Lead Accountant

Full job description
Lead Accountant (On-Site)

A Lead Accountant is responsible for maintaining the company’s financial records and ensuring that all transactions are properly recorded and posted. Key duties include verifying the accuracy of entries in the ledger, reconciling subsidiary books with the general ledger, and preparing important financial statements such as profit-and-loss reports and balance sheets. In our organization, the Lead Accountant will utilize modern accounting software to manage full-cycle bookkeeping, including reconciling accounts monthly to ensure an accurate general ledger, and will deliver timely monthly financial reports to management for review.

In addition, the Lead Accountant will collaborate closely with senior management, including holding weekly financial update meetings to present results and provide insights for strategic decisions. The ideal candidate should be tech-savvy, capable of consolidating data from multiple payment providers and point-of-sale systems to produce any necessary custom journal entries, and bring expertise in specialized areas such as construction project accounting, loan accounting, and commercial real-estate finance (e.g., CAM charge reconciliations and receivables management). This is a full-time, in-office position (no remote work), and the role does not require significant travel.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations: Oversee daily accounting activities and maintain the integrity of financial records, ensuring all transactions are recorded accurately in the general ledger.
Full-Cycle Bookkeeping: Manage all aspects of bookkeeping and accounting, including accounts payable/receivable, monthly close processes, and bank reconciliations, to produce accurate financial statements and reports.
Financial Reporting: Prepare and present monthly financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) for management, analyzing the results for any discrepancies and trends. Provide thorough documentation and summaries to support informed decision-making.
Management Communication: Schedule and lead weekly meetings with company leadership to update them on financial performance, discuss variances, and recommend ways to improve costs or enhance revenue. Clearly communicate complex financial information and insights to non-accounting stakeholders.
Data Integration & Tech Savvy: Export, consolidate, and integrate data from multiple payment platforms and point-of-sale systems into the accounting software. Leverage technology to automate data entry and ensure that sales and payment data from all sources is reflected accurately in the books. Create custom journal entries as needed to record integrated data properly.
Project & Construction Accounting: Handle bookkeeping for construction projects, including developing project budgets, tracking project costs, and performing cost analyses to ensure projects stay within budget. Maintain detailed records of project expenses, prepare client billings, and monitor construction loan draws and expenditures for accurate project accounting.
Loan Accounting: Manage accounting for loans and underwriting processes—preparing and reviewing construction loan draw schedules, recording loan disbursements and payments, and tracking interest and principal to ensure compliance with lender requirements. Accurately classify loan transactions in the ledger and assist with any financial reporting related to debt or financing arrangements.
Commercial Real-Estate Finance: Oversee accounting for commercial properties, including performing Common Area Maintenance (CAM) reconciliations to ensure tenants are billed correctly for shared expenses. Manage accounts receivable for rental income and CAM recoveries, monitor lease financial obligations, and coordinate with property managers to address any billing or payment issues.
Multi-Company & Intercompany Accounting: Oversee accounting for multiple legal entities, recording and reconciling all intercompany payables, receivables, loans, and equity transactions. Maintain synchronized balance sheets across entities, ensure elimination entries are accurate for consolidated reporting, and investigate any intercompany discrepancies until the books for every entity are fully in balance.
Compliance and Controls: Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and internal controls in all accounting processes. Prepare documentation for external auditors and assist in coordinating audits or financial reviews as needed, addressing any compliance issues that arise.
Financial Analysis & Planning: Analyze financial data (revenues, expenses, and commitments) and contribute to budgeting and forecasting efforts. Provide variance analyses (budget vs. actual) and financial projections to support strategic planning and identify opportunities for cost savings or efficiency improvements.
Leadership & Collaboration: Potentially supervise and guide junior accounting staff or bookkeeping personnel, ensuring their work is accurate and meets deadlines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., project managers, loan officers, property managers) to gather necessary financial information and to support overall business operations with financial expertise.
Qualifications and Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required. A professional certification such as CPA or CMA is highly desirable.
Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in accounting or bookkeeping, including hands-on full-cycle accounting responsibilities. Experience in the construction accounting or project-accounting field (e.g., job costing for construction projects) is strongly preferred. Experience with real-estate or property accounting (CAM, leasing, etc.) is a plus.
Accounting Software Proficiency: Strong proficiency in accounting software applications (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, or other ERP systems). Ability to quickly learn new software tools and integrate various systems is important. Familiarity with industry-specific software (construction or property-management accounting systems) is a plus.
Technical Skills: Advanced MS Excel skills and overall high computer literacy are required for data analysis and reporting (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data import/export). Experience with consolidating data from POS systems or payment processors is an advantage, demonstrating the tech-savvy approach needed for this role.
Knowledge: Thorough understanding of GAAP and standard accounting principles and procedures. Solid knowledge of financial statements, general-ledger functions, and month-end/year-end close processes. Familiarity with construction-loan documentation and real-estate lease terms from an accounting perspective is beneficial.
Analytical Ability: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with keen attention to detail. Able to analyze financial data to identify errors or irregularities and interpret trends (e.g., variances in project costs or operating expenses).
Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities. Capable of explaining financial information clearly and presenting reports or recommendations to management in a professional manner. Comfortable leading meetings and mentoring junior staff.
Organizational & Leadership Skills: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. Demonstrated leadership qualities, such as taking initiative, improving accounting processes, and guiding team members, are highly valued.
Work Arrangement: Must be willing to work on-site in the office during business hours (this is not a remote position). Candidate should be able to reliably commute to the office. No significant travel is required for this role; relocation assistance is not provided.
Join our team as a Lead Accountant and play a critical role in ensuring financial accuracy and efficiency. We offer a collaborative work environment and the opportunity to work closely with company leadership on exciting projects in construction and real-estate finance. If you have the accounting expertise and leadership skills outlined above, we encourage you to apply and help drive our company’s financial success.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

8 hour shift
Work Location: In person