Accounting Manager

About this role

At LifeStance Health, we strive to help individuals, families, and communities with their mental health needs. Everywhere. Every day. It’s a lofty goal; we know. But we make it happen with the best team in mental healthcare.
Thank you for taking the time to explore a career with us. As the fastest growing mental health practice group in the country, now is the perfect time to join our team!
LifeStance Health Values

Belonging: We cultivate a space where everyone can show up as their authentic self.

Empathy: We seek out diverse perspectives and listen to learn without judgment.

Courage: We are all accountable for doing the right thing - even when it's hard - because we know it's worth it.

One Team: We realize our full potential when we work together towards our shared purpose.

Benefits
As a full-time employee of LifeStance Health, the following benefits are offered: medical, dental, vision, AD&D, short and long-term disability, and life insurance. Additional benefits include a 401k retirement savings with employer match, paid parental leave, paid time off, holiday pay and an Employee Assistance Program.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Accounting Manager will lead a team of Staff and Senior Accountants responsible for accurate, timely, and well-controlled accounting operations. This leader will oversee month-end close activities, balance sheet reconciliations, financial analysis, audit support, and control execution while building a high-performing team. The ideal candidate brings strong U.S. GAAP technical accounting judgment, public company or Big Four audit experience, SOX/control discipline, and the ability to improve processes in a fast-paced, scaling organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage, coach, and develop a team of Staff and Senior Accountants, including goal setting, performance feedback, workflow prioritization, training plans, and career development support.

Lead timely and accurate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, variance analysis, and review of supporting schedules.

Apply U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies to complex or judgmental accounting areas; escalate technical matters and support documentation of conclusions for management and auditors.

Strengthen close discipline by monitoring deadlines, reviewing workpapers for completeness and accuracy, and ensuring reconciling items are researched, resolved, and clearly documented.

Support public company reporting requirements by preparing and reviewing schedules, flux analysis, audit support, and documentation needed for quarterly and annual financial reporting cycles.

Collaborate with FP&A, Operations, Payroll, Procurement, Revenue Cycle, IT, and other cross-functional partners to explain variances, resolve accounting issues, and improve the quality of financial data.

Design, execute, and continuously improve SOX-compliant controls, including control evidence, review precision, segregation of duties, remediation support, and audit-ready documentation.

Partner with internal and external auditors by coordinating requests, preparing PBC schedules, resolving questions, and ensuring audit support is complete, accurate, and timely.

Assess current processes and recommend improvements that increase efficiency, scalability, accuracy, and control effectiveness, including opportunities for automation, standardization, and clearer ownership.

Monitor accounting data and key close metrics to identify anomalies, recurring issues, process gaps, or training needs; translate findings into practical action plans.

Prepare and review financial reports, account analyses, and management-ready explanations that clearly communicate drivers, risks, and recommended next steps.

Ensure proper maintenance, filing, and retention of accounting records, policies, reconciliations, control evidence, and audit support in accordance with company standards.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or progress toward CPA strongly preferred.

6+ years of progressive accounting, audit, or financial reporting experience, with at least 2+ years managing, supervising, or formally reviewing accounting work.

Public company accounting, SEC reporting support, or Big Four/public accounting audit experience strongly preferred; experience working with public company audit standards and documentation expectations is highly valuable.

Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, month-end close, account reconciliations, accrual accounting, financial statement support, and balance sheet review practices.

Demonstrated experience operating in a SOX-compliant or similarly controlled environment, including control execution, evidence preparation, control review, and remediation follow-through.

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, complex formulas, data validation, and structured analysis of large data sets.

Experience with NetSuite or another large ERP system; ability to learn new systems quickly and partner with IT or systems teams to improve reporting and workflows.

Ability to review workpapers and reconciliations with a high degree of precision, identify root causes, and coach team members on improving quality and documentation.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain accounting matters to finance and non-finance stakeholders in a clear, practical way.

High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities under close-calendar deadlines.

Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff while maintaining accountability for accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement.

Adaptability, responsiveness to change, and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Preferred Technical Experience

Experience supporting 10-Q, 10-K,…