The Role
Lead Finance and Accounting, partner with the CFO, manage 3-statement modeling, forecasts, board reporting, budgeting, audits, tax filings, payroll, treasury, month/ year-end close, GAAP compliance, automate processes, deliver FP&A analysis, support M&A and system implementations, and manage/mentor the finance team.
Summary Generated by Built In
What Gives Us Purpose
Merit Advisors delivers specialty tax, valuation, and advisory services that help energy companies increase cash flow and unlock value enterprise-wide. For over 25 years, we have served as trusted partners across commodity cycles, supporting companies of every scale—from PE-backed startups to supermajor oil and gas companies.
What We Seek
The Director of Finance & Accounting will lead both the Finance and Accounting functions at Merit, reporting directly to the CFO. This role provides analytical and strategic support to Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors while ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of Merit’s financial operations. You will be responsible for overseeing financial modeling and reporting, accounting processes, and guiding a team to deliver high-quality analysis and recommendations that support Merit’s strategic vision.
This is a highly visible position requiring executive presence, strategic thinking, and the operational discipline to maintain precision across both forward-looking financial analysis and day-to-day accounting functions.
What Your Day Will Look Like
Finance & Strategic Leadership
At Merit, we ask a lot of our employees, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, PTO program, medical/dental/vision plan, and matching 401(k), you’ll enjoy company-sponsored events, continuous learning opportunities, and the flexibility to manage your work/life balance.
Merit Advisors delivers specialty tax, valuation, and advisory services that help energy companies increase cash flow and unlock value enterprise-wide. For over 25 years, we have served as trusted partners across commodity cycles, supporting companies of every scale—from PE-backed startups to supermajor oil and gas companies.
What We Seek
The Director of Finance & Accounting will lead both the Finance and Accounting functions at Merit, reporting directly to the CFO. This role provides analytical and strategic support to Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors while ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of Merit’s financial operations. You will be responsible for overseeing financial modeling and reporting, accounting processes, and guiding a team to deliver high-quality analysis and recommendations that support Merit’s strategic vision.
This is a highly visible position requiring executive presence, strategic thinking, and the operational discipline to maintain precision across both forward-looking financial analysis and day-to-day accounting functions.
What Your Day Will Look Like
Finance & Strategic Leadership
- Serve as the CFO’s strategic partner in driving financial strategy, execution, and decision-making.
- Lead and mentor the Finance team, ensuring tasks are executed efficiently using clearly defined processes and automation where applicable.
- Manage and review Merit’s 3-statement financial model, forecasts, and analyses to provide real-time financial information to the CFO and business leaders.
- Oversee preparation of Board and Executive-level presentations that provide clear insights and actionable recommendations.
- Evaluate financial performance across the company, identifying key drivers, risks, and opportunities.
- Provide forward-looking analysis supporting M&A, growth initiatives, and long-term investments.
- Anticipate business issues, conduct ad hoc analyses, and present clear solutions to the CFO and executive team.
- Guide the development and refinement of dashboards, KPIs, and scorecards providing key business metrics.
- Oversee analysis of the firm’s revenue pipeline and performance across practice lines, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Manage the preparation of accounting information necessary for accurate financial reporting.
- Identify opportunities to streamline and automate accounting and reporting functions through the use of internal software and artificial intelligence.
- Oversee the monthly accounting close to ensure close deadlines are met.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and management reports, providing management with information vital to the decision-making process.
- Direct the company’s accounting function, including oversight of payroll and treasury functions (accounts receivable, accounts payable, and cash management).
- Maintain GAAP compliance for the company’s accounting practices and procedures.
- Oversee and coordinate tax filings and regulatory compliance.
- Manage the year-end close, preparing annual financial statements, annual audit, and compiling required audit schedules and reconciliations.
- Manage the annual budgeting process, including directing team members on historical research and future estimation, incorporating final budgets into Merit’s ERP system, and ensuring the budget schedule stays on track.
- Analyze and interpret trends requiring management’s attention.
- Review and recommend modifications to systems, procedures, and internal controls.
- Assist in acquisitions, integrations, and system implementations as needed.
- Are an experienced finance and accounting leader with a strong track record supporting or partnering directly with a CFO or executive team.
- Bring deep expertise across both FP&A and accounting operations, with equal comfort in forward-looking financial strategy and GAAP-compliant reporting.
- Possess exceptional critical thinking skills and can translate complex financial and accounting data into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Have strong executive presence and can confidently present financial results and strategy to senior leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining precision, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines.
- Are both detail-oriented and big-picture minded—capable of rolling up your sleeves when needed, while always keeping strategy front and center.
- Bring hands-on experience with ERP systems, accounting software, and automating financial and accounting functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field from a top four-year college or university; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
- CPA certification.
- 7–10+ years of combined finance and accounting leadership experience, with demonstrated success in FP&A, corporate strategy, and/or Controller-level accounting.
- Direct experience managing finance and/or accounting teams and partnering closely with CFOs or executive leadership.
- In-depth knowledge of GAAP compliance and financial reporting requirements.
- Advanced skills in Excel, PowerPoint, and financial modeling; strong ERP systems acumen.
- Experience with BI tools and accounting software packages is a plus.
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities in a growth environment.
At Merit, we ask a lot of our employees, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, PTO program, medical/dental/vision plan, and matching 401(k), you’ll enjoy company-sponsored events, continuous learning opportunities, and the flexibility to manage your work/life balance.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field
- CPA certification
- 7-10+ years combined finance and accounting leadership experience
- Demonstrated experience in FP&A, financial modeling, and corporate strategy
- Controller-level accounting experience including month-end, year-end close and audits
- In-depth knowledge of GAAP compliance and financial reporting requirements
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems and automating financial/accounting functions
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
- Experience managing finance and/or accounting teams and partnering with executive leadership
- Experience with BI tools and additional accounting software packages
- MBA or advanced degree
- Experience supporting M&A, integrations, and ERP/system implementations
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The Company
What We Do
Merit Advisors provides our partners in the energy industry with the best financial solutions and vision to uncover overlooked savings. The team at Merit is built on decades of experience and insight throughout the entire energy value chain. Our strategic approach combined with our expertise, proprietary technology and data makes Merit Advisors the best at extracting trapped value and improving cash flow for our partners. When you partner with Merit Advisors, you get experienced energy professionals who are focused on delivering results so you can stay focused on your business. Initially founded in 1998 as an appraisal and property tax consulting firm based in Gainesville, TX, Merit is constantly evolving to better serve its clients. This client-focused nature is demonstrated by various service lines and offices in geographically strategic locations (Dallas and Houston, TX and Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK). Our 350+ clients range from publicly traded corporations to individual small business owners and are serviced by a team that combines engineers, appraisal and valuation experts and seasoned tax and consulting professionals that bring together the perfect balance of high quality and diverse solutions of a larger firm while not foregoing the “high level touch” customer service of a boutique firm.
