Vice President, Transaction Advisory Services, Accounting and Financial Reporting - Chicago
At a glance
VP-level Accounting role at Lateral. Chicago · full-time · $160,000–$200,000 base.
financeroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Lead transaction and accounting advisory work for acquisitions, sales, capital raises, restructurings and ongoing client needs
- Manage selected client accounts, guide senior-level meetings, and review models, accounting analyses and reporting materials
- Improve clients’ close routines, accounting processes and controls to strengthen reporting accuracy and audit readiness
- Guide associates and analysts, build client relationships, and contribute to practice growth initiatives
- Coordinate with corporate finance, capital markets, valuation and restructuring teams on client engagements
What you bring
- An accounting bachelor's degree and CPA credential, or an equivalent credential from outside the United States
- At least six years in transaction accounting advisory, corporate controllership or accounting operations at a qualifying firm or company
- Experience with accounting and financial reporting advice, including transaction-related work
Who this fits
This Chicago-based VP role suits an experienced accounting adviser ready to lead client engagements and direct associates and analysts. You’ll balance transaction assignments with ongoing accounting advice, client development and practice initiatives.
From the employer
Business Unit:
Financial And Valuation AdvisoryIndustry:
Transaction Advisory Services

Overview
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

Financial and Valuation Advisory
Over the past 50+ years, Houlihan Lokey has established one of the largest worldwide financial and valuation advisory practices. Our transaction expertise and leadership in the field of valuation inspire confidence in the financial executives, boards of directors, special committees, investors, and business owners we serve. In 2025, LSEG ranked us the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 25 years. Our stability, integrity, technical leadership, and global capabilities make us a trusted advisor for clients worldwide, across a wide range of services, including the Transaction Opinions, Fund Opinions, Transaction Advisory Services, Corporate Valuation Advisory Services, Portfolio Valuation, Real Estate Valuation and Advisory Services, and Dispute Resolution Consulting practices.

Job Purpose
Our Transaction Advisory Services, Accounting and Financial Reporting (TAS/AFR) practice is excitingly growing and we are looking for a Vice President to join the Chicago office.
Our AFR advisory team works closely with clients through their strategic dealmaking transaction-driven and ongoing financial reporting requirements. Our specialists have deep knowledge of deals, sectors, and accounting matters that enables them to fully understand the challenges clients face, including:
- Buyer/seller financial statements and disclosures
- Sponsor-driven management reporting
- Lender financial and covenant requirements
- Regulatory compliance
- Financial close process design and optimization
- Accounting policy, controllership, and internal controls support
- Legal entity and chart-of-accounts rationalization
As a Vice President, you will:
- Team with a highly talented and dedicated group of M&A and Advisory professionals, providing you broad exposure to different transactional and , technical, and operational accounting issues affecting businesses within the M&A and capital markets today.
- Work in a variety of industries on an investment banking platform, gaining exposure to the broader corporate finance industry and capital markets.
- Develop and extend your financial and interpersonal skills as you collaborate with management finance teams and sponsors to advance their accounting, controllership, and financial reporting objectives resulting from transaction driven events and day-to-day operational needs.
We team closely with our corporate finance and restructuring colleagues across all our industry platforms, on a variety of projects and accounts.
Responsibilities & Deliverables
- Primary activities will include executing buy-side, sell-side, capital raise and restructuring transaction advisory engagements, as well as non-transaction accounting advisory engagements; business development; internal practice development and overall engagement management
- Operate as the lead officer on select client accounts
- Assist in leading client meetings with senior sponsor and C-suite professionals, review financial models, technical accounting analyses, close and reporting processes, and financial reporting disclosures and deliver work product and presentations confidently
- Assess and help redesign accounting processes, close cadence, and internal controls to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and audit-readiness of client financial reporting
- Advise on the accounting implications and requirements of finance system changes (e.g., chart-of-accounts design, data/GL mapping, reporting requirements) in partnership with the client's systems team or IT advisors
- Direct the efforts of Associates and Financial Analysts, providing guidance with an apprenticeship approach
- Contribute to various practice growth strategic and operational initiatives with senior members of the firm
- Network with prospects to build revenue producing relationships
- Assist in initiating and extending group marketing and client development efforts
- Collaborate closely with corporate finance, capital markets, valuation, and financial restructuring colleagues
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited college/university
- CPA certification or international CPA equivalent is required
- A minimum of 6 years of professional experience, including transaction accounting advisory and/or corporate controllership or accounting operations experience at a Big 4, national firm, or in an industry corporate accounting/controller function
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience providing accounting and financial reporting advisory services and other transaction-related services
- Experience improving accounting close processes, internal controls, or financial reporting infrastructure in an operating company or advisory setting
- Demonstrated understanding and application of M&A and capital markets concepts
- Strong current knowledge of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles including many of the following: SEC reporting, divestitures/carve-outs, IPO readiness/execution, purchase accounting and pro forma reporting, IFRS/US GAAP conversion, financial instruments accounting, stock compensation accounting and transaction related issues
- Familiarity with SOX/internal controls frameworks and remediation of control deficiencies
- Strong analytical abilities
- Ability to handle multiple assignments simultaneously
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Strong command of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and common database systems
- Experience with data analytics tools (Alteryx, Tableau, etc.) preferred
Compensation and Benefits
Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package, which may include other components such as discretionary incentive compensation. The firm's good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is:
$160,000-$200,000
Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's relevant qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as the service line and location where this position may be filled.
Compensation and Benefits
Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package, which may include other components such as discretionary incentive compensation. The firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is:

$160,000-$200,000


Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as the service line and location where this position may be filled.

Houlihan Lokey provides a competitive benefits package. Our current benefits offerings can be found here:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.