Job Description

Job Location: Baltimore Office - Baltimore, MD 21230
Position Type: Full TimeEducation
Level: 4 Year Degree
Salary Range: $200,000.00 - $210,000.00 Salary
Travel Percentage: Some
Job Category: Human ResourcesGross Mendelsohn, one of the Mid-Atlantic's leading independent CPA and advisory firms, is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Human Resources / Chief Human Resources Officer to lead the firm's people strategy during an important period of growth and transformation.
This is a highly visible leadership role for a proven HR professional who can work closely with the firm's leadership to help position Gross Mendelsohn as a leading employer of top talent in the Mid-Atlantic. The right candidate will bring sound judgment, operational discipline, and the ability to build a modern, people-first platform that supports recruiting, retention, leadership development, compliance, performance management, and long-term growth.
This is not a maintenance HR role. The firm is looking for a change agent who can strengthen the employee experience, improve systems and processes, advise partners and senior leaders, and help build the talent infrastructure needed for GMA's next stage of growth.
Recognized with multiple Top Workplace awards, Gross Mendelsohn is committed to professional excellence, collaboration, and long-term success. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of the firm's people function while preserving the relationship-driven culture that has made GMA successful.
Key Responsibilities
People Strategy & Firm Leadership
- Partner with the Managing Partner, COO, Executive Committee, service line leaders, and administrative leadership to develop and execute a people strategy that supports the firm's business goals, culture, independence, and growth.
- Help position GMA as an employer of choice for accounting, advisory, technology, administrative, and leadership talent across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to partners, managers, and firm leaders on workforce planning, culture, leadership, employee relations, performance, and organizational effectiveness.
- Translate firm strategy into practical HR programs, policies, systems, communications, and leadership behaviors.
Recruiting, Retention & Workforce Planning
- Lead and improve the firm's recruiting strategy for experienced professionals, campus hires, administrative roles, leadership positions, and strategic growth hires.
- Partner with leadership to identify current and future talent needs across audit, tax, advisory, technology, administration, and emerging service lines.
- Strengthen GMA's employer brand in coordination with marketing, recruiting, and firm leadership.
- Develop retention strategies that support career growth, engagement, culture, flexibility, leadership development, and employee experience.
- Use data, market insight, and internal feedback to help the firm compete more effectively for talent.
Employee Experience, Culture & Engagement
- Lead initiatives that reinforce GMA's culture, values, accountability, professionalism, and commitment to people.
- Build programs that support employee engagement, communication, recognition, inclusion, and professional growth.
- Serve as an accessible, credible, and trusted resource for employees across the firm.
- Work with leadership to identify and address cultural friction points, morale issues, communication gaps, and engagement opportunities.
- Support a workplace environment where people feel respected, supported, challenged, and invested in the firm's success.
Performance Management & Leadership Development
- Lead the firm's performance management process, including goal setting, feedback, evaluations, coaching, and performance improvement.
- Support leadership development programs for managers, directors, partners, and future firm leaders.
- Help establish clearer expectations, competencies, career paths, and accountability measures across roles and levels.
- Partner with firm leadership on succession planning, career development, and talent assessment.
- Support difficult conversations, disciplinary matters, investigations, and terminations with professionalism, judgment, and discretion.
HR Operations, Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee the full scope of Human Resources, including talent acquisition, onboarding, offboarding, benefits, compensation, employee relations, leave administration, policy development, HRIS administration, and employment records.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
- Maintain and improve HR policies, employee guidelines, procedures, documentation, and internal controls.
- Maintain current knowledge of HR best practices, employment law, talent trends, and technology.
- Identify HR-related risks and recommend practical solutions to firm leadership.
Compensation, Benefits & HR Systems
- Lead or support compensation analysis, salary benchmarking, incentive programs, and benefits renewals.
- Evaluate and improve HR systems, reporting, dashboards, workflows, and employee data integrity.
- Use HR metrics to assess recruiting effectiveness, retention, engagement, turnover, compensation competitiveness, and workforce needs.
- Partner with finance and firm leadership on headcount planning, budgeting, and people-related investment decisions.
HR Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and support the HR team, including professionals responsible for recruiting, learning and development, HR administration, HRIS, and related functions.
- Build clear roles, expectations, workflows, and accountability within the HR function.
- Foster a service-oriented HR team that is responsive, proactive, practical, and trusted across the firm.
- Help the HR team continue evolving from administrative support to a more strategic and consultative function.

Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Finance, or a related field, or a comparable combination of education and professional experience.
- 10+ years of progressive human resources experience.
- Prior HR leadership experience in a professional services environment strongly preferred, such as accounting, advisory, law, consulting, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
- Experience working directly with partners, executives, senior leaders, or business owners.
- Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance, employee relations, benefits, compensation, performance management, recruiting, and HR operations.
- Experience with Paycom or similar HRIS platforms preferred.
- PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.
Required Skills and Competencies
People Strategy & Business Judgment
- Ability to connect people strategy to firm strategy, growth, profitability, culture, and long-term sustainability.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to advise senior leaders on sensitive and complex people matters.
- Demonstrated ability to lead change, build programs, improve processes, and influence leaders in a relationship-driven environment.
Communication & Professional Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Executive presence and the ability to build trust with partners, employees, candidates, and external advisors.
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
- Ability to communicate clearly, practically, and thoughtfully across all levels of the firm.
Operational Leadership & Collaboration
- Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced professional services environment.
- Demonstrated ownership, accountability, responsiveness, and follow-through.
- Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office, HRIS platforms, and HR reporting tools.
Why Join Gross Mendelsohn?
- Opportunity to shape and lead the people strategy of an established, independent CPA and advisory firm.
- Visible leadership role with direct impact on recruiting, retention, culture, leadership development, and firm growth.
- Opportunity to build a modern, people-first HR platform that supports GMA's next stage of growth.
- Collaborative, team-oriented culture focused on long-term success and practical client service.
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
- Free parking at both Baltimore and Fairfax locations.
- Hybrid work flexibility based on business needs.

Work Environment
This role offers a hybrid work environment. The Director of Human Resources / Chief Human Resources Officer will be expected to work in the office and attend meetings in Baltimore and Fairfax as business needs require, particularly for leadership collaboration, employee relations, recruiting, firmwide initiatives, and team leadership.
Physical Requirements
Ability to sit for extended periods, work at a computer for prolonged durations, lift up to 20 pounds, and manage files, equipment, and related materials as needed.
Join Us
If you are an experienced HR leader who can serve as a trusted advisor, build strong people programs, lead through change, and help Gross Mendelsohn become the employer of choice for top talent in the Mid-Atlantic, we encourage you to apply.
Gross Mendelsohn is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace.