Senior Accountant / Analyst

Description

Job Description

• Job Title: Senior Accountant/Analyst
• Department: Division Finance
• Location: Kansas City Metro
• Reports To: Finance Director
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Travel: Approximately 5% - occasional travel to our Chicago-area site, corporate headquarters (Detroit area), and sister sites as needed

Job Summary

The Senior Accountant/Analyst is responsible for the analytical work supporting the division’s monthly close and margin and mix performance, with a strong ongoing partnership with Sales and AR, and secondary cross-functional support to Operations, Supply Chain, and HR. This role is distinct from a transactional accounting seat: while it includes a defined set of close-period journal entries and reconciliations, the core expectation is independent analysis - tracing data to source, identifying root causes of variances, and delivering clear conclusions they can confidently defend to the Finance Director. The role serves as a regular liaison between Finance and Sales and AR, growing over time into the primary finance point of contact for Sales and Customer Service.

The company operates a decentralized structure: individual business units carry significant autonomy and decision-making authority, while corporate provides shared support in controls, systems, consolidated FP&A, pricing, and special projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Close-period responsibilities:

• Perform SG&A and Revenue-related journal entries (approximately 7-10 per month), including prepaids, rebate and discount programs, commission accruals
• Perform reconciliations, including AR, prepaids, and subledger-to-financials tie-outs
• Perform top-line and margin analysis, including mix, cost driver, and rebate and discount program analysis, and present findings and conclusions to the Finance Director and Sales leadership
• Review the top-line and SG&A sections of the P&L during close and provide fluctuation explanations

Non-close-period responsibilities:

• Support sales forecasting and budgeting, and track actual performance against forecast
• Analyze freight revenue against outbound freight costs
• Support internal and external audit requests, including gathering and defending supporting documentation
• Complete special analytical projects as assigned by the Finance Director
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and HR) on ad hoc financial questions

Ongoing responsibilities:

• Maintain a regular working relationship with the Sales team as a trusted finance liaison, growing over time into the primary point of contact for Sales and Customer Service on finance-related questions
• Partner closely with AR on past-due management, working capital optimization, and customer-level analysis
• Develop toward ownership of working capital analysis and management over time
• Support the division's internal controls review, beginning with revenue-to-receivables process controls and expanding into additional process areas over time

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• One of the following:

- 3+ years of experience in public accounting (audit strongly preferred over tax), or

- 2+ years of experience in public accounting (audit strongly preferred over tax) plus subsequent industry experience, provided the candidate held senior-level engagement scope and ownership during their public accounting tenure regardless of title

• Demonstrated ability to independently investigate discrepancies, trace root cause, and communicate and defend findings clearly and confidently
• A track record of using that investigative reflex to bring forward solutions, not just identify problems
• Applies reasonableness checks and professional skepticism to calculations, accruals, and financial results before submitting work for review
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with large, imperfect datasets

Preferred:

• Experience with manufacturing, inventory, or cost-accounting engagements
• 1-2 years of industry experience in addition to public accounting
• CMA in progress or completed preferred; CPA in progress or completed also acceptable

Compensation

$85,000-$95,000 base, depending on experience.

Growth Path

This role is designed to build toward cost accounting specialization, and longer-term, a leadership role within the division. Opportunities for corporate special projects, or relocation for accelerated advancement, may be available for candidates who desire that path - neither is required or expected.