Bookkeeper (Client Accounting Specialist)

Job Description

Job Description

Join a Firm That Values Quality Work and Work-Life Balance

Ehlers Accounting & Tax Services is seeking an experienced Bookkeeper to join our team in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This position is much more than a traditional bookkeeping role. As part of our Client Accounting Services team, you'll work directly with small business owners to help them maintain accurate financial records throughout the year. Your work will include preparing financial statements, reconciling accounts, processing payroll, performing accounting cleanup, and helping clients stay organized and prepared for year-end tax preparation.

We are a small, established accounting firm serving business and individual clients throughout the area. This position is being added to help balance workloads, expand our client accounting services, and ensure our team can continue providing exceptional service while maintaining a sustainable work environment.

We're looking for someone who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, working directly with clients, and taking ownership of their work. If you take pride in producing accurate financial statements, identifying issues before they become problems, and helping business owners better understand their numbers, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Manage the day-to-day accounting for a portfolio of small business clients
• Reconcile bank, credit card, and loan accounts
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial statements
• Analyze general ledger activity and identify discrepancies
• Perform accounting cleanup and month-end adjusting journal entries
• Process payroll and prepare payroll tax returns
• Prepare sales and use tax returns
• Work directly with clients to answer accounting and bookkeeping questions
• Review client accounting records for accuracy and completeness
• Help clients prepare for year-end tax preparation by maintaining clean, organized books throughout the year
• Develop proficiency with our Thomson Reuters accounting software suite

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of bookkeeping or accounting experience, preferably serving multiple business clients
• Strong understanding of accounting principles
• Experience preparing financial statements
• Experience reconciling bank, credit card, and loan accounts
• Experience performing account reconciliations and adjusting journal entries
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong technology and software skills
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple clients and priorities
• Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with QuickBooks Online and/or QuickBooks Desktop
• Experience processing payroll and payroll tax returns
• Experience preparing sales tax returns
• Experience preparing business and individual income tax returns
• Experience with Thomson Reuters software products, including Accounting CS, UltraTax CS, Fixed Assets CS, FileCabinet CS, or similar professional accounting software

Technology & Software

We utilize a fully integrated Thomson Reuters professional suite, including:

• Accounting CS
• UltraTax CS
• Fixed Assets CS
• FileCabinet CS
• SafeSend

Our clients utilize a variety of accounting systems, including QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Experience with Thomson Reuters products is preferred but not required. We value individuals who enjoy learning new technology and using it to improve efficiency.

Who Succeeds in This Role

The ideal candidate:

• Takes ownership of their work
• Enjoys solving problems and improving processes
• Thinks critically rather than simply entering data
• Enjoys finding and correcting accounting issues—not just recording transactions
• Can identify accounting issues before they become tax issues
• Works independently while knowing when to ask thoughtful questions
• Is organized, detail-oriented, and committed to accuracy
• Enjoys building relationships with small business clients
• Values being part of a collaborative, supportive team

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year, you will:

• Produce accurate financial statements requiring minimal review
• Help clients maintain organized, accurate accounting records throughout the year
• Identify bookkeeping and accounting issues proactively and recommend solutions
• Reduce year-end cleanup work by improving the quality of client bookkeeping
• Become a trusted resource for both clients and coworkers
• Assist with business and individual tax preparation during tax season

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay range of $25 - $28 per hour based on experience
• Overtime paid in accordance with applicable wage and hour laws
• Paid Time Off begins accruing immediately upon hire
• 401(k) plan available after 90 days of service
• Nine paid holidays annually, including:
  • New Year's Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Friday before Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Friday after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day
  • Paid half-days on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Stable, year-round employment

Work Schedule & Work-Life Balance

We believe excellent client service starts with a well-supported team and sustainable workloads.

January through May

• Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

June through December

• Monday through Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

During tax season, occasional overtime may be necessary; however, our goal it to maintain a reasonable workload and staff are not expected to work more than 45 hours per week.

Why Join Ehlers Accounting & Tax Services?

We're a small, established accounting firm that values quality work, strong client relationships, and a sustainable work environment. If you're looking for more than just another bookkeeping position—if you're looking for a place where you can build lasting client relationships, solve interesting accounting challenges, and be part of a team that values both quality work and quality of life—we'd love to hear from you.