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Sur La Table

Premium kitchenware retailer with classes

Vice President of Accounting

Financial AccountingConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeNo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

  • CPA designation is required.
  • At least 15 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 7 years in senior accounting leadership leading multi-layered teams.
  • Direct, hands-on experience taking a company public through an IPO, including S-1 preparation, PCAOB audit readiness, SEC reporting readiness, and building public-company accounting and controls infrastructure.
  • Demonstrated experience implementing SOX 404 compliance programs.
  • Experience scaling an accounting function through significant growth by building processes, systems, and teams to support a business multiple times its starting size.
  • Hands-on experience owning consolidated financial reporting, intercompany accounting, and eliminations across multiple legal entities or business units.
  • Deep knowledge of accounting for direct-to-consumer businesses, including multi-location retail and e-commerce operations.
  • Thorough understanding of GAAP, including emerging pronouncements and technical accounting for complex transactions.
  • Demonstrated experience deploying accounting automation or AI tools, such as automated reconciliation, AI-assisted close, or AP automation, at scale across multiple entities or business units.
  • Experience serving as the primary point of contact for external auditors, lenders, and Board or Audit Committee members.
  • Ability and willingness to travel to brand locations as needed.

Responsibilities

  • Own the accounting and financial reporting workstreams of IPO readiness, including assessing gaps against public-company requirements and creating a phased roadmap to close them.
  • Lead preparation of audited historical financial statements to PCAOB standards, and own the accounting, disclosure, and financial statement sections of the S-1 registration process in partnership with the CFO, legal counsel, auditors, and underwriters.
  • Build SEC reporting capability, including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K processes, a disclosure committee, and earnings-cycle readiness.
  • Design and implement a SOX 404 compliance program across all brands and entities, including risk assessment, control documentation, testing, and remediation.
  • Accelerate consolidated close and reporting timelines to meet public-company filing deadlines, maintaining accuracy and documentation to withstand external scrutiny.
  • Establish the technical accounting function, including formal position papers and policies for revenue recognition, equity and stock-based compensation, leases, and business combinations.
  • Set standards for accounting across the portfolio, including a unified chart of accounts, consistent policies, a standard close calendar, and common reporting definitions.
  • Maintain ultimate accountability for the integrity of consolidated financial statements, intercompany accounting, and eliminations across all brands and legal entities.
  • Ensure inventory accounting, lease accounting under ASC 842, and real estate obligations are handled consistently and are audit-ready across all brands, distribution centers, and retail locations.
  • Set the multi-year vision for accounting technology, using AI and automation across close, reconciliation, intercompany accounting, accounts payable, and reporting to support threefold growth while keeping the function lean.
  • Partner with technology and systems leaders to ensure the accounting stack supports public-company reporting, SOX controls, and a growing number of entities.
  • Build platform-level improvements so every current and future brand benefits from them.
  • Lead accounting due diligence for prospective acquisitions, including quality-of-earnings support and identification of accounting, tax, and control risks.
  • Own purchase accounting under ASC 805, opening balance sheets, and purchase price allocations to public-company standards.
  • Build and own a repeatable integration playbook to bring newly acquired brands onto the company's policies, systems, close process, and SOX controls.
  • Own the consolidated external audit relationship and lead the transition to a PCAOB-standard audit.
  • Oversee tax strategy and all federal, state, and local tax and regulatory filings across a multi-entity structure, including pre-IPO entity structuring, sales tax nexus, and tax provision readiness under ASC 740.
  • Oversee lender and credit facility compliance, including covenant reporting, borrowing base reporting, valuations, and field exams.
  • Serve as a primary liaison to external auditors, lenders, banking partners, underwriters, legal counsel, and other IPO advisors.
  • Report consolidated and brand-level results to the executive team, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee.
  • Partner with FP&A and brand finance leaders to provide a complete picture of the business across the profit and loss statement, cash flow, and balance sheet.
  • Lead and develop the accounting organization across Accounting, Tax, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and Fraud, adding capabilities required by a public company, including SEC reporting, technical accounting, and SOX/internal controls.
  • Develop leaders across the team and plan the organization's structure ahead of company growth.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience operating as a public-company accounting leader after an IPO, including 10-K and 10-Q reporting, earnings cycles, and Audit Committee reporting.
  • Experience in a holding company, private equity-backed, or multi-brand portfolio environment.
  • Experience leading purchase accounting and post-acquisition integration for multiple acquisitions.
  • Audit experience with a Big Four or national accounting firm, ideally serving public-company or IPO clients.
  • Experience with asset-based lending and lender covenant compliance.

About the Company

Sur La Table

Premium kitchenware retailer with classes

Sur La Table sells premium cookware, dinnerware, cutlery, kitchen electrics, and bakeware through both brick-and-mortar stores and an online platform, and it runs one of the largest cooking class programs in the United States. Its products can be bought online or in stores, while classes teach hands-on techniques from basic skills to specialized cuisines. It also operates SLT Perks, a loyalty program, and an affiliate marketing network that rewards customers and partners for purchases and referrals. Its goal is to be the go-to destination for premium kitchen products and culinary learning, building a community of home cooks and professional chefs.

Company size
1,001-5,000
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Hopkins, MN
Founded
1972

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