Lead Accountant

Title: Lead Accountant Location: Alexandria, VA US Citizenship: Required Security Clearance: Top Secret preferred Responsibilities: Own the end-to-end A/P process, including invoice receipt, coding, three-way matching (PO, receipt, invoice), approval routing, and timely entry into the accounting system Prepare and process weekly check runs, ACH payments, and wire transfers, verifying approvals and vendor payment details prior to disbursement Reconcile vendor statements, research and resolve invoice and payment discrepancies, and maintain strong vendor relationships Monitor A/P aging and cash requirements, ensuring payments align with terms and support cash flow optimization Maintain organized, audit-ready A/P files, reports, and supporting documentation Prepare and support annual Form 1099 filings and other vendor tax reporting requirements Serve as the internal subject matter expert on the A/P workflow system, supporting and training users as needed Own A/P-related close activities, including accruals, subledger-to-general-ledger reconciliations, and cutoff analysis Prepare and review journal entries - including accruals, reclassifications, and adjustments supporting the monthly and annual close Perform reconciliations of assigned balance sheet accounts (cash, prepaids, accruals, clearing accounts, and similar) and ensure reconciling items are researched and resolved timely Analyze account fluctuations and variances, providing clear, well-supported explanations to the Controller and finance leadership Support preparation of monthly financial statement packages and supporting schedules Prepare schedules and documentation in support of external audit requests Identify inefficiencies within A/P and close processes and recommend and implement solutions that increase automation, accuracy, and speed Partner with Procurement, FP&A, and IT to streamline procure-to-pay workflows and improve utilization of financial systems Develop and maintain desk procedures, close checklists, and process documentation as the organization’s finance function scales Evaluate and champion the adoption of technology and automation tools to scale AP and accounting operations Monitor relevant KPIs and use data trends to drive continuous performance improvement Ensure AP and close activities comply with company policy, US GAAP, and internal control standards Identify control gaps and recommend and help design mitigating controls Maintain appropriate segregation of duties across payment processing and vendor master maintenance Support internal control testing and audits, providing complete and accurate documentation to auditors Monitor for potential vendor fraud risk and recommend mitigation practices to relevant stakeholders Requirements: Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field Minimum of 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including A/P, financial close, and account reconciliation Strong working knowledge of US GAAP and internal control principles Proficiency in accounting/ERP systems (e.g., Unanet, Costpoint) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills. CPA certification or active progress toward CPA is a plus Top Secret clearance a plus, but not required Equal Opportunity Employer/Veteran/Disabled #J-18808-Ljbffr