Accounting Project Manager

Accounting Project Manager

The Accounting Project Manager is an integral part of our multi-year transition to CAT Converge, an ERP system built on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform and is involved in each module from planning through go-live and ongoing support. This position develops a thorough understanding of the company's current accounting processes and works with accounting leadership, IT, and operational teams to build those processes into the new system, test them, and support the team as they are put into use. Working alongside the Senior IT Project Manager, who leads overall project planning, budget, and technical delivery, this role keeps the accounting team organized and on task through each implementation phase. The position makes sure each module, including inventory, sales, service, parts, etc., is set up to flow accurately into the general ledger and financial reporting. Over time, this role grows into the accounting owner of CAT Converge, supporting the system, its users, and its ongoing improvement for years to come. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented accounting professional who understands how operational transactions drive financial results, communicates well with both finance and IT, and is ready to take a hands-on role in a core business system for the long term.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

Module Design and Process Alignment

• Participate in the design of each CAT Converge module, working with the Controller, CFO, IT, operational process owners, and the implementation partner.
• Learn and document current-state accounting processes (GL, AP, AR, inventory, fixed assets, close, and reporting) and identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Translate current processes and accounting requirements into the new system, including chart of accounts, financial dimensions, and account coding structures.
• Participate in configuration and design sessions to confirm the system meets GAAP, reporting, and control requirements.
• Develop future-state process documentation and procedures.

Module Integration and Financial Flow

• Review the setup of each CAT Converge module to confirm transactions post accurately to the general ledger, including account determination, posting profiles, and subledger-to-GL relationships.
• Define accounting requirements for each module with operational teams, so that sales, purchasing, inventory, service, parts, and other processes produce the correct financial impact.
• Validate that cost of sales, revenue recognition, inventory valuation, accruals, and intercompany activity flow properly from the operational modules into the financials.
• Test end-to-end transaction flows (for example, purchase to payable, order to cash, and inventory receipt to cost of sales) and confirm results in the GL and financial reports.
• Assess how each new module rollout affects existing modules, reporting, and the close process.

Project Coordination

• Work with the Senior IT Project Manager to keep accounting tasks, deadlines, and deliverables aligned with the overall project plan for each phase.
• Keep accounting staff informed of upcoming changes, schedules, and expectations, and coordinate their participation in design sessions, testing, and training.
• Track open issues and risks affecting accounting and escalate to the Controller and CFO as needed.
• Coordinate accounting resources so project work is balanced with month-end close and daily operations.
• Maintain continuity and institutional knowledge across phases as modules are rolled out over time.

Data Migration, Testing, and Go-Live

• Lead accounting's data cleanup, mapping, and validation for master data and open balances, including inventory, AP, AR, and fixed assets.
• Reconcile legacy and CAT Converge balances during mock conversions and final cutover for each phase.
• Develop and execute accounting test plans, including user acceptance testing.
• Coordinate user training and prepare job aids and training materials for the accounting team.
• Provide hands-on support during each go-live and the first closes that follow, resolving issues quickly.

Ongoing System Ownership

• Act as the accounting department's system owner for CAT Converge, serving as the first point of contact for accounting users' questions and issues.
• Partner with IT to prioritize, document, and track accounting enhancement requests and system changes.
• Review and test system updates and new releases for their impact on accounting processes, reporting, and controls.
• Maintain current documentation of accounting configuration, procedures, and training materials.
• Train and support new accounting team members on the system.

Controls and Audit Support

• Design and document internal controls, approval workflows, and security roles for accounting in CAT Converge.
• Maintain project documentation to support internal and external audit requests.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to reduce manual work and shorten the close.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 2 or more years of accounting experience, including month-end close and account reconciliation required.
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP and general ledger structure.
• Understanding of how operational transactions (purchasing, sales, inventory, and similar) translate into accounting entries.
• Experience documenting processes and tracking tasks, deliverables, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, reconciliation and data validation work).
• Ability to meet deadlines while balancing project work and close responsibilities.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting or leading a system implementation, upgrade, or conversion.
• Direct experience with a full ERP implementation, preferably on Microsoft Dynamics 365 or CAT Converge.
• Experience as a business owner, super user, or system administrator for an ERP or accounting system.
• Experience in heavy equipment, manufacturing, or dealer/distribution environments.
• Experience with multi-phase or multi-module rollouts.
• Experience with data migration, mapping, and conversion validation.
• Familiarity with project or task tracking tools (Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, or Azure DevOps).
• CPA or progress toward CPA licensure.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to keep multiple workstreams and a team on track over a long-term program.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to trace discrepancies to their source and solve problems under pressure.
• Ability to quickly learn existing processes and clearly document how they work.
• Clear written and verbal communication with finance, IT, operations, and external partners.
• Ability to translate accounting needs into system requirements and explain technical concepts to non-technical staff.
• Ability to work independently, build working relationships across departments, and drive items to completion.
• Commitment to accuracy, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Additional Job Information:

• Primarily office-based/desk work at our Flowood, MS location.
• Increased workload during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, and during key project phases such as testing, cutover, and go-live.
• Availability outside regular business hours as needed for critical issues during cutovers and go-lives.

Puckett Machinery Company