Accounting Manager (Steel Distribution)

Job Description

Job Description

About Us

We've been establishing excellence since 1972. With more than 50 years of experience serving Central Valley and beyond, Modesto Steel takes pride in our products and people.

We are the go-to steel distributor for the agriculture, auto, and construction industries. Our warehouse carries approximately 3,000 metal products in varying size, shape, and type. In addition to quality metal products, we are also a processing facility.

Our team goes the extra mile with more than 20,000 annual deliveries ranging from the Central Valley to Yosemite. And, on-site we process more than an additional 10,000 transactions. We keep busy around here, which is why we are growing our team.

Accounting Manager

Location: Modesto, CA – Modesto Steel Company (On-site)

Reporting to: General Manager

Role Overview

As the Accounting Manager , you will be the hands-on financial lead for Modesto Steel Company , Central and Northern California's premier steel and metal service center. You will be responsible for conducting and overseeing all on-site accounting functions, directly managing the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable team, and ensuring the technical accuracy of our processing and distribution operations.

Working in close collaboration with the corporate accounting and operations teams, you will drive the month-end close, lead audit preparations, and ensure that on-site data translates into accurate, GAAP-compliant financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities Team Leadership & Hands-On Operations

• Direct Supervision: Lead, mentor, and work alongside the AR and AP staff to ensure the timely and accurate processing of high-volume vendor payments, customer billings, and collections.
• On-Site Financial Leadership: Serve as the primary point of contact for all day-to-day financial activities at the Modesto Steel facility.
• Process Optimization: Refine workflows for industrial-specific transactions, such as freight-in/out accruals and fuel surcharges, to ensure operational efficiency.
• Internal Controls: Develop and enforce controls to safeguard assets (inventory/cash), working in conjunction with Premiere's corporate team to maintain full GAAP compliance.

Order Costing & Inventory Oversight

• Processing Cost Integrity: Conduct regular audits of costing reports on value-added processing orders (saw cutting, flame and plasma cutting, shearing, forming, and rolling) to ensure labor, material, and machine time are accurately allocated.
• Yield & Scrap Analysis: Oversee the reconciliation of physical inventory against ERP records; monitor the valuation of "drops" (remnants) vs. scrap to ensure accurate margin reporting.
• Margin Variance: Lead the investigation into order profitability, identifying and reporting on discrepancies between quoted margins and actual financial performance on the shop floor.

Financial Reporting, Close & Audit

• Month-End & Year-End Leadership: Execute the close process for Modesto Steel, ensuring all reconciliations (bank, debt, P&L, and Balance Sheet) are completed with high accuracy for roll-up to Premiere.
• Fixed Asset Management: Oversee the CAPEX lifecycle for heavy machinery (saws, shears, processing equipment, and fleet) and manage California business personal property tax filings and assessments.
• System Integrity: Act as the on-site functional lead for the ERP system, ensuring shop-floor units of measure (pounds, feet, pieces) translate accurately to financial statements.
• Audit & Tax Coordination: Work directly with the Premiere tax and audit teams to provide documentation for annual reviews and manage California sales/use tax filings and resale exemption certificates.

Qualifications Requirements

• Leadership Experience: 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or management capacity.
• Hands-On Approach: A "lead-by-example" mindset with a willingness to dive into the daily details of AR, AP, and reconciliations.
• Costing Expertise: Proven experience in a costing environment (Steel Service Center, Distribution, Fabrication, or Construction).
• Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of GAAP and experience managing high-volume transactional cycles.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to convert shop-floor data into actionable financial insights.

Education & Credentials

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Certification: CPA or CMA designation is highly preferred.
• Software: Advanced Excel & Google Suite (specifically Google Sheets) skills and experience with industrial ERP systems.

About Modesto Steel

For over 50 years, Modesto Steel has been Central and Northern California's premier steel and metal service center, offering wholesale and retail sales of carbon, alloy, stainless, aluminum, and specialty metal products — with more than 3,000 line items in stock. In addition to our product inventory, we provide in-house processing services including saw cutting, flame cutting, high-definition plasma cutting, shearing, forming, and rolling. Our team completes more than 20,000 annual deliveries on our own fleet of trucks, serving customers from the Central Valley to Yosemite, and processes an additional 10,000+ on-site transactions each year.

Salary Range

Our salary ranges are calculated in good faith based on the market requirements for this role in Modesto, CA. Hiring at the maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who exceed all minimum requirements, hold advanced credentials (such as an active CPA), and possess extensive industry-specific experience. A successful candidate's placement within this range will be determined based on an evaluation of skills, qualifications, and core competencies.
Range: $75- 105k

Modesto Steel Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits Offered

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. Also offers a Health Saving Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Retirement: Safe Harbor 401(k) plan with a dedicated wealth advisor.
• Ancillary: Includes supplemental benefits including Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability and employer-paid Life Insurance.