Staff Accountant (Chicago)

Phusion Projects: Established in 2005 Phusion Projects is a global alcoholic beverage company with presence in over 40 countries, employing 250+ worldwide and housing a portfolio of brands including Four Loko, Four Loko PREGAME, Remix, Overtime, Earthquake, and more!

Culture: Innovation and disruption is in the DNA at Phusion, we understand drinkers as category agnostic and we pursue flavor, brand, and functional benefits above all else. We're always looking to push boundaries within our current product portfolio and partnerships and that mindset flows through in our company culture.

JOB TITLE: Staff Accountant

DEPARTMENT: Accounting

LOCATION: Hybrid, on-site Tuesdays and Wednesdays

REPORTING TO: Senior Accounting Manager

Role Summary

The Staff Accountant is a hands-on role on the US accounting team, reporting to the Senior Accounting Manager and working closely with the Senior Accountant on month-end close, accounts payable, cash application, and reconciliations. You will learn and eventually take ownership of core processes, and as you grow in the role, be expected to make them better: find what can be automated, standardized, or eliminated, and bring ideas forward without waiting to be asked. This role is built for someone who is curious about how Phusion operates, learns quickly, and wants to grow their technical accounting and systems skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare journal entries, analyses, and account reconciliations, maintain general ledger accounts, and own assigned tasks in the monthly close in Numeric.
• Take ownership of billing, cash application, and accounts payable processing in Ramp and NetSuite, including three-way matching and payment runs, with the explicit goal of reducing manual effort over time by identifying what can be automated, standardized, or eliminated.
• Apply GAAP and follow internal controls and company policies in all work performed.
• Identify and propose improvements to close, AP, and reconciliation processes, and help implement them, using tools such as NetSuite saved searches, Numeric, Ramp, and AI.
• Support intercompany reconciliations with international subsidiaries.
• Work closely with other departments, including Finance, Sales, and Supply Chain, to resolve issues.
• Prepare schedules requested by internal and external auditors.
• Prepare or assist with federal excise and sales tax returns and reconcile them to general ledger activity
• Work on special projects and perform other related duties as assigned by management.

Work Style and Attributes

• You ask why a process works the way it does, and you’re not satisfied with “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
• When you find a problem, you come with a proposed fix, not just the problem.
• You teach yourself new tools and techniques without waiting for formal training, including using AI tools in your day-to-day work.
• You look beyond the debit and credit to understand what’s happening in the business: what drove a variance, why a vendor was paid late, what do internal partners in Sales or Supply Chain need from Accounting.
• You are comfortable working with partial instructions and figuring out the rest, and you know when to ask.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of professional accounting experience; public accounting or month-end close experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• CPA, or pursuing CPA licensure, a plus.
• Solid understanding of GAAP, account reconciliations, and accrual accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables) and strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Exposure to Power Query, Power BI, Power Automate or other data and automation tools a plus, or a demonstrated interest in learning them.
• NetSuite experience strongly preferred; experience with Numeric, Ramp, or similar close management and AP/spend platforms a plus.
• Prior experience in consumer products, beverage, or distribution environment a plus.
• Ability to explain accounting topics clearly to finance and non-financial staff.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-change environment, with an interest in the beverage industry.
• Spanish speaking a plus.

COMPENSATION:

The base pay range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000 per year.

This position is also eligible for bonus awards and cell phone allowance.

The range listed is dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, education, and skills.

You may also be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter & transit, paid holidays, paid time off, and 401(k).

COMPETENCIES:

● Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

● Dependability - Meets agreed deadlines and deliverables; Takes responsibility for own work; Keeps commitments; Proactively communicates when a timeline is at risk and proposes an alternate plan.

● Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

● Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

● Collaboration - Works effectively with cross-functional partners; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Incorporates revision rounds efficiently.

Phusion Projects is an equal opportunity employer. Phusion recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status, as required by applicable law.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.