Accounting Manager

Job Description

Overview

The Accounting Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting activities for assigned business units and ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial information. This position plays a key role in the monthly financial close, financial reporting, account reconciliations, internal controls, budgeting and forecasting, audit support, and continuous improvement of accounting processes.

Working under the direction of the Divisional Controller and Director of Finance, the Accounting Manager will partner with operational and business leaders to provide meaningful financial information, identify trends and risks, improve financial processes, and support sound business decisions.

The Accounting Manager will directly supervise accounting personnel and is responsible for developing a high-performing team through effective leadership, training, coaching, and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Accounting & Financial Reporting
• Manage the general ledger and oversee accounting activities for assigned business units.
• Lead and coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other general ledger activity.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and supporting schedules.
• Analyze financial results against budget, forecast, prior year, and prior periods and identify significant trends and variances.
• Ensure transactions are recorded accurately and consistently in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Manage and review intercompany transactions, allocations, reconciliations, and eliminations.
• Oversee Accounts Receivable accounting activities for assigned business units, including reconciliations, aging analysis, and issue resolution.
• Partner with Accounts Payable and operational teams to ensure vendor invoices, expenses, and accruals are recorded accurately and in the appropriate accounting period.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for significant accounting transactions and account balances.
• Assist with technical accounting research and implementation of new accounting policies when necessary.
• Assist with cash flow, Accounts Receivable, inventory, and other working-capital analysis.
• Support management with ad hoc financial modeling, analysis, and special projects.
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Participate in the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes.
• Work with department and business-unit leaders to develop reasonable and supportable financial assumptions.
• Analyze actual results against budgets and forecasts and communicate material variances.
• Assist in developing rolling forecasts and other forward-looking financial reporting.
• Help improve the accuracy and efficiency of budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Internal Controls & Compliance
• Develop, maintain, and improve accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and approval controls are maintained throughout accounting processes.
• Identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure company assets and liabilities are properly recorded, reconciled, safeguarded, and reported.
• Maintain appropriate documentation supporting accounting procedures and controls.
• Support compliance with company policies, U.S. GAAP, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Assist the Corporate Controller with maintaining a strong financial control environment across the organization.
• Audit & Tax Support
• Coordinate and prepare schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and other information requested by external auditors.
• Serve as a key accounting contact during annual financial statement audits and other reviews.
• Assist with responding to auditor questions and resolving audit requests efficiently.
• Support preparation of information requested for income tax, property tax, sales and use tax, and other compliance requirements as needed.
• Assist with implementing recommendations resulting from audits or internal reviews.
• Systems, Automation & Process Improvement
• Continuously evaluate accounting processes and identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and internal controls.
• Utilize ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, reporting tools, and other technologies to automate repetitive accounting and reporting activities.
• Improve the quality and accessibility of financial information through dashboards, automated reporting, and standardized reporting packages.
• Reduce reliance on manual spreadsheets and manual data entry where practical.
• Develop standardized processes, templates, reconciliations, and reporting across business units.
• Participate in ERP implementations, system upgrades, integrations, and accounting technology projects.
• Partner with IT and other departments to improve data quality, system controls, and financial reporting capabilities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including automation and AI-enabled tools, where they can responsibly improve accounting efficiency, accuracy, and analysis.
• Leadership & Team Development
• Directly supervise and develop accounting personnel.
• Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, priorities, and deadlines for team members.
• Review the work of accounting staff and ensure accuracy, completeness, and appropriate supporting documentation.
• Train and mentor employees on accounting principles, company procedures, systems, and process improvement.
• Develop cross-training and backup coverage for critical accounting responsibilities.
• Manage employee workloads, schedules, vacations, meal and rest periods, and departmental coverage.
• Review and approve employee timecards as required.
• Conduct employee performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback, coaching, and development.
• Participate in the hiring, onboarding, training, development, and, when necessary, corrective action of accounting employees.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, professionalism, and customer service.
• Identify opportunities to improve department staffing, workflow, organizational structure, and productivity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive accounting experience required.
• Minimum two (2) years of supervisory, team-lead, or accounting management experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, month-end close, financial statements, reconciliations, and internal controls required.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, agriculture, food production, or another multi-location operating environment preferred.
• Public accounting or professional audit experience preferred.
• CPA or CMA certification is required.

Physical Requirements

• Technical Skills
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial accounting principles.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, data analysis, and financial modeling.
• Experience working with ERP and financial reporting systems required.
• Ability to efficiently extract, organize, validate, and analyze large volumes of financial and operational data.
• Experience with business intelligence and data visualization tools such as Power BI or similar applications preferred.
• Familiarity with accounting automation, workflow tools, system integrations, and AI-assisted productivity tools preferred.
• Strong understanding of financial statements and the relationship between the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
• Leadership & Business Skills
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate financial information into clear business insights and recommendations.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and drive projects through completion.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining an understanding of the broader business.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with accounting personnel, operational employees, senior management, auditors, and outside business partners.
• Strong leadership and employee-development skills.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and accountable work environment.
• High level of integrity and ability to appropriately handle confidential financial and employee information.
• Self-motivated and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.
• Key Performance Expectations
• Accurate and timely monthly financial close.
• Quality and accuracy of financial statements and account reconciliations.
• Reduction in recurring accounting errors and reconciling items.
• Timely identification and communication of financial risks and opportunities.
• Quality of financial analysis provided to management.
• Strength and effectiveness of internal controls.
• Successful completion of external audits with minimal adjustments.
• Improvements in accounting processes, automation, and reporting efficiency.
• Development, retention, and performance of accounting staff.
• Effective partnership with operational and business-unit leadership.

Environment

• Frequently exposed to indoor/controlled weather conditions.