Accountant

Accountant – Accounts Payable Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, a national law firm, currently has an excellent full-time employment opportunity for an Accountant. We offer competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package plus a 35 hour work week.Position Summary: Audit and process daily Accounts Payable and/or Expense Reimbursement transactions and related activities in a timely and accurate manner while following best practices and firm policy. Identify and address unusual transactions to prevent violations of best practices and firm policy. Research and respond to inquiries from vendors, Hinshaw staff or attorneys, peers, clients, and management. Support and perform all Accounts Payable functions, and other Accounting functions in the Department as needed.Essential Functions Include:

• Audit and process various Accounts Payable transactions firm-wide using the automated Chrome River Invoice and Expense system. Specific types of Accounts Payable transactions will vary and may include: client- and firm-chargeable vendor invoices, client-and firm-chargeable expense reimbursements, immediate checks printed in central office, immediate checks printed in local offices, Cost Recovery, vendor setup, W9 and 1099 reporting administration.
• Perform other Accounts Payable activities, including, but not limited to: banking activities, recording and verification of images, mailing checks, sorting, and filing.
• Collaborate with, and provide backup support to, the Accounts Payable team to ensure all Accounts Payable processes are performed in a timely and accurate manner. Provide team support to accommodate high volume days and vacations.
• Collaborate with other groups in the Finance department, such as Cash Receipts, Cost Recovery, Billing, Collections, and Financial Reporting to ensure seamless end-to-end processes.
• Collaborate with customers outside the Finance Department such as secretaries, paralegals, administrative staff, office administrators, attorneys, management, and clients to ensure outstanding customer service and resolution of problems.
• Assist in the Unclaimed Property process up to and including uploading new items into the automated Unclaimed Property software, completing due diligence and periodic reporting.
• Research and respond to Accounts Payable inquiries, including those from internal and external customers.
• Perform all functions using cautious skepticism.
• Communicate Accounts Payable best practices and firm policies with customers. Ensure compliance with best practices and firm policies. Elevate complex issues as needed.
• Provide input to Accounts Payable Supervisor and Accounting Manager regarding potential changes in Accounts Payable policies and how suggested changes would affect Accounts Payable functions.
• Participate in periodic meetings to ensure projects are being performed in a timely manner, discuss issues and their resolution as they arise, review best practices and firm policies, and plan for voluminous workload during busy seasons.
• Special projects as needed.
• Other functions as assigned.Qualifications and Prior Experience:
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance preferred. Will consider applicants with equivalent experience and new graduates.
• Experience in Partnership Accounting and Chrome River expense and invoice platform preferred.
• Education in, or working knowledge of, common Accounts Payable processes, procedures and best practices.
• Knowledge in other areas of Accounting or Finance, including general ledger account coding, and basic knowledge of Balance Sheet vs. Income Statement categorization and Debits vs. Credits.
• Ability to proactively plan and accomplish goals to perform a variety of Accounting activities.
• Ability to recognize and tactfully address unusual transactions with customers, while insisting on compliance with best practices and firm policies, and elevating complex issues to management as needed.
• Ability to quickly adapt to new processes, policies, and software.
• Understanding of 1099 and W9 reporting requirements for all payments. Monitor and insist on compliance with W9 policies to protect the firm from adverse IRS action.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple competing priorities in a high pressure environment while completing assignments in a timely and professional manner.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and writing skills with the ability to interact professionally with clients, vendors, and all levels within the firm.
• Advanced knowledge of Accounts Payable systems and intermediate-to-advanced knowledge of Excel, depending on need.

As an EOE/AA employer, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.