Lead Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Lead AccountantLocation: Alexandria, VAUS Citizenship: RequiredSecurity 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 systemPrepare and process weekly check runs, ACH payments, and wire transfers, verifying approvals and vendor payment details prior to disbursementReconcile vendor statements, research and resolve invoice and payment discrepancies, and maintain strong vendor relationshipsMonitor A/P aging and cash requirements, ensuring payments align with terms and support cash flow optimizationMaintain organized, audit-ready A/P files, reports, and supporting documentationPrepare and support annual Form 1099 filings and other vendor tax reporting requirementsServe as the internal subject matter expert on the A/P workflow system, supporting and training users as neededOwn A/P-related close activities, including accruals, subledger-to-general-ledger reconciliations, and cutoff analysisPrepare and review journal entries - including accruals, reclassifications, and adjustments supporting the monthly and annual closePerform reconciliations of assigned balance sheet accounts (cash, prepaids, accruals, clearing accounts, and similar) and ensure reconciling items are researched and resolved timelyAnalyze account fluctuations and variances, providing clear, well-supported explanations to the Controller and finance leadershipSupport preparation of monthly financial statement packages and supporting schedulesPrepare schedules and documentation in support of external audit requestsIdentify inefficiencies within A/P and close processes and recommend and implement solutions that increase automation, accuracy, and speedPartner with Procurement, FP&A, and IT to streamline procure-to-pay workflows and improve utilization of financial systemsDevelop and maintain desk procedures, close checklists, and process documentation as the organization's finance function scalesEvaluate and champion the adoption of technology and automation tools to scale AP and accounting operationsMonitor relevant KPIs and use data trends to drive continuous performance improvementEnsure AP and close activities comply with company policy, US GAAP, and internal control standardsIdentify control gaps and recommend and help design mitigating controlsMaintain appropriate segregation of duties across payment processing and vendor master maintenanceSupport internal control testing and audits, providing complete and accurate documentation to auditorsMonitor for potential vendor fraud risk and recommend mitigation practices to relevant stakeholders Requirements: Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related fieldMinimum of 7+ years of progressive accounting experience in the government contracting industry, including A/P, financial close, and account reconciliation Strong working knowledge of US GAAP and internal control principlesProficiency in accounting/ERP systems (e.g., Unanet, Costpoint) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.CPA certification or active progress toward CPA is a plusTop Secret clearance a plus, but not required Equal Opportunity Employer/Veteran/Disabled

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