Senior Bookkeeper/Accounting Specialist

Balanced Accounting & Tax Services is a small, established accounting firm serving individuals and businesses throughout southwest Michigan. We provide bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services and take pride in building lasting relationships with our clients. We're not a big corporate firm — and we don't want to be. We treat our clients like friends and neighbors because most of them are. Our office is business casual, our team is close-knit, and we genuinely enjoy the work we do and the people we do it for. If you're looking for a workplace where you can know your coworkers, build relationships with clients, have a little fun while you work, and make a meaningful contribution to a small business, we'd love to hear from you. About the Role We're looking for an experienced Senior Bookkeeper / Accounting Specialist to become an important part of our team. This is more than a data-entry or bookkeeping position. We're looking for someone with the accounting knowledge, judgment, initiative, and attention to detail to take ownership of accounting work and help take some of the workload off the firm's owner. You’ll review bookkeeping completed by our staff, including transaction coding and reconciliations, and review financial statements before they are delivered to clients. You’ll manage your own portfolio of bookkeeping and payroll clients and become a resource for our bookkeeping staff when questions or unusual situations arise. Our client base spans a variety of industries — construction, gas stations and convenience stores, restaurants, and nonprofits — so no two days look the same and you’ll get to use a real range of accounting skills. As you become familiar with our clients, systems, and processes, you’ll have the opportunity to take on additional responsibility and become someone we can rely on to help keep the office running smoothly. This is a hands-on position for someone who can hit the ground running. You should already have a strong understanding of accounting and bookkeeping and be able to work independently without needing step-by-step direction. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their work, communicates well, works well with others, and is comfortable taking ownership of their responsibilities. This person should be able to use good judgment, take initiative, and adapt as our firm continues to grow and modernize. Responsibilities Review completed bookkeeping for accuracy and completeness before financial statements are delivered to clients Review transaction coding, reconciliations, and account balances and identify items that need correction or further investigation Review financial statements to ensure they are accurate, complete, and make sense Identify unusual activity, inconsistencies, or errors and determine what needs to be addressed Maintain and update fixed asset schedules Manage your own portfolio of bookkeeping and payroll clients Process and review client bookkeeping and payroll reports Communicate with clients regarding bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting questions Help identify and resolve accounting issues Serve as a resource to bookkeeping staff when questions arise Help onboard new bookkeeping and payroll clients Assist with client intake and other office needs as necessary Help prepare and process simple tax returns during tax season Look for ways to improve our processes and make our work more efficient Help us continue moving toward more efficient, technology-driven workflows while recognizing that many of our clients still prefer traditional, personal service Take ownership of assigned responsibilities and follow through without constant supervision Step into a leadership/support role when other key staff members are out of the office What We’re Looking For Associate’s degree in Accounting or a related field preferred; strong equivalent hands-on accounting/bookkeeping experience will also be considered 3-5+ years of relevant accounting and/or bookkeeping experience Strong understanding of reconciliations and financial statements Ability to review financial information and recognize errors, inconsistencies, or unusual activity Bookkeeping and payroll experience Strong attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture Good problem-solving skills and sound judgment Ability to work independently and take initiative Excellent communication skills with both clients and coworkers Dependable and team-oriented Comfortable asking questions and investigating issues when something doesn’t make sense Comfortable learning and working with multiple software platforms Ability to work with clients from a variety of backgrounds with professionalism, respect, and patience Experience with Accounting CS or Quickbooks is strongly preferred. Experience with Lacerte, UltraTax, SmartVault, or Financial Cents is a plus. You don't need to know every program we use when you walk through the door, but you do need to be comfortable learning software independently and navigating a multi-platform digital environment. Schedule & Compensation Full-time hours during tax season (January-April) Approximately 32-36 hours/week during the off-season Starting at $26/hour, commensurate with experience Additional bonus opportunity Simple IRA Paid time off Supportive, close-knit team environment Opportunity to take on additional responsibility and grow with the firm Important This is a local, in-office employee position. We are not seeking offshore bookkeeping services, outsourced accounting companies, staffing agencies, or remote contractors for this position. If you’re an experienced accounting or bookkeeping professional who is ready to step in, contribute, and take ownership, we’d love to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr