SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Senior Accountant

Potbelly is seeking a Senior Accountant to support franchise accounting, internal reporting, corporate accounting, and key business processes across the organization. This role is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial information through account reconciliations, journal entry preparation, financial analysis, month-end close activities, and financial systems administration and metadata maintenance to ensure the integrity of accounting data, reporting hierarchies, and financial reporting structures. The role supports the ongoing scalability, accuracy, and effectiveness of the Company's accounting and reporting environment.

The Senior Accountant will serve as a key accounting partner for the Company's growing franchise business. This role will review franchise accounting activities, support technical accounting research and issue resolution, and partner closely with their manager to ensure the franchise accounting function scales effectively alongside the Company's growth. The Senior Accountant will also partner cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Accounting, Franchising, and IT to support accurate financial reporting, financial systems administration, continuous process improvement initiatives, and assist with lease and fixed asset accounting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare, review, and record journal entries and account reconciliations for assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts.
• Execute month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely financial reporting.
• Serve as a key accounting resource for the Company's growing franchise business, providing support for franchise accounting activities, technical research, issue resolution, and process execution.
• Review franchise-related journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules prepared by accounting staff and provide guidance to support accurate financial reporting.
• Partner with their Manager, and cross-functional stakeholders to evaluate accounting matters, resolve complex issues, and support franchise growth initiatives.
• Prepare and analyze internal financial reports, management reporting packages, account fluctuations, and ad hoc financial analyses.
• Maintain and administer financial systems metadata, reporting hierarchies, account mappings, dimensions, and reporting structures to support accurate and consistent financial reporting.
• Support financial systems administration, testing, reporting enhancements, process automation efforts, and implementation of system improvements.
• Assist team with lease and fixed asset accounting activities.
• Support internal and external audits through the preparation of schedules, documentation, and responses to audit requests.
• Identify and implement process improvement opportunities that strengthen internal controls, improve efficiency, and support a scalable accounting and reporting environment.
• Assist with special projects and other accounting, reporting, and operational initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field
• 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience
• Experience preparing journal entries and account reconciliations
• Strong Excel skills
• High attention to detail and analytical mindset
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• Restaurant or multi-unit retail experience
• Experience with Toast
• Experience with ADP
• Experience with NetSuite or Workday
• CPA or CPA eligibility

Core Competencies:

• Detail-oriented with strong ownership mindset
• Organized and process disciplined
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Collaborative communicator