CPA Expert Consultant (Financial Advisory, Assessment & Evaluation)

CPA Expert Consultant (Financial Advisory, Assessment & Evaluation)
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG)

• Independent Consultant Roster
• Home-based in the US or abroad
• 3 Openings

About The BKG
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG) is a Massachusetts-based consulting, training, and staffing firm that strengthens the systems, controls, and teams organizations rely on to deliver their mission. We serve government agencies, NGOs, universities, medical and research centers, and private companies in the US and internationally, including French speaking countries.

The Role
The CPA Expert leads the financial component of each BKG engagement and supports other BKG services as agreed. The role covers financial planning and sustainability, finance function development, project financial management, finance process improvement, financial risk management, and specialized assessments of financial controls, compliance, and financial policies and manuals. Engagements range from a single activity to an entire organization, and from assessment and recommendations to hands-on guidance through implementation.

Working alongside the Engagement Lead and in tandem with the other functional teams in HR, procurement, operations, and IT, the CPA Expert provides clear and concise financial findings, recommendations, and implementation guidelines for the final report. Findings are presented to the client by The BKG CEO or leadership and the Engagement Lead, and the CPA Expert may contribute to findings meetings.

Not every engagement is a review: the CPA Expert may also lead the finance activities of advisory engagements that help clients redesign, reconfigure, or transition to a new organizational or financial model. Candidates holding an international equivalent of the CPA are welcome to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and organizational advisory
• Support strategic and financial planning, including multi-year budgets, financial sustainability, and resource allocation aligned with the client’s strategic plan
• Review the structure, roles, and capacity of the finance function, and recommend improvements that prepare the organization for growth
• Guide finance teams through change, such as new accounting systems, charts of accounts, or reporting frameworks
• Engage Boards, finance committees, funders, lenders, and external reviewers on financial matters

Project, process, risk, and performance
• Support the financial management of projects, including budgets, burn rates, forecasts, and closeout
• Map finance processes, including payables, payroll, reconciliations, and month-end close, and recommend streamlined procedures
• Identify and assess financial and fraud risks, and recommend practical mitigation, in line with COSO and ISO 31000
• Develop financial performance indicators and evaluate results against budgets and objectives

Transformation and advisory engagements
• Lead the finance activities of engagements that help clients restructure, merge, decentralize, or adopt new operating models
• Design the future finance function, financial model, and transition roadmap, such as a change of accounting framework, the centralization of finance, or the financial integration of merging entities
• Engage Boards, staff, funders, and partners throughout the transition, and track progress against agreed milestones

Specialized assessments
• Assess financial internal controls, including approvals, segregation of duties, reconciliations, cash management, and payroll controls
• Review financial statements and reporting for accuracy and completeness, in line with US GAAP, IFRS, IPSAS, SYSCOHADA, and 2 CFR 200 cost principles for US federal awards
• Review grant and contract financial compliance, readiness for funder and regulatory reviews, and closeout, in line with 2 CFR 200, EU, UN, World Bank, and foundation rules, sponsor terms, and national law
• Develop or update financial policies, manuals, and SOPs tailored to the client, when included in the engagement

Coordination and reporting
• Plan the financial work with the Engagement Lead and Senior Consultants, aligned with the common engagement plan and methodology
• Provide the Engagement Lead with clear and concise findings, risk ratings, and recommendations, so the final report can be prepared without delay
• Confirm independence before each engagement, flagging any prior accounting, systems, or advisory work by The BKG for the client

Implementation guidance
• Develop practical, prioritized, and time-bound implementation guidelines for financial recommendations
• When required, oversee and advise client staff on implementing financial recommendations, working alongside them; client staff remain responsible for carrying out the work
• Advise the client, with its tax advisors, on tax and statutory compliance, such as IRS Form 990 for US tax-exempt entities and national tax filings abroad

Key Deliverables
• Financial work plan agreed with the Engagement Lead
• Analyses, testing results, and supporting working papers
• Clear and concise financial findings and recommendations for the final report
• Financial implementation guidelines and, when included, financial policies, manuals, or SOPs
• Implementation oversight notes, when applicable

Service Standards
• A thorough, well-informed, and evidence-based process on every assignment
• Clear, concise, executive-level findings and recommendations
• Excellent mastery of US and international accounting rules, including those of French speaking countries
• Irreproachable professionalism, integrity, objectivity, and confidentiality

Qualifications

Required
• Active CPA license in good standing, or international equivalent (ACCA, Chartered Accountant, or Diplôme d’Expertise Comptable), with current continuing professional education
• 10+ years of extensive experience in public accounting, financial reviews, and compliance engagements, in the US and/or internationally
• Extensive experience advising the management and Boards of businesses and organizations on financial planning, management, controls, and corrective action
• Mastery of US GAAP, IFRS, IPSAS, SYSCOHADA, IAASB review and related services standards, and 2 CFR 200
• Full professional proficiency in English; ability to read French fluently and communicate in conversational French
• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent (such as a Licence) in Accounting or Finance; Master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent (such as a Master 2 or DESS) preferred
• Availability to travel domestically and internationally when engagements require

Preferred
• Experience with organizations in the US and/or internationally, including French speaking countries, across the public, non-profit, academic, and private sectors
• Knowledge of USAID and other US federal funders, the Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organizations, and multilateral funders such as the EU, UN agencies, and the World Bank
• Big Four or regional public accounting firm experience, in the US or abroad
• Systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Sage, or QuickBooks

Engagement Terms
• Independent consultant on The BKG roster (1099 for US-based consultants, or equivalent status abroad), engaged per assignment under a separate consulting agreement. This is not an employment relationship.
• Consultants may accept or decline any assignment, control the methods, means, and hours of their work, and remain free to serve other clients, subject to conflict of interest and confidentiality requirements. They are not entitled to employee benefits.
• Compensation: a daily fee equal to the consultant rate negotiated and agreed in writing with The BKG for each assignment.

Travel, Per Diem, and Travel Costs
• Domestic and international travel is a strong possibility on most engagements, but it is not guaranteed.
• For each day of authorized travel, consultants receive a per diem at GSA rates within the US or U.S. Department of State rates abroad.
• Approved travel costs, such as airfare, ground transportation, visa fees, and required vaccinations, are paid or reimbursed by The BKG.
• Per diem and travel costs are paid in addition to the negotiated fee.

Equipment and Insurance
• Consultants provide their own work equipment, including a secure laptop, mobile phone, and reliable internet access.
• Consultants arrange their own health coverage (including medical evacuation), travel insurance, and general and professional liability insurance, and handle their own taxes and statutory obligations.

Code of Conduct
All consultants sign and comply with The BKG Code of Conduct. The BKG has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Client information is handled in strict confidence, and conflicts of interest must be disclosed before deployment.

How to Apply
Send the following in PDF format to staffing@thebeneficialknowledgegroup.com:
1. CV highlighting financial review and advisory experience, and CPA license or equivalent details
2. Letter of motivation stating your expertise, language skills in English and French, expected daily fee (USD) as a basis for negotiation, availability, and willingness to travel
3. Three professional references with name, title, organization, and contact details

Subject line: Application: CPA Expert Consultant | [Your Full Name]

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Selected candidates undergo technical screening and background verification. Roster selection does not guarantee assignment volume.

The BKG is an Equal Opportunity Firm.

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