Job Overview

Topel Forman is seeking a Director of Innovation to support and lead our strategic initiatives and help create, manage, and define areas of process improvement to help with decision making and value add to our clients and the service we provide. The Director of Innovation will report to the Managing Partner and work closely with firm partners, professional staff, and team leadership to strategically innovate. We are looking for a leader that is passionate in process improvement and identifying and implementing new areas for improvement through new technologies and automation. This position will be hybrid in our Chicago office.

Responsibilities

• Develop, create, and manage new ideas and innovations throughout the firm in accordance with the firm’s vision and strategy
• Building cross-function relationships across Firm leaders to effectively collaborate and drive innovation strategy
• Brainstorm and act as a liaison between Partners, Operations, IT, and Administration teams to understand current processes and develop new ideas for process optimization and improvement
• Develop a plan, encourage, promote, and continue innovative thinking across the firm, while evaluating the Firm’s internal control process
• Develop KPI’s to track and analyze project progress and successful implementation of projects
• Ability to communicate any progress and changes to the project timeline to Innovation committee and Partners and recommend changes based off new or immediate project needs
• Research market trends and process improvements considerations that can be implemented within the Firm for future optimization

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, or relevant field
• 6+ years of relevant experience in process improvement through Innovation, project management, and strategy development
• Proficient in MS Office with advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Power Query, and Power Automate, and Power BI (Business intelligence software)
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with a commitment to the highest level of quality and output
• Good time management skills: ability to juggle and meet multiple critical deadlines and adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to quickly learn new skills and tools

Preferred Requirements

• MBA or relevant advanced degree
• Knowledge of RPA and AI within a professional services or financial services Firm
• Experience working in a prior CPA Firm or Professional Services Firm
• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation
• Lean Six Sigma Certificate
• Familiarity with the CCH Axcess Platform

About Us

Listed as one of Inside Public Accounting’s Best of The Best Firms for the third time in four years, Topel Forman is a leading certified public accounting firm. As a leading firm, Topel Forman has been serving a range of individuals and professionals, to family-owned businesses and corporations for over sixty years, providing accounting, tax, attestation, family office, and advisory services. Here you will find the highest level of talent and expertise, along with leadership that cares. Our inclusive culture provides accessibility to professional growth and collaboration that offers a dynamic and engaging work experience.  We are dedicated to offering world-class service to our clients and a top-level professional experience to our employees. We offer a robust benefits package, including well-rounded fringe benefits, and a flexible work environment. A 2023 winner of Top Workplaces, we live by our values of flexibility, integrity, respect, and excellence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual discretionary bonus eligibility
• To learn more about our firm and benefit offerings, please visit our careers page.

Remote Work Internet Policy

Internet requirements for working remotely: We require an internet plan with the following minimum upload and download speeds for best connection: 200+ Mbps download and 20+ Mbps upload. Home Wi-Fi should be password protected.