Accounting Specialist - Portage, IN

SMS Mill Services, LLC is a leader in the steel mill services industry prioritizing recycling and environmental/worker' safety and handling all operations with integrity. SMS Corporate is seeking a  highly skilled, detail-oriented and results-driven Accounting Specialist. This role is an important member of the finance team responsible for supporting accurate financial records, timely month-end close activities, accounts receivable billing, cash application, collections support, account reconciliations, and general ledger maintenance. This role provides cross-functional support to both the accounting and accounts receivable functions, helping ensure invoices are issued accurately and timely, cash receipts are properly recorded, customer balances are monitored, and accounting records are complete, properly supported, and maintained in accordance with U.S. GAAP, company policies, and internal control requirements.

The Finance Manager will report to the Sr. Vice President of Finance.

SMS provides a comprehensive range of services for steel mill customers.  We partner with our customers to design custom, cost-effective solutions, which focus on adding value and achieving goals for the operation and the environment. Our range of services includes, but is not limited scrap yard management, finished or semi-finished product services, melt shop services, logistics/transportation support, and slag processing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare and post journal entries, accruals, reclasses, cash receipts entries, unbilled revenue entries, and other accounting entries to support accurate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
• Perform monthly balance sheet account reconciliations, including accounts receivable, unapplied cash, cash receipts, revenue-related accounts, and other assigned general ledger accounts.
• Maintain accurate general ledger records by recording, verifying, reconciling, and analyzing accounting transactions.
• Perform accounts receivable billing activities, including reviewing billing support, confirming pricing, validating shipment and ticket information against the contracts, and ensuring invoices are issued accurately and timely.
• Support month-end accounts receivable close activities, including reviewing unbilled activity, confirming that revenue-related transactions are posted in the correct period, and assisting with billing completion within close deadlines.
• Work with site administrators, operations teams, and internal stakeholders to resolve missing pricing, shipment discrepancies, ticket questions, customer billing requirements, and other items that may delay billing or cash collection.
• Process, record, and reconcile cash receipts, including applying customer payments, researching unapplied cash, and supporting accurate customer account balances.
• Monitor customer accounts receivable balances, past-due invoices, and collection status; assist with follow-up on outstanding balances and preparation of collection-related reporting.
• Perform customer account research, including payment history, invoice questions, deductions, short payments, credits, disputes, and account reconciliations.
• Prepare AR aging reports, collection reports, customer account analyses, and documentation required for management review, bank reporting, audit requests, and borrowing base certificate support.
• Use company systems and reporting tools, including JD Edwards, Mayer, Sage, Coupa, ReportsNow, Power BI, and Excel, to process transactions, research activity, reconcile balances, and prepare reports.
• Work with customer portal activities as needed, including uploading invoices, reviewing customer portal status, confirming acceptance of loads or billing data, and resolving portal-related billing issues.
• Support accounting and reconciliation activities related to the company credit card program, ensuring transactions are properly supported, coded, approved, and recorded.
• Coordinate with finance team members to resolve accounting questions, accounts receivable issues, process gaps, and business concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Assist with fixed asset accounting, including additions, disposals, depreciation entries, reconciliations, and related reporting.
• Assist with financial statements, schedules, reports, and analysis for management review and business reporting needs.
• Assist with external audit, bank audit, and internal control support activities, including preparing schedules, gathering supporting documentation, and responding to information requests.
• Communicate with internal departments, operations teams, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders to research transactions, resolve questions, and obtain supporting documentation.
• Assist with process improvements, special projects, ad hoc reporting, automation opportunities, and workflow enhancements to improve accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency within the finance function.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Prior experience in accounting, accounts receivable, billing, cash application, collections support, general ledger accounting, or related finance functions preferred.
• Understanding of general ledger accounting, accounts receivable processes, reconciliations, journal entries, cash receipts, and month-end close activities.
• Intermediate Excel skills required, including the ability to work with formulas, pivot tables, lookups, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Experience with ERP, accounting, billing, or reporting systems preferred; experience with JD Edwards, Mayer, Coupa, ReportsNow, Power BI, or similar systems is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to review transactions, identify discrepancies, research issues, and prepare clear supporting documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, follow through on assigned tasks, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with finance, operations, customers, vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to review account activity, support lender or management reporting requests, and prepare organized documentation for review and approval.

Physical / Work Conditions
Generally working within a professional office environment using electronic and other company resources as essential tools to complete required work; travel to supplier and/or internal customer locations may be required.

What we can Offer:

• A comprehensive compensation package to commensurate with experience including bonuses
• Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, company-paid life insurance, etc. offered on day 1!
• 401(k) with 4% matching, 100% vested as of first contribution
• Paid holidays, 4 weeks paid vacation
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Opportunity to help drive operational improvements and team success
• Opportunity to grow within operational organization

SMS Mill Services, LLC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. SMS Mill Services, LLC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.