Senior AccountantSalary Range: $115,000 - $125,000Location: This is a hybrid or remote position based at the Company's San Diego Facility.JOB PURPOSEThe Senior Accountant will own accounts receivable activities and build reliable, scalable accounting processes for a multi-site, international manufacturing business. This hands-on role will support accurate billing, timely collections, cash application, reconciliations, and month-end close, while managing other general ledger accounts as assigned.
This role will improve how work gets done by standardizing procedures, clarifying responsibilities, strengthening controls, and using IFS ERP and automation to reduce manual effort. Success means creating processes that support growing transaction volumes and additional locations while maintaining accuracy, visibility, and a positive customer experience.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIESAccounts Receivable Ownership- Manage day-to-day accounts receivable activities, including invoice preparation or review, customer statements, collections follow-up, and cash application.
- Partner with sales, customer service, shipping, and operations to ensure invoices reflect approved terms, pricing, shipment documentation, and billing requirements.
- Maintain accurate customer balances; investigate unapplied cash, short payments, deductions, credits, and disputed invoices through resolution.
- Review aging regularly, prioritize collection activities, document commitments, and escalate overdue balances and credit concerns according to company policy.
- Coordinate customer account setup and changes, credit reviews, and payment terms within established approval requirements.
- Prepare credit memo, adjustment, and write-off support for approval; maintain clear records and appropriate segregation of duties.
- Provide collection forecasts and customer payment information to support cash planning, including foreign currency receivables as applicable.
Scalable Processes and Systems- Map the receivables workflow from billing through collection and reconciliation; identify bottlenecks, recurring errors, and manual work that limits growth.
- Develop standard operating procedures, checklists, templates, and escalation paths with clear ownership, deadlines, and approval requirements.
- Establish repeatable routines for aging reviews, customer follow-up, dispute tracking, cash application, and month-end reconciliation across locations.
- Partner with finance and IT to improve IFS workflows, reporting, customer master data, and integrations; identify practical automation opportunities.
- Define requirements, test changes, reconcile results, and train users before implementing new workflows or system enhancements.
- Build processes that accommodate additional customers, entities, and transaction volume while preserving controls and audit trails.
- Maintain shared documentation and cross-training so recurring activities can be performed consistently by backup team members.
General Ledger and Month End Close- Reconcile the accounts receivable subledger to the general ledger and resolve differences promptly.
- Prepare journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules for receivables and other assigned accounts, which may include cash, prepaids, accruals, fixed assets, and intercompany balances.
- Support appropriate period-end cutoff and investigate unusual balances, aged reconciling items, and significant fluctuations.
- Prepare analyses supporting the allowance for credit losses and proposed write-offs for management review.
- Complete assigned close tasks on schedule and provide clear explanations of account activity and outstanding issues.
Reporting Controls and Collaboration- Maintain reporting on receivables aging, days sales outstanding, overdue balances, unapplied cash, and unresolved disputes.
- Establish performance baselines with management, recommend improvement targets, and track results and root causes.
- Monitor billing accuracy, cash application timeliness, and reconciliation completion to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Maintain supporting documentation, follow approval policies, and provide schedules and explanations for audits.
- Communicate professionally with customers and internal teams, balancing timely collection with effective working relationships.
- Support additional accounting responsibilities and improvement projects as assigned.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support departmental and organizational objectives.
SCOPEThis role reports to the Accounting Manager.
Success in this Role- Accurate, timely billing and cash application with fewer recurring errors and unresolved items.
- Improved visibility into overdue balances, collection commitments, and dispute resolution.
- Timely, well-supported reconciliations and completion of assigned close responsibilities.
- Documented, consistently followed processes with clear ownership and trained backup coverage.
- Measurable reductions in manual effort and rework as transaction volume grows.
- Effective controls and reporting that support expansion across customers, locations, and entities.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The physical requirements and work environment described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
QUALIFICATIONS/ KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCEBachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
Essential
5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including substantial hands-on responsibility for accounts receivable, reconciliations, and month-end close.
Essential
CPA or equivalent professional accounting certification.
Desirable
Experience managing billing, collections, cash application, customer disputes, and receivables aging.
Essential
Demonstrated success designing, documenting, and implementing repeatable accounting processes that improve accuracy, timeliness, or capacity.
Essential
Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, internal controls, and U.S. GAAP as relevant to assigned responsibilities.
Essential
Experience with an integrated ERP system and the flow of customer, sales, billing, and payment transactions into the general ledger.
Essential
Strong Excel and analytical skills, including the ability to reconcile large datasets and investigate discrepancies.
Essential
Ability to manage priorities independently, meet deadlines, and collaborate across departments and locations.
Essential
Clear written and verbal communication skills and sound judgment in handling customer issues and confidential financial information.
Essential
Hands-on experience with IFS ERP.
Desirable
Experience in manufacturing or a multi-site, international organization.
Desirable
Experience with ERP enhancements, automated cash application, reporting tools, or workflow automation.
Desirable
PERSONAL SKILLS AND KEY COMPETENCIESBuilding Collaborative Relationships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one's areas, teams, departments, units, or organizations, including customers, to help achieve business goals.
Business Acumen Using economic, financial, market, and industry data to understand and improve business results; using one's understanding of major business functions, industry trends, and one's own organization's position to contribute to effective business strategies and tactics.
Continuous Improvement: Originating action to improve existing conditions and processes; identifying improvement opportunities, generating ideas, and implementing solutions.
Facilitating Change: Encouraging others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
Safety Awareness: Identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee safety; upholding safety standards.
