Staff Accountant I

Job Title: Staff Accountant I

Location: Urbandale, IA 50323 Hybrid (Approx. 6 days/month onsite; 1 day the first week, 2 days the second week)

Pay Rate: $38 an hour

Type: 6 Months Contract-to-Hire

Schedule/Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (1-Hour Lunch)

Job Summary

We are looking for a  Staff Accountant I who will be an experienced individual contributor who operates with minimal supervision to own workstreams, projects, and end-to-end processes within Accounting Operations in Urbandale, IA. They will drive accurate financial execution, resolves complex operational issues through in-depth analysis, and influences business practices across functions. The Staff Accountant partners closely with internal and external stakeholders, leads process improvement initiatives, and provides guidance to peers to strengthen overall departmental performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Work independently with minimal supervision by taking full ownership of accounting tasks, priorities, deliverables, and execution plans.
• Own entire projects or processes within Accounting Operations, including developing plans, setting milestones, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely delivery.
• Develop, implement, and drive process improvements across operational workflows, monitoring ongoing effectiveness through metrics and KPIs.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and technical training to peers and junior colleagues by sharing expertise, insights, and operational best practices.
• Communicate effectively within and outside the accounting function, managing professional interactions with internal teams, external customers, and vendors.
• Influence operational practices and procedures by presenting strategic recommendations and collaborating with stakeholders to align cross-functional workflows.
• Solve difficult, multifaceted problems by gathering data, analyzing root causes, evaluating interdependencies, and applying critical thinking.
• Conduct in-depth financial and operational analysis using scenario-based evaluations and prior experience to determine optimal paths forward.
• Contribute directly to department results by collaborating across teams, sharing knowledge, and aligning operational efforts with key stakeholders.
• Manage and oversee end-to-end transaction-processing workflows within finance and accounting operations.
• Share operational updates clearly and resolve complex inquiries professionally to maintain positive working relationships.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in accounting or finance operations.
• Demonstrated experience in accounting/finance operations or a similar transaction-processing environment with proven ability to operate independently.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end processes and projects, including planning, milestone setting, progress tracking, and delivery.
• Strong analytical capabilities to resolve complex, multifaceted issues spanning multiple stakeholders or specialties.
• Strong communication and stakeholder alignment skills across internal and external groups.
• Local to the Urbandale, IA area to meet hybrid onsite requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience developing and implementing process improvements while monitoring ongoing effectiveness through KPIs.
• Prior experience coaching and training peers or junior team members in standard work and best practices.