Director Accounting

Purpose:

In a dynamic and continuously evolving business environment, the Director, Retained Accounting US is responsible for creating, governing, and continuously improving sustainable, accurate, efficient, and well-controlled accounting processes across U.S. legal entities. The role directs all accounting activities and functions to ensure the integrity of financial records, compliance with applicable accounting standards, and delivery of timely, accurate financial reporting. This includes accounting leadership for financial reporting, accounting operations, process design, audit coordination, internal controls, systems governance, and strategic finance transformation initiatives.

The Director serves as a key partner across Finance, the NAM business, Global Business Services (GBS), Tax, IT, and global stakeholders to drive operational excellence, standardization, automation, and continuous improvement. This role also leads the responsible adoption of digital capabilities that enhance productivity, strengthen controls, improve reporting quality, and support business decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Lead U.S. accounting operations, including statutory and management reporting, month-end and year-end close, account reconciliations, and financial statement integrity across all legal entities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, IFRS, U.S. GAAP, and regulatory requirements through effective accounting governance, internal controls, audit support, and quality review processes.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and harmonization of accounting processes, systems, controls, and reporting practices to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Provide technical accounting leadership and serve as a trusted advisor to business partners, auditors, and cross-functional stakeholders on complex accounting and reporting matters.
• Leverage data analytics, reporting tools, and AI-enabled capabilities to identify trends, risks, anomalies, and process improvement opportunities that strengthen decision-making and operational performance.
• Apply professional judgment to validate and oversee AI-assisted analyses and recommendations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and accountability in financial reporting and business decisions.

Controls, Governance, and Compliance

• Lead and continuously enhance internal control, governance, and risk management frameworks to ensure compliance, operational effectiveness, and the integrity of financial reporting.
• Establish and oversee policies, procedures, documentation, business continuity, and control activities, ensuring they are effectively designed, executed, and regularly assessed for compliance with regulatory and audit requirements.
• Drive responsible adoption of AI and digital technologies by ensuring appropriate governance, validation, auditability, data protection, and accountability for all financial outputs and decision-making.

Team Leadership

• Lead a high-performing accounting organization focused on operational excellence, compliance, stakeholder partnership, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, critical thinking, and innovation by building team capabilities in analytics, automation, and AI-enabled ways of working, while leading the responsible adoption of technologies that enhance productivity, decision-making and business outcomes.
• Manage diverse talent through strong coaching, talent management, succession planning, and performance leadership.
• Support and guide the Global Business Services (GBS) organization in the execution of accounting processes, ensuring alignment with accounting policies, controls, and business objectives.

• Develop team capabilities in analytics, automation, digital tools, and AI, promoting the responsible use of technology to enhance decision-making and professional judgment.

Cross Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with local Finance teams and GBS across NAM to ensure financial results are accurately recorded, analyzed, and reported in accordance with local and global timelines and reporting requirements.
• Manage and resolve strategic accounting issues and serve as a trusted adviser on complex accounting matters.
• As a member of the extended NAM Finance Leadership Team, partner cross-functionally with Finance and business leaders to support strategic objectives and enterprise growth initiatives.
• Partner with Finance, IT, GBS, and business stakeholders to identify opportunities for process simplification, automation, and digital transformation.

Digital Transformation and Project Management

• Lead initiatives to modernize accounting operations through process redesign, automation, workflow optimization, and digital-finance capabilities.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve productivity, quality, scalability, and controls through automation and AI-enabled solutions.
• Lead Accounting participation in financial systems initiatives and finance transformation programs.
• Represent Corporate Finance in cross-functional business and technology initiatives.

Key Relationships

NAM Finance, Global Finance, Global Business Services (GBS), local and global Tax teams, IT, NAM business leadership, NAM Finance Leadership Team, Procurement, Sports Marketing, Real Estate, external auditors, consultants, and other internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical, accounting, financial reporting, and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, risk management, and governance frameworks.
• Strong SAP skills and proficiency with modern enterprise technologies.
• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to Finance and Accounting.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex accounting issues into practical business solutions.
• Ability to effectively assess employee’s capabilities to develop and build upon their strengths and development gaps; motivate, effectively delegate and coach
• Strong management and coaching skills and experience in leading multi-cultural teams in a fast-moving environment Proven leadership, coaching, delegation, and talent-development capabilities.
• At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• CPA designation.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting, financial reporting, and controllership experience.
• Experience leading digital-finance, automation, or AI-enabled transformation initiatives.
• Experience working in multinational organizations and shared-services environments.