Associate Director, Operations Accounting

About KARL STORZ

From the operating room to surgery centers—and everywhere in between—KARL STORZ North America is a global leader in medical technology and advanced visualization solutions. We design specialty innovations, smart instruments and devices, integrated ecosystems, and intelligent imaging—to build a more connected, software-enabled operating room.

As an independent, family-owned MedTech company, we ambitiously think in generations instead of quarters to improve patients' lives around the world.

About the Role

We're seeking a strategic and collaborative accounting leader to oversee Operations Accounting across KARL STORZ North America. As the Associate Director, Operations Accounting, you'll lead the accounting function supporting revenue recognition, inventory, product costing, cost of goods sold (COGS), and gross margin across five U.S. and Canadian legal entities.

This role is ideal for a finance leader who thrives at the intersection of accounting, operations, and business transformation. You'll guide a high-performing team, partner with senior leaders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Sales, FP&A, IT, and Tax, and play a critical role in driving operational excellence through process improvement, automation, and SAP S/4HANA enablement.

Beyond ensuring accurate and compliant financial reporting, you'll influence strategic business decisions by providing financial insights that improve operational performance, scalability, and long-term growth.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule: 2 days working from home and 3 days in our El Segundo, CA office, with up to 15% travel.

What You'll Do

• Lead all North America Operations Accounting activities, including revenue recognition, inventory accounting, product costing, COGS, and gross margin reporting across multiple legal entities.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of accounting professionals, including an Operations Accounting team and Cost Accounting Manager, while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities for all operations accounting functions.
• Review and approve complex journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, reserves, and accounting estimates.
• Analyze balance sheet and P&L results, identify business drivers, and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Oversee product costing, manufacturing variances, absorption analysis, purchase price variance (PPV), inventory valuation, cycle count reporting, and excess & obsolete inventory analysis.
• Serve as the accounting subject matter expert for inventory, manufacturing costing, cost of sales, and revenue accounting.
• Partner with Internal Audit, External Audit, and Corporate Finance to support audits, statutory reporting, accounting memos, and technical position papers.
• Own Operations Accounting policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while ensuring strong internal controls and compliance.
• Lead finance transformation initiatives, partnering with IT on SAP S/4HANA enhancements, automation opportunities, and data quality improvements.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably within a manufacturing and/or distribution environment.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing and developing accounting teams.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP with experience supporting complex accounting operations; knowledge of German GAAP (HGB) is a plus.
• Strong experience with inventory accounting, cost accounting, manufacturing accounting, revenue recognition, and financial reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with enterprise ERP systems such as SAP (FI/CO/SD/BI), Oracle, or JD Edwards.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex accounting topics to non-finance audiences.
• Proven ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and lead effectively within a fast-paced, matrixed organization.

What Will Make You Successful

• You're a strategic leader who sees accounting as a business partner—not simply a reporting function.
• You enjoy building, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• You continuously look for opportunities to simplify processes, improve controls, and leverage technology to create efficiencies.
• You're comfortable influencing senior leaders by translating financial data into actionable business insights.
• You have experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives, ERP implementations, or finance modernization projects.
• An MBA, CPA, SAP S/4HANA experience, and proficiency with Power BI, Power Pivot, or Tableau will further distinguish you.

Why KARL STORZ?

At KARL STORZ, you'll have the opportunity to lead a critical accounting function within a global MedTech organization that's investing in innovation, operational excellence, and digital transformation. Your work will directly influence business decisions, strengthen financial operations, and help shape the future of our North American finance organization.

As a family-owned company with a long-term vision, we empower our leaders to think beyond quarterly results, champion continuous improvement, and develop talented teams that make a lasting impact on healthcare worldwide.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today to become our next Associate Director, Operations Accounting, and help build the future of MedTech with KARL STORZ.