Accounting Operations Associate Jobs in Washington, DC

The Manager, Fund Accounting Systems serves as the functional lead for Fund Accounting operations at Carlyle, sitting at the intersection of finance and technology. The role is responsible for driving process improvement and technology automation across the Fund Accounting Department, with a focus on key workflows including investor capital account statements, ILPA fee and expense reporting, Capital Calls & Distributions, and Tax PBC. A critical component of this role is serving as the primary liaison between Fund Accounting end‑users and Global Technology Services (GTS) – translating business processes, needs, and strategic vision into clear, actionable requirements for developers and QA teams. The Manager will maintain a deep understanding of Fund Accounting processes and accounting policy, acting as the subject matter expert for financial close reporting while enabling these capabilities across PA operations. The Manager will lead both strategic and tactical workstreams to advance technology automation and process improvement, primarily within Investran and Appian BPM platforms, with cross‑functional application involvement from Salesforce, PeopleSoft Financials, and several other in‑house built applications. The Manager will also own change management within Fund Accounting – including training, communication, and adoption support – to ensure the successful delivery of strategic goals set by finance leadership. The position reports to the Associate Vice President of Business Finance Systems within the Finance Process & Operations team and works closely with Fund Accounting, Human Capital Management, and Global Technology Services leadership. The role carries people management responsibilities, both indirect (immediate) and direct (over time), and requires an adaptable leader capable of driving outcomes across both strategic initiatives and day‑to‑day operations.

4 days per week

• Functional Lead – Fund Accounting Applications (~50%)
  Serve as the subject matter expert for Fund and Investor Reporting processes and systems within Fund Accounting. Act as the primary liaison between Fund Accounting end‑users and Global Technology Services (GTS), translating business processes, needs, and strategic vision into clear, well‑structured requirements for developers and QA teams. Manage, enhance, and support Investran and Appian BPM applications, ensuring they continuously align with evolving business needs. Provide day‑to‑day functional support for in‑house built applications, ensuring timely issue resolution and continuity of operations.
• Finance Process & Systems Improvement (~40%)
  Lead initiatives to streamline, automate, and modernize Finance operations across the Fund Accounting departments. Partner with upstream and downstream stakeholders – including Fund Management, Corporate Accounting, Investor Relations, Entity Compliance and more – to collaborate and drive improvements. Drive change management within Fund Accounting, overseeing the implementation of new workstreams and ensuring successful adoption of tools, workflows, and strategic initiatives.
• Production Support – Fund Accounting & Investor Financial Reporting (~10%)
  Provide production support across key Fund Accounting reporting processes and platforms, triaging and resolving issues to ensure continuity of operations, including but not limited to Capital Account Statements, Capital Calls & Distributions, ILPA Reporting, Investor Tax Reporting (TaxPBC), Appian, In‑house built applications, and Investran.

Bachelor's degree required – Concentration in Accounting, Finance, or Economics preferred.

• 5‑7 years of relevant experience, required.
• Experience in fund accounting, finance operations, or a related business systems/process improvement role, preferred.
• Proven experience serving as a liaison between finance or business teams and technology or development teams.
• Demonstrated experience writing business requirements, functional specifications, or process documentation for technology teams.
• Track record of leading process improvement or technology implementation initiatives in a finance environment.
• Experience supporting or leading change management efforts, including training and stakeholder communication.
• Familiarity with agile project management methodologies and tools such as JIRA or similar platforms.
• Background in private equity, Fund accounting, or similar alternative investment operations preferred.

• Accounting systems expertise required; experience with Investran strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Appian BPM, Salesforce, or PeopleSoft Financials a plus.
• Working knowledge of system structures, data flows, and application architecture – a strong understanding of how systems connect and interact will be a key differentiator in this role.
• Solid understanding of fund accounting principles, investor reporting, and financial close processes.
• Ability to translate complex business processes and end‑user needs into clear, actionable requirements for developers and QA teams.
• Advanced Excel required; SQL experience preferred.
• Excellent problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging across finance, technology, and senior leadership audiences.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Self‑motivated and capable of managing multiple priorities independently in a fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence both direct and indirect team members.

The compensation range for this role is specific to Washington, DC and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to the skill sets required/preferred; prior experience and training; licenses and/or certifications. The anticipated base salary range for this role is $140,000 to $160,000. In addition to the base salary, the hired professional will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package spanning retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance and disability, paid time off, paid holidays, family planning benefits and various wellness programs. Additionally, the hired professional may also be eligible to participate in an annual discretionary incentive program, the award of which will be dependent on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.