Staff Accountant

Staff AccountantCompany OverviewOur client is an established consumer products organization operating within a dynamic, product-driven industry. The company supports a growing business with domestic operations, international subsidiaries, and a combination of commercial, distribution, and supply chain activities.The organization is seeking a motivated Staff Accountant to join its U.S. accounting team. This opportunity offers exposure to corporate accounting, financial systems, transactional processes, and cross-functional business operations.The company values individuals who are intellectually curious, comfortable learning new technologies, and interested in improving how accounting functions operate. The ideal candidate will bring a strong accounting foundation and a desire to develop technical expertise while contributing to a more efficient and automated finance organization.Location, Compensation & BenefitsLocation: Chicago, IL$$: 70k-75k base + 15% bonus + full benefitsWork Arrangement: 2 days per week on-site to ChicagoPosition OverviewThe Staff Accountant will support the organization's U.S. accounting activities, working closely with senior members of the accounting team to maintain accurate financial records and ensure the timely completion of recurring financial processes.The position will initially focus on developing proficiency across general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, accounts payable, billing, cash application, and month-end reporting. As the individual gains experience, they will assume greater responsibility for managing these activities independently.A central component of the position involves evaluating existing accounting procedures and identifying opportunities to simplify workflows, improve accuracy, and reduce manual processing through technology.Key ResponsibilitiesGeneral Accounting & Financial CloseSupport the monthly financial close by completing assigned accounting activities and ensuring financial information is recorded within established deadlinesDevelop and record general ledger adjustments while maintaining documentation that supports the underlying transactionsReview assigned balance sheet accounts and investigate differences requiring reconciliation or correctionPrepare financial analyses that help explain account activity, operating fluctuations, and unusual transactionsMaintain accurate accounting records and assist with the ongoing organization of supporting financial schedulesApply US GAAP principles and established financial controls when reviewing and recording transactionsSupport the reconciliation of balances and financial activity between U.S. operations and international subsidiariesAccounts Payable, Billing & Cash ManagementManage recurring customer billing activities and ensure transactions are appropriately reflected in the accounting systemApply incoming customer payments to outstanding balances and investigate differences between cash receipts and recorded receivablesCoordinate vendor invoice processing, including verifying purchasing documentation, receiving information, and billing accuracyAssist with scheduling and executing vendor payments while ensuring appropriate approvals and supporting records are maintainedEvaluate accounts payable and billing workflows to identify repetitive tasks that could be simplified or automatedInvestigate accounting discrepancies by understanding the business activity that generated the transactionFinancial Systems & Process ImprovementUtilize enterprise accounting systems and related financial applications to maintain accurate transaction records and support accounting activitiesDevelop familiarity with financial close-management and expense-management tools to improve visibility into accounting requirementsExplore opportunities to use automated workflows, reporting tools, and AI-enabled applications to reduce unnecessary manual workRecommend practical improvements to accounting procedures and assist with implementing approved changesMaintain accurate documentation of accounting procedures and identify opportunities to improve consistency across recurring processesParticipate in special accounting projects involving reporting, systems, data analysis, and operational improvementsReporting, Compliance & Cross-Functional CollaborationCollaborate with Finance, Sales, and Supply Chain personnel to resolve transaction questions and obtain missing informationOrganize schedules, reconciliations, and other financial documentation requested during internal and external auditsAssist with preparing applicable indirect tax and sales tax filings, including reconciling reported amounts to the general ledgerSupport financial reporting and compliance requirements across domestic and international operationsAssume additional accounting responsibilities as technical knowledge and experience developQualificationsBachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance requiredApproximately 1–2 years of professional accounting experienceSolid understanding of US GAAP, accrual accounting, and general ledger principlesFamiliarity with preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts, and reviewing financial transactionsStrong Microsoft Excel skills, including lookup functions, pivot tables, and financial data analysisStrong analytical capabilities and ability to investigate accounting differences independentlyInterest in understanding the operational factors underlying financial transactions and reporting resultsAbility to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions rather than relying exclusively on existing proceduresComfortable learning new software applications and exploring technology without extensive formal trainingInterest in applying AI-enabled tools to accounting and administrative workflows while evaluating their accuracy and reliabilityStrong organizational skills and ability to balance recurring accounting deadlines with additional assignmentsComfortable working with general direction and determining appropriate next steps when instructions are incomplete