Sr. Director, Global Revenue Accounting

About the role

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. The Senior Director, Global Revenue Accounting leads the company's Revenue Center of Excellence-also known as the Global Revenue Deals Desk (GRDD) -and is responsible for setting strategy while overseeing the day-to-day execution of contract review, deal structuring, technical accounting, controls, and enablement activities. This is a high-impact, highly visible leadership role that sits at the intersection of Finance and the business. The position combines deep expertise in revenue recognition (ASC 606) with strong commercial acumen, cross-functional partnership, and people leadership. This position is based in Charlotte, NC and operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. Strategic Deal Structuring & Contract Review Lead deal structuring. Partner with Sales and Legal during negotiations to structure contracts that achieve commercial goals while delivering the intended revenue outcomes. Review complex contracts. Oversee review of high-value and non-standard arrangements-evaluating payment terms, acceptance criteria, performance obligations, variable consideration, and other clauses that drive the timing and amount of revenue recognized. Shift expertise upstream. Embed the GRDD early in the deal lifecycle so revenue risks and opportunities are identified before contracts are signed, not explained after the fact. Maximize value realization. Ensure deals are structured to optimize margin realization, forecast accuracy, and predictable revenue recognition. Technical Revenue Recognition Own ASC 606 application. Serve as the company's subject-matter authority on revenue recognition under ASC 606 (and related ASC 842 lease considerations), resolving complex technical questions and documenting positions. Set policy and guidance. Maintain revenue recognition policy, accounting positions, and practical guidance, ensuring consistency across business units and regions. Provide deal-specific conclusions. Deliver clear, well-documented accounting conclusions on judgmental arrangements that withstand internal and external audit scrutiny. Cross-Functional Partnership Align stakeholders. Foster real-time collaboration among Sales, Legal, Finance, and Operations-breaking down silos that historically caused accounting surprises. Advise commercial teams. Act as a trusted advisor to segment finance and commercial leaders, translating accounting implications into actionable business guidance. Drive a partnership model. Build ongoing relationships (not just one-off reviews) so the GRDD is engaged proactively on strategic deals. Controls, Compliance & Audit Own revenue controls. Operate and continuously improve the GRDD's key revenue controls, including independent review of in-scope contracts and the associated Revenue Recognition Checklist. Ensure independent sign-off. Confirm appropriate, independent Finance Approver sign-off consistent with the Delegation of Authority (DOA) matrix, and that documentation packages are complete and consistent with accounting conclusions. Support audits. Partner with internal audit and external auditors, providing clear documentation and standing behind technical positions; track and resolve exceptions to closure. Maintain metrics & reporting. Oversee the contract log and metrics dashboards that report portfolio TCV, revenue-recognition profile, and review status to leadership. Global Team Leadership Lead and develop the team. Manage, coach, and develop a global team of managers and senior analysts; set goals, calibrate performance, and build bench strength and technical capability. Scale the operating model. Standardize processes and review procedures across business units and regions to ensure consistency, quality, and timeliness. Allocate capacity. Balance workload across the team to meet quarterly close and deal-flow demands. Systems, Automation & Digital Transformation Lead revenue transformation. Sponsor and guide revenue lifecycle management, billing, and automation initiatives (e.g., Zuora) and ERP enhancements that streamline revenue processes and improve data accuracy. Improve contract processes. Partner with Legal and IT on contract lifecycle management (CLM) and contract-language standards that reduce downstream revenue risk. Champion continuous improvement. Identify and implement process efficiencies that increase the desk's scalability as deal volume and complexity grow. Education & Enablement Educate the business. Build and deliver training that helps

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at Xylem? Share your experience