and quarterly/annual reportingEnsure alignment of transformation initiatives with accounting standards (e.g., GAAP) and regulatory requirements (e.g., DOT), proactively addressing compliance risksEstablish and maintain a robust internal control framework, embedding controls into new and existing business processes to safeguard financial integrityPartner with senior leadership and audit teams to facilitate SOX compliance and ensure audit readinessDrive Enterprise-Wide Process Optimization and Automation
Lead cross-functional collaborations to assess and redesign accounting processes, focusing on simplification, standardization, and end-to-end optimization to align with organizational goalsChampion the adoption of advanced automation tools (e.g., EPM, Alteryx, RPA) to enhance operational efficiency and reporting accuracy, driving innovation across accounting functionsDevelop and execute a forward-looking Controllership Transformation strategy, prioritizing cost savings, operational excellence, and scalabilityLead Financial Transformation Initiatives
Collaborate with Managing Directors and senior executives to define and execute high-impact accounting transformation initiatives that align with broader organizational strategiesBuild strategic partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., DT, Finance) to ensure seamless integration of accounting initiatives with enterprise-wide objectivesOversee transformation project milestones, ensuring timely delivery and providing regular progress updates to senior leadershipAct as a transformation leader, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement across the organizationDevelop and Inspire High-Performing Teams
Mentor and empower team members, fostering a culture of professional growth and continuous learning by identifying opportunities for upskilling in emerging technologiesBuild a high-performing team by aligning individual development plans with organizational priorities, ensuring readiness for future challenges

We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals.

Job overview and responsibilities

The Senior Manager, Accounting Transformation role combines technical accounting expertise with a strategic focus on process improvement, digital transformation and change management. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying opportunities to optimize ongoing processes, implement automation, and enhance the overall efficiency and accuracy of our financial operations while ensuring compliance with accounting rules. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment within an evolving industry.

This position, in part, will support the monthly close process and preparation of financial reports as well as other day-to-day accounting related activities that can include reporting on trends/KPIs of business data and collaboration with business partners to early-detect anomalies.

In addition, this role is responsible for leading continuous improvement opportunities and business process redesign with the objective to improve efficiencies, elevate the division’s ability to provide insight to our business partners and gain transparency into trends in financial data. This role will include:
Strategically assessing current accounting processes for process improvements through simplification and standardization
Collaborating with leaders throughout the organization to improve manual processes through identification of automation opportunitiesServe as a change agent and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation and continuous improvement

This role requires the leader to partner with internal business areas to drive process efficiency end-to-end and earlier visibility to trends in data.

Strategically lead accounting operations
Provide strategic leadership for accounting operations, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely financial reporting through effective oversight of month-end close processes and quarterly/annual reportingEnsure alignment of transformation initiatives with accounting standards (e.g., GAAP) and regulatory requirements (e.g., DOT), proactively addressing compliance risksEstablish and maintain a robust internal control framework, embedding controls into new and existing business processes to safeguard financial integrityPartner with senior leadership and audit teams to facilitate SOX compliance and ensure audit readinessDrive Enterprise-Wide Process Optimization and Automation
Lead cross-functional collaborations to assess and redesign accounting processes, focusing on simplification, standardization, and end-to-end optimization to align with organizational goalsChampion the adoption of advanced automation tools (e.g., EPM, Alteryx, RPA) to enhance operational efficiency and reporting accuracy, driving innovation across accounting functionsDevelop and execute a forward-looking Controllership Transformation strategy, prioritizing cost savings, operational excellence, and scalabilityLead Financial Transformation Initiatives
Collaborate with Managing Directors and senior executives to define and execute high-impact accounting transformation initiatives that align with broader organizational strategiesBuild strategic partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., DT, Finance) to ensure seamless integration of accounting initiatives with enterprise-wide objectivesOversee transformation project milestones, ensuring timely delivery and providing regular progress updates to senior leadershipAct as a transformation leader, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement across the organizationDevelop and Inspire High-Performing Teams
Mentor and empower team members, fostering a culture of professional growth and continuous learning by identifying opportunities for upskilling in emerging technologiesBuild a high-performing team by aligning individual development plans with organizational priorities, ensuring readiness for future challenges

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

Bachelors degreeAccounting, Finance, or related fieldCertified Public Accountant (CPA)7 years of related experience in accounting or financeStrong understanding of technical accounting rules, accounting processes, and key internal controlsStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiencyExcellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to both finance and non-finance stakeholdersA highly motivated individual with a strong understanding of how people, processes, and technology work together to produce a strong and sustainable capabilityAbility to work with both technical and business user teams to identify and solve issuesComfortable with ambiguity and uncertaintyMust be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorshipSuccessful completion of interview required to meet job qualificationReliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):Masters degreeMaster of Business AdministrationExperience in airline or similar industryUnderstanding of data and experience with data analytic tools like Alteryx, Power BI, etcWhat’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

Bachelors degreeAccounting, Finance, or related fieldCertified Public Accountant (CPA)7 years of related experience in accounting or financeStrong understanding of technical accounting rules, accounting processes, and key internal controlsStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiencyExcellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to both finance and non-finance stakeholdersA highly motivated individual with a strong understanding of how people, processes, and technology work together to produce a strong and sustainable capabilityAbility to work with both technical and business user teams to identify and solve issuesComfortable with ambiguity and uncertaintyMust be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorshipSuccessful completion of interview required to meet job qualificationReliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):Masters degreeMaster of Business AdministrationExperience in airline or similar industryUnderstanding of data and experience with data analytic tools like Alteryx, Power BI, etc