Staff Accountant

Staff Accountant

Escanaba, MI 1st Shift

Summary

The Staff Accountant is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of either the Accounts Receivable or Accounts Payable function across the company's four entities, including supervision of the clerks assigned to that function, and is cross trained to supervise or perform the other function as needed. The position is also responsible for preparation and maintenance of standard and miscellaneous journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations for all companies; and support of month-end close, internal controls, and the annual financial audit. Other duties include working with the Controller and stepping into transactional AR or AP work when volume or staffing requires it.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Accounts Receivable / Accounts Payable Oversight

• Act as Corporate AR Supervisor or Corporate AP Supervisor, depending on primary assignment; maintain working proficiency in the other function through scheduled cross-training and provide back-up supervision and processing during absences, peak periods, or staffing gaps.
• AR assignment: supervise invoicing, cash application, collections, and customer account reconciliation for all locations.
• AP assignment: supervise invoice intake, coding, approval routing, payment runs, and vendor statement reconciliation for all locations.
• Investigate and resolve customer/vendor discrepancies, debits, and credits, working with Customer Service or Purchasing as needed; maintain tracking schedules for open AR or AP balances.
• Reconcile the AR or AP subledger to the general ledger monthly.

General Accounting and Month-End Close

• Prepare and post standard and miscellaneous journal entries, including accruals, and prepare balance sheet reconciliations with timely investigation and clearing of reconciling items.
• Maintain the fixed asset subledger: record additions, transfers, and disposals in accordance with capitalization policy; track construction-in-progress and place assets in service on completion.
• Run and record monthly depreciation and reconcile the fixed asset subledger to the general ledger.
• Prepare payment runs, check and wire documentation for approval and release by the Controller or other authorized signer, consistent with segregation-of-duties requirements.
• Prepare recurring financial schedules, account analyses, and supporting documentation; assist with budget and forecast data preparation, uploads, and reconciliations.
• Support the annual financial audit, including direct contact with auditors, and respond to internal audit, tax, and other information requests.

Internal Controls and Process Improvement

• Prepare and maintain internal control documentation and evidence; complete control templates and follow up on open items.
• Perform recurring controls where segregation-of-duties requirements permit, with independent review by the Controller or designated reviewer; support remediation and rollout of controls across all entities.
• Identify and help implement opportunities to standardize, automate, and digitize manual and paper-based accounting processes; complete special projects as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises up to two employees in the Accounting Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or related field and two to five years of related accounting experience; or associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience as determined by the Controller. Manufacturing experience and prior experience supervising accounting staff preferred.