Financial Strategist

About Novum Partners

Novum Partners is a strategic management firm serving churches, nonprofits, and faith-driven businesses nationwide. We combine technical excellence with a faith-driven culture to help mission-minded organizations operate with integrity, transparency, and excellence. Our client portfolio spans 350+ active organizations across three primary sectors: Church, Nonprofit, and For-Profit. We are building the premier strategic management firm for the faith-driven sector — and we are looking for leaders who want to build something that matters.

About the Role

The Financial Strategist is the architect of every new client engagement at Novum. This role owns the critical first 90–120 days of each client relationship — assessing the current state of a client's financial operations, designing the optimal technology stack and systems architecture, and executing a disciplined financial transformation that moves the client from their current state to Novum's gold standard with precision and minimal risk. 

This is not a reactive cleanup role. The Financial Strategist is a forward-thinking operator who scopes engagements before work begins, designs transformation roadmaps that are fast and effective, and builds repeatable systems that allow Novum to scale its onboarding without sacrificing quality. They are the bridge between a client's legacy financial environment and the modern, efficient operating model Novum delivers. 

The ideal candidate thinks like a project manager, operates like a FinTech expert, and communicates like a trusted advisor. They hold a CPA or CMA designation (or are actively pursuing one) and bring deep accounting expertise alongside genuine fluency in modern accounting technology platforms. 

Organizational Context

The Financial Strategist is a peer practice leader within the Accounting & Finance vertical, reporting directly to the Director of Finance & Accounting alongside the Controller and Accounting Manager. This role is an individual contributor often working with contractors on projects. They work cross-functionally with Controllers, Accounting Managers, and accountant staff throughout each engagement — particularly during scoping, transformation execution, and handoff. 

Key Responsibilities

Engagement Scoping & Risk Assessment 

• Lead comprehensive discovery and scoping for every new client engagement, assessing the current state of financial systems, data quality, internal controls, and organizational complexity. 
• Design a tailored transformation roadmap for each client that defines the optimal sequence of work, key milestones, risk factors, resource requirements, and estimated timelines. 
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks before work begins — flagging data integrity issues, compliance gaps, staffing constraints, and technology limitations that could impede a transformation. 
• Build and continuously refine standardized scoping frameworks and estimation models that enable accurate project planning and capacity forecasting across the client project portfolio. 
• Partner with the Director of Finance & Accounting to align transformation scope with client expectations, pricing models, and long-term service delivery strategy. 

Technology Stack Design & Configuration 

• Architect and configure the optimized technology stack for each client, selecting and deploying platforms such as QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, Ramp, Divvy, Relay, and other modern tools to eliminate manual work and build for scale. 
• Own all platform integrations, automation builds, and system configuration for each engagement — taking full accountability for the technology environment the steady-state 
• They are tech first (AI experienced), and understand the appropriate use of FinTech platforms/systems for operational work and for the accounting firm.  
• Identify and implement automation opportunities across accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and reporting workflows. 
• Build repeatable technology configuration playbooks that enable the team to deploy standardized setups efficiently across clients of similar size and complexity. 
• Evaluate and recommend new tools and platforms to the Director, making the case for adoption with clear ROI and implementation plans. 
• Stay current on emerging accounting technologies, AI-driven tools, and integration platforms that can accelerate transformation timelines and reduce cost-to-serve. 

Financial Transformation Execution 

• Execute chart of accounts design and restructuring, historical data migration, and general ledger cleanup to align client books with Novum's gold standard. 
• Establish standardized financial close procedures, ongoing account maintenance, reporting templates, and foundational internal controls for each client during the transformation window. 
• Manage the transition of clients from prior bookkeeping or accounting providers, ensuring data continuity and minimal operational disruption. 
• Maintain rigorous project timelines across multiple concurrent transformations, proactively communicating progress, risks, and blockers to the Director and client stakeholders. 
• Document all client-specific SOPs, workflows, and system configurations in a format designed for seamless handoff. 

Handoff & Knowledge Transfer 

• Create comprehensive transition packages for each engagement, including system configurations, key workflows, recurring deadlines, compliance requirements, and client-specific nuances. 
• Train and equip steady-state accounting teams — Controllers, Accounting Managers, and Senior/Associate Accountants — on each client's unique setup, ensuring zero-loss knowledge transfer at handoff. 
• Deliver technology training to team members as new platforms and configurations are deployed. 
• Provide structured post-handoff support during the first 30 days of steady-state service to ensure quality, stability, and client confidence 
• Continuously refine the handoff process based on feedback loops from service teams and client satisfaction data. 

Process Optimization & Firm Building 

• Document and systematize all transformation processes, creating repeatable playbooks that enable Novum to scale onboarding without sacrificing quality or consistency. 
• Analyze transformation data — timelines, hours, client complexity, common failure points to identify patterns and improve scoping accuracy over time. 
• Partner with the Director and leadership team to refine pricing, capacity planning, and service delivery models based on transformation insights. 
• Champion a culture of efficiency and innovation within the accounting organization, consistently identifying opportunities to do this better, faster, and with less risk. 

Qualifications

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience with demonstrated expertise in system migrations, financial transformations, or accounting technology implementation projects. 
• Deep proficiency in QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, and modern accounting technology platforms; strong aptitude for learning and deploying new tools quickly. 
• Proven ability to scope complex engagements, build project plans, and manage multiple concurrent transformations with competing deadlines. 
• Strong understanding of GAAP and, where applicable, nonprofit accounting standards (ASC 958) and fund accounting structures. 
• Exceptional communication and client-facing presence; comfortable leading discovery conversations and presenting transformation plans to executive-level stakeholders. 
• Analytical mindset with a clear bias toward automation, efficiency, and technology-driven solutions. 
• Self-starter who thrives in a remote, high-autonomy environment and takes full ownership of outcomes. 

Preferred 

• CPA or CMA designation (active, inactive, or actively in progress). 
• Prior experience in a professional services or outsourced accounting firm serving faith-based or mission-driven organizations. 
• Track record of building or refining onboarding and transformation playbooks at scale. 
• Experience evaluating and implementing accounting technology solutions — Financial Cents, Syft Analytics, Relay, Ramp, AI-enabled tools, and similar platforms. 
• Background in project management, change management, or process improvement methodologies. 
• Familiarity with church, nonprofit, and multi-entity accounting structures including designated funds and restricted fund management. 
• Faith-driven leader who resonates with Novum's mission and values. 

Performance Metrics

• Transformation Throughput: Number of client engagements scoped and completed within target timelines
• Scoping Accuracy: Variance between estimated and actual hours/timelines across engagements
• Handoff Quality: Feedback from steady-state teams and client satisfaction scores at 30-day post-handoff
• Billable Utilization: Maintenance of 100% billability target across active engagements
• Playbook Development: Delivery and adoption of repeatable frameworks that reduce future transformation timelines
• Technology ROI: Measurable reduction in manual processes and cost-to-serve through automation and stack design

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Compensation: Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, scope of role, and relevant market benchmarks. 
• Performance Incentive: Eligibility for performance-based bonus aligned with a combination of individual contributions, team performance, client outcomes, and overall company results. 
• Work Environment: Fully remote, with flexible scheduling designed to support both client commitments and personal sustainability. 
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. 
• Time Off: Paid time off, including company-recognized holidays, with an emphasis on sustainable workload and recovery. 
• Professional Development: Ongoing investment in professional growth, including access to continuing education, training resources, and career development opportunities. 
• Career Opportunity: The opportunity to build, lead, and contribute to a high-performing team within a growing, mission-driven professional services firm. 

Novum Partners LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.