About Brigade:
Brigade is a U.S.-based outsourced bookkeeping and accounting firm that partners with small businesses and nonprofits to deliver financial clarity, trusted advice, and real-time support. Their clients do not just receive accurate books; they gain a proactive accounting partner who helps them make confident, data-driven decisions.
At Brigade, accounting is deeply connected to ownership, communication, and trust. The team operates in a collaborative, high-accountability environment where people lead with initiative, communicate directly, and genuinely invest in each other's growth. This is not a silent, heads-down role; it is a visible leadership position inside a firm that values clear voices and direct conversations in both English and Spanish.
The Role:
Brigade is looking for an Accounting Team Lead who is first and foremost a people developer. The technical bar is real; you need to be strong in full-cycle bookkeeping, fluent in QuickBooks Online, and comfortable managing a multi-client SMB portfolio. But what will set you apart is how you lead.
You will take full, sole ownership of a small team of junior accountants. You will be the person they come to when they are stuck, the one who spots patterns in their mistakes before they become problems, and the one who has the direct conversation when performance needs to shift, without waiting to be asked.
Brigade already has strong processes in place. This role is not about rebuilding; it is about leading a team to execute those processes at a high level, keeping clients well-served, and developing people so the firm can continue to grow.
Key Responsibilities:
People Leadership — Your Primary Responsibility:
- Own the day-to-day development and performance of junior accountants, coaching, training, and giving direct feedback as a first response, not a last resort.
- Conduct regular check-ins focused on growth, not just task status.
- Identify skill gaps early and address them proactively through training and direct conversation.
- Handle difficult performance conversations directly and promptly; healthy conflict is a normal part of Brigade's culture.
- Support onboarding of new team members as the firm grows.
Client & Accounting Work:
- Review and oversee full-cycle bookkeeping for a portfolio of US-based SMB clients.
- Manage month-end and quarterly close processes with accuracy and consistency.
- Act as the primary escalation point for complex accounting issues and client questions.
- Maintain strong client relationships through proactive, clear communication.
- Review junior team members' work before client delivery.
What They Are Looking For:
Must-Haves:
- 5+ years of full-cycle accounting experience with US-based clients in an outsourced, multi-client, or service-based environment.
- Strong Spanish and English.
- Proven experience leading a team independently, with direct responsibility for people development and performance.
- Active, confident QuickBooks Online user; QBO certification preferred.
- Comfortable giving direct feedback and navigating difficult conversations without avoiding them.
- Communicates with specificity and clarity; your answers do not require multiple follow-up questions to get to the point.
Nice to Have:
- Experience with Bill.com, Gusto, Karbon, or similar SMB accounting tools.
- Exposure to nonprofit accounting.
You Would Succeed If:
- You have previously managed a team with absolute autonomy and view that experience as a point of professional pride.
- Your first instinct when someone struggles is a direct conversation, not a written warning.
- You get energy from developing people, not just optimizing systems.
- You want to be visible, heard, and accountable, not just get through the day.
Working Hours & Setup:
- Fully remote; based anywhere.
- Fixed hours: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST (non-negotiable).
- Real-time bookkeeping environment; clients review their books during the working day.
- Contractor agreement through Hire5.
What Brigade Offers:
- A collaborative, camera-on team that communicates openly every day; the opposite of a silent, disconnected remote environment.
- Direct access to Brigade's founder; you will understand the business decisions behind the work, not just execute tasks.
- Clear career path: Accounting Team Lead
- Accounting Manager, with transparent promotion criteria from day one.
- Structured 30-60-90 day onboarding plan built around your accounting assessment results; personal, not generic.
- International and multicultural environment.
- A small, growing firm where your contribution is visible, your voice matters, and your development is taken seriously.
