Looking for Lead Accountant – Project Accounting at United States, Illinois, Chicago Full Time

The Lead Accountant – Project Accounting role has a significant project focus as it relates to the implementation of new billing feature, products, promotions and enhanced functionality in our revenue accounting systems.

• Act as a team lead; this includes, but is not limited to, leading and coordinating accounting activities for area of assignment and training and mentoring less experienced associates
• Manage workload effectively and efficiently by prioritizing responsibilities
• Act as a representative of the Accounting department at critical cross-functional project meetings
• Ensure accounting transactions are executed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and established standards of internal control
• Aid in the formulation of accounting requirements for new initiatives, products and promotions
• Understand in detail the flow of transactions through the billing system and interfaces to the general ledger and financial statements
• Plan, document, and perform detail user acceptance testing for new functionality with financial impacts, certifying that the billing and financial systems are recording transactions accurately to ensure financial statements stay in compliance with GAAP
• Actively seeks resolution of issues independently by understanding the causes and follows through to ensure results are achieved
• Demonstrates a high level of ownership of assigned tasks and shows independent initiative where appropriate to achieve results
• Help to ensure team’s compliance with all Sarbanes-Oxley internal control requirements for assigned areas, ensuring that internal controls are designed appropriately and operating effectively
• Review, research, and recommend improvements to financial and operational processes, analysis, reporting, and systems ensuring adherence to GAAP
• Support external and internal audit requests
• Respond to financial inquiries of operational management providing requested information for management of the business
• Coordinate accounting or reporting matters with other departments or functions throughout the organization

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Strong knowledge of technical accounting / U.S. GAAP
• Proven technical accounting research and understanding of current accounting issues
• Strong PC literacy skills in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Access and Word)
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively within cross-functional teams and resolve issues
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with attention to detail
• Continuous improvement mindset

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5) or more years of broad accounting experience
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure
• Previous experience participating on ERP or financial system implementations and/ or upgrades
• Public accounting experience (Big four a plus)
• Experience working with or within a public company with SEC reporting and SOX control requirements