Staff Accountant

Staff Accountant Job Purpose: The Staff Accountant is a key member of the corporate accounting team, supporting the integrity of the general ledger and the accuracy and timeliness of the financial close in a SAP and FloQast environment. This role prepares journal entries and account reconciliations for assigned areas of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close and ensures transactions are recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies. Beyond the recurring close, the Staff Accountant contributes to the company’s internal control environment by performing assigned SOX controls, retaining control evidence, and preparing support requested by internal and external auditors. The role also participates in process-improvement projects — increasingly leveraging automation and AI tools — that streamline and strengthen the financial close, making it an excellent fit for a detail-oriented, curious accountant early in their career who wants to build a strong technical foundation and grow into broader ownership over time. This is a hybrid position, with one required day in the office per week. Our corporate office is located in Hillsborough, NC. Major Accountabilities / Essential Duties: General Ledger & Financial Close (Approximately 45%) Prepare assigned areas of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close within SAP, meeting all close-calendar deadlines and ensuring assigned accounts are complete, accurate, and fully supported before results are finalized Prepare and post journal entries in SAP — including accruals, prepaids, allocations, and reclassifications — each with clear, audit-ready supporting documentation and appropriate approvals Record transactions in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies, researching routine treatment questions and escalating new or non-routine transactions for senior review Review general ledger activity for reasonableness, research variances and posting errors, and confirm proper account, cost center, and entity classification Prepare monthly and quarterly roll-forwards and supporting schedules, and draft fluctuation and variance explanations for review by senior accounting team members Complete assigned close tasks and checklists in FloQast on schedule, and recommend refinements that shorten the close and improve accountability and visibility Account Reconciliations & Balance Sheet Support (Approximately 30%) Prepare balance sheet account reconciliations in FloQast for assigned accounts, ensuring each balance is complete, accurate, properly classified, and supported by appropriate documentation Research reconciling items on a timely basis, clearing routine items independently and escalating aged or unusual items with recommended next steps Tie assigned sub-ledgers (e.g., accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, and inventory) to the general ledger, and research and help correct discrepancies Follow established reconciliation standards, preparer sign-off requirements, and supporting‑evidence expectations within FloQast to maintain a consistent, audit‑ready close Compile account analytics and roll‑forwards for assigned areas and flag unexpected balances, trends, or exposures to the Senior Accountant and Controller SOX Compliance & Audit Support (Approximately 15%) Perform assigned SOX controls consistently and on time, retaining complete and clearly organized evidence of execution Help keep SOX-level documentation — including process narratives, flowcharts, and risk‑and‑control matrices (RCMs) — current as processes and systems evolve Prepare and organize PBC schedules and supporting documentation for quarterly reviews and the annual audit, and respond to auditor requests under the direction of senior team members Support the remediation of control deficiencies by completing assigned corrective actions and documenting results for review Process Improvement & Ad Hoc Projects (Approximately 10%) Contribute to ad hoc projects that streamline and strengthen the financial close, including testing, documentation, and post‑go‑live validation Identify manual, repetitive tasks that can be automated and use AI tools such as Claude to accelerate research, analysis, and documentation, reviewing and validating all outputs before use Partner with FP&A, IT, and business teams to test and implement SAP and FloQast enhancements and new accounting processes Draft and maintain desktop procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for assigned areas to support cross‑training and scalability Assist with technical accounting research, system implementations, integrations, special projects, and other duties as assigned Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess: Accounting Fundamentals: a solid grounding in U.S. GAAP and the month‑end close, including hands‑on experience preparing journal entries and balance sheet account reconciliations. Internal Controls Awareness: familiarity with internal control concepts and SOX, and the discipline to execute controls consistently and retain clear, complete evidence. Audit Support: experience assembling PBC support and responding to internal or external auditor requests with well‑organized, audit‑ready documentation. SAP and FloQast Aptitude: exposure to an ERP such as SAP (general ledger, journal entries, and reporting) and a close‑management tool such as FloQast, or the aptitude and drive to become proficient quickly. AI and Automation Curiosity: interest in using AI tools such as Claude or Microsoft Copilot to accelerate research, analysis, documentation, and process automation, with sound judgment on reviewing and validating outputs. Analytical and Problem‑Solving Skills: comfort working with large data sets, researching and explaining variances, and resolving reconciling items with clear, well‑documented support. Strong Excel Skills: proficiency in Microsoft Excel — pivot tables, lookups, and analysis of large data sets — to support reconciliation, reporting, and analysis. Growth Mindset: curiosity, coachability, and a willingness to take on unfamiliar areas, ask questions, and act on feedback. Communication and Collaboration: clear written and verbal communication and the ability to partner effectively across teams and with external auditors and stakeholders. Accountability and Deadline Management: a detail‑oriented, deadline‑driven approach able to manage multiple priorities and deliver accurate, complete work in a fast‑paced close environment. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance. 1–3 years of accounting experience, including preparation of journal entries and balance sheet account reconciliations. Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and the month‑end close process. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and working with large data sets. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with high attention to detail. Exposure to SOX or another internal control environment preferred. Experience with SAP or a comparable ERP preferred. Experience with FloQast or a comparable close‑management tool preferred. Experience using AI tools such as Claude or Microsoft Copilot to support accounting, analysis, or process‑improvement work preferred. CPA or actively pursuing CPA licensure preferred. Public accounting or consumer products industry experience preferred. About Sports Endeavors Since 1984, our team has helped players, parents, coaches and fans pursue their passion for the sport by delivering unrivaled service and selection, expert advice and stories of inspiration. What began over 40 years ago as a small family business has grown into one of the world’s leading soccer retailers. We believe in the power of sport to unite communities and change lives. That's why we created Passback, a program that collects and donates new or gently used gear to players from underserved communities. Passback has redistributed more than one million items to players in need. Headquartered in Hillsborough, NC, our "home field" is North Carolina's vibrant Triangle region that’s also home to Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Benefits & Perks Medical, Dental and Vision Plans; company-matching 401k; flexible vacation and personal days; tuition reimbursement program; generous product discounts and more. #J-18808-Ljbffr Sports Endeavors, LLC