Accounting Manager

We are looking for an experienced Accounting Manager to join a retail organization in Clearwater, Florida in a Long-term Contract position. This role will provide hands-on leadership for a multi-functional accounting team while ensuring accurate reporting, disciplined close activities, and strong financial controls. The ideal candidate brings a solid command of general ledger accounting, financial statement preparation, and process improvement in a fast-paced operating environment.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the daily work of accounting personnel across accounts payable and general ledger functions, providing guidance, oversight, and performance support.

• Manage the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close cycles to deliver timely, accurate, and well-documented financial results.

• Review journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and supporting schedules to maintain the integrity of the accounting records.

• Produce and evaluate financial statements, management reporting packages, and related analyses for leadership decision-making.

• Oversee internal control activities, including execution, documentation retention, issue follow-up, and support for compliance requirements within a public-company control framework.

• Partner with internal and external auditors by preparing requested schedules, addressing questions promptly, and helping resolve outstanding audit matters.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen accounting workflows, increase consistency, and improve the effectiveness of reporting and control processes.

• Work closely with operations, finance, and other departments to investigate issues, address root causes, and improve the quality of financial information.

• Monitor higher-risk balance sheet areas and escalate or resolve accounting concerns in a timely manner.

• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, variance review, and other financial analysis, including support for accounting activities tied to ongoing system-related process changes when needed.

Top Skillsets:

1. Strong understanding of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
2. Experience with inventory (required), preferably in a distribution environment (strongly preferred)
3. Experience with SOX controls and/or internal controls. Public company experience preferred not required.
4. ERP experience (JD Edwards preferred)
5. Problem solving skills-a lot of the time, issues happen upstream and accounting is downstream. Need to be able to communicate with upstream departments to help solve the problems.
6. Handle fast paced environment, organized, comfortable speaking up

• Proven experience leading accounting operations and supervising team members in a manager-level role.
• Strong knowledge of month-end close, general ledger activity, account reconciliations, journal entry review, and financial statement preparation.
• Experience working with internal controls and SOX-style compliance requirements; background in a public-company environment is preferred.
• Ability to analyze accounting issues, identify process breakdowns, and work cross-functionally to implement practical solutions.
• Familiarity with ERP systems used in accounting environments; experience with JD Edwards EnterpriseOne is helpful.
• Manufacturing industry exposure is preferred, though candidates from other complex operating environments will be considered.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across accounting, finance, and operational teams.