Accounting Manager

Accounting Manager

Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa, AZ (Full-time, onsite)

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) is the national destination for championship sports and live entertainment, attracting millions of visitors annually. AAG has a 275-acre campus in Mesa, Ariz., with more than 150 playing surfaces, 500,000 indoor square feet, and year-round high-profile events. The campus hosts a wide range of youth, amateur, and professional events including MLS NEXT, Tribe Basketball, Major League Pickleball, Nike EYBL, USA Basketball, and Special Olympics Arizona providing a scalable platform for competition, community, and growth. AAG also served as 2026 FIFA World Cup Base Camp for the Trkiye Men's National Soccer Team, is the current home of Sports Academy's integrated training and recovery space across 50,000 square feet, and is newly the home of the PPA Tour on its 41-court pickleball complex. AAG continues to expand its integrated sports ecosystem through strategic partnerships focused on athlete performance, wellness, entertainment, and community engagement.

Position Summary

Arizona Athletic Grounds is looking for an experienced Accounting Manager to lead the day-to-day accounting function and guide the company through this period of growth in operations and revenues. Reporting to the VP of Accounting, the Accounting Manager will own the monthly close and financial reporting cycle, supervise and develop the accounting staff, and serve as a hands-on leader and change agent within the function.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close and the preparation and review of financial statements in accordance with FRF for SMEs.
• Full financial statement responsibility.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting staff.
• Design, implement, document, and monitor internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures across the organization.
• Direct AR & AP operations with a particular focus on automation, process improvement, and service level adherence.
• Establish KPIs and rigorously monitor with metrics & data.
• Build administrative & procedural systems capable of handling a fast-growing company and workforce.
• Working with FP&A, partner with department leaders across events, facilities, F&B, and sales on budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Manage external audit, tax, and compliance engagements and serve as the primary day-to-day contact for outside advisors.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure seamless financial operations.
• Own ERP and subsystem administration; optimize systems and save costs.

Specific Tasks

• Maintain and execute the month-end close checklist, holding the team to the close calendar.
• Review and approve journal entries, accruals for unbilled expenses, prepaids, and Balance Sheet account reconciliations prepared by staff.
• Own the fixed asset subledger, depreciation schedules, capital project tracking, and related financial postings.
• Prepare and distribute the monthly reporting package, including variance commentary and departmental results, to ownership and department leaders.
• Oversee daily cash posting and revenue recognition across tournaments, facility rentals, ticketing, sponsorship, F&B, and retail.
• Own bank, merchant, and credit card reconciliations and daily cash position reporting.
• Manage the AP cycle, including invoice approval workflows, weekly payment runs, and adherence to the purchasing policy.
• Administer the Corporate Card Program and the out-of-pocket reimbursement policy.
• Support the annual budget and rolling forecast process and monitor performance against plan.
• Manage sales/use tax, TPT, property tax, and business licensing filings in coordination with outside advisors.
• Administer the ERP and AP modules, including chart of accounts, approval workflows, and user access.
• Lead ad hoc analysis, system implementations, and special projects to support the wider function.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA certification preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience, including 5+ years supervising or managing staff.
• Demonstrated ownership of a full-cycle month-end close and financial statement preparation.
• In-depth knowledge of GAAP/IFRS and financial reporting requirements; familiarity with FRF for SMEs a plus.
• Proven experience designing, documenting, and enforcing internal controls, compliance, and risk management.
• Track record of hiring, coaching, and developing accounting staff.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter excited about building a business.
• Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems, including implementation and optimization; experience with NetSuite and BILL is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization and present results to ownership.
• Experience in a public accounting firm or a publicly traded company preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial modeling.
• Experience in sports, entertainment, hospitality, or a multi-venue environment with ticketing operations is a plus.
• Big 4 experience a plus.

Any job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check. All qualified candidates for this position must be eligible to work in the United States.

AZ Athletic Associates LLC dba Arizona Athletic Grounds is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.