Senior Staff Accountant

Senior Staff Accountant

• Huntsville, Alabama

  Senior Staff Accountant (Remote but must be local to Huntsville, AL) Job Summary The Senior Staff Accountant supports the Finance and Accounting function by maintaining accurate financial records, leading close and reconciliation activities, preparing financial reports, and strengthening accounting processes and internal controls. The position performs and reviews complex accounting activities in a government contracting environment, including contract cost accounting, indirect rate monitoring, labor reconciliation, billing support, and audit preparation. The role supports the configuration and maintenance of accounting and timekeeping systems designed to meet applicable FAR, DFARS, CAS, contract, and DCAA accounting system requirements. This position requires prior government contract accounting experience and proficiency with QuickBooks. Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Lead and support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including preparation and review of journal entries, accruals, adjustments, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.

• Maintain and review general ledger activity for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• Prepare internal and external financial statements, management reports, and variance analyses to support business decision-making.

• Analyze financial results, research account activity, identify trends and variances, and communicate findings and recommendations to management.

• Oversee and perform accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including invoice processing, payment preparation, billing, collections, account coding, and reconciliations.

• Review payroll records, timecards, labor distribution reports, prepaid expenses, accruals, fixed assets, and depreciation schedules for accuracy and completeness.

• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and other financial planning activities through analysis and reporting.

• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation and coordinate information requests for internal, external, customer, and government audits.

• Support government contract accounting activities, including contract cost accumulation, labor charging, timekeeping, billing, and financial reporting.

• Maintain proper segregation of direct costs, indirect costs, and unallowable costs within the accounting system and chart of accounts.

• Review contract costs for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness in accordance with contract requirements, company policies, and applicable government contracting regulations.

• Accumulate and reconcile costs by contract, task order, project, and cost objective to support accurate job-cost accounting and reporting.

• Maintain and reconcile indirect cost pools, including fringe, overhead, and General & Administrative (G&A) expenses, and assist with indirect rate calculations and reconciliations.

• Support billing and revenue recognition activities for various contract types, including Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Time-and-Materials (T&M), and Cost-Reimbursement contracts, as applicable.

• Reconcile contract-related accounts, including billed and unbilled receivables, project costs, contract revenue, and funding balances.

• Prepare and maintain records, reconciliations, and supporting documentation necessary to ensure audit readiness and compliance with contract and regulatory requirements.

• Assist with the implementation, enhancement, and maintenance of the accounting and timekeeping systems to support government contract accounting, reporting, internal controls, and audit trail requirements.

• Develop and improve accounting procedures, internal controls, documentation standards, and workflow efficiencies.

• Support tax compliance activities, including 1099 reporting, sales tax filings, and other business tax requirements, as assigned.

• Collaborate with Operations, Human Resources, Contracts, and Program Management teams to support accurate financial reporting and resolve accounting or contract-related issues.

• Provide guidance, training, and technical support to Staff Accountants and Junior Staff Accountants.

• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, schedules, and workpapers prepared by accounting staff and serve as a resource for complex accounting matters.

• Protect confidential company, employee, customer, contract, and financial information.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of six years of progressively responsible accounting or finance experience, including general ledger, financial reporting, reconciliations, and close activities.

• Minimum of six years’ experience supporting government-contract accounting requirements, indirect cost structures, billing, timekeeping, and contract compliance.

• Experience applying FAR cost principles and supporting DCAA accounting system or audit requirements.

• Proficiency with QuickBooks, including general ledger, transaction processing, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, and core accounting processes.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and working proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

• Experience reviewing the work of others and providing day-to-day guidance or training to accounting staff.

• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work remotely and attend in-person meetings when business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.

• Experience with Oracle NetSuite, Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or another government contracting ERP system.

• Relevant professional certifications.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Government contracting accounting and compliance awareness

• Financial reporting, general ledger accounting, reconciliations, accruals, prepaids, and fixed assets

• QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel proficiency

• Analytical thinking, research, and problem-solving

• Accuracy, attention to detail, and sound judgment

• Organization, prioritization, accountability, and follow-through

• Confidentiality and information management

• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration

• Ability to coach and support accounting team members

• Adaptability and willingness to learn new systems and processes

Security and Credentialing Requirements

• Successful completion of a background investigation, as required by company requirements.

Physical Requirements The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Continuously: communicate and exchange information using a computer, telephone, and virtual meeting technology.

• Frequently: remain in a stationary position and perform repetitive keyboard and computer work.

• Occasionally: move within an office or meeting location and carry typical office materials weighing up to 10 pounds.

• Occasionally: travel locally or to another designated location for in-person meetings, training, or business needs.

Work Environment This position is primarily remote and requires a professional home-work environment with reliable internet access and the ability to safeguard confidential information. The employee must be willing and able to attend in-person meetings when business needs require. In-person work may occur in a standard office or meeting environment. Any travel expectations will be communicated in advance and handled in accordance with company policy.

Benefits Package Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life Insurance, PTO, Holidays Equal Employment Opportunity. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. E-Verify. This organization participates in E-Verify. #DICE