Director of Client Accounting & Payroll Services

Haga Kommer Fargo, ND

Salary range: $175,000 - $200,000 based on experience and credentials

Lead Our People and Shape the Future of Client Accounting and Payroll

At Haga Kommer, strong client accounting and payroll services help business owners make informed decisions and manage their businesses with confidence. Delivering that experience consistently takes clear direction, capable leaders, and reliable systems.

We’re looking for a Director of Client Accounting & Payroll Services to join our senior management team and lead the firmwide strategy, performance, and growth of these service lines across all offices.

This is an enterprise leadership role focused on leading through managers, developing people, strengthening operations, and delivering financial results. You’ll guide the overall business and service model rather than carry a traditional recurring production workload.

HK offers a unique opportunity to be part of an integrated financial ecosystem. Our professionals work alongside teams across CPA/accounting, banking, wealth management, insurance, and legal services, creating broader client solutions and career opportunities.

What You’ll Do

• Set Strategy and Drive Service-Line Growth
• Establish the long-term vision, annual business plan, priorities, and operating model for Client Accounting Services and Payroll.
• Define consistent services, delivery standards, client segments, pricing approaches, and staffing models across offices.
• Participate in senior management planning and translate firmwide priorities into measurable action.
• Collaborate with other service-line leaders to identify client needs and coordinate integrated solutions.
• Support business development, referrals, new service offerings, and acquisition integration.
• Lead Managers and Develop Future Leaders
• Lead, coach, and hold CAS and Payroll managers accountable for performance, service quality, and team development.
• Establish clear expectations, regular performance discussions, and training priorities across locations.
• Build leadership capacity and succession plans.
• Partner with HR and local leadership on organizational structure, staffing, recruiting priorities, and capacity planning.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cross-training across teams.
• Strengthen Operations, Technology, and Quality
• Own the quality, timeliness, consistency, and efficiency of client accounting, financial reporting, outsourced accounting, and payroll services.
• Establish scalable workflows, review controls, service standards, and escalation processes.
• Guide accounting and payroll technology strategy, standardization, and automation in partnership with Technology leadership.
• Monitor capacity, deadlines, client onboarding, and service exceptions to identify and resolve systemic issues.
• Establish effective internal controls and quality-assurance practices.
• Ensure dedicated management oversight of payroll tax filings, deadlines, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Own Financial Performance and the Client Experience
• Manage service-line budgets, forecasts, revenue growth, profitability, realization, productivity, and margins.
• Use performance measures to identify issues and implement corrective plans.
• Lead pricing, service packaging, client mix, and capacity decisions that support sustainable growth.
• Set client-service expectations and guide the resolution of complex or sensitive escalations.
• Report performance, risks, priorities, and resource needs to executive leadership.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Approximately seven or more years of progressive experience in CAS, accounting, payroll, outsourced accounting, or related professional services, including at least three years of leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to set strategy, lead managers across teams or locations, and manage financial performance.
• Strong knowledge of accounting processes, financial reporting, payroll operations, payroll taxation, compliance, and internal controls.
• Experience improving operations, implementing change, and building consistent processes across teams.
• Ability to connect staffing, pricing, technology, and service delivery decisions to business results.
• Strong executive communication, collaboration, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Confidence managing complex client relationships and working across service lines.
• Leadership experience in a multi-office CPA or professional services firm preferred.
• Experience scaling CAS or outsourced accounting services, integrating acquisitions, and implementing cloud accounting or payroll technology preferred.
• CPA and/or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred.

Why Haga Kommer

• OWNERSHIP & WEALTH: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Haga Kommer is working toward an ESOP that will give employees the opportunity to share in the long-term value they help create.
• INNOVATION: A Modern Approach
• We embrace AI, technology, and new ideas to reduce repetitive work, improve how work gets done, and create more time for meaningful client relationships and advisory work.
• REAL CAREER GROWTH: Create Your Path
• At Haga Kommer, you can expand your leadership impact through firmwide responsibility, developing future leaders, building services, and helping shape the direction of a growing practice.
• LIVE WELL: Work-Life Harmony
• We believe meaningful careers and meaningful lives should coexist, with a culture focused on exceptional client service and sustainable performance...not constant burnout.