Job SummaryThe Senior Accountant is responsible for performing and overseeing a broad range of accounting activities for a privately held government contracting company. The position will support the Company's monthly and year-end financial close processes, financial reporting, account reconciliations, general ledger activities, and compliance with
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and applicable government contracting accounting requirements.
The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in accounting, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to apply accounting principles to practical business situations. Experience in a government contracting environment is highly desirable, particularly experience with cost accounting, indirect rates, contract accounting, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
The Senior Accountant will work closely with the Chief of Accounting and Taxes, program management, contracts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and other members of the Accounting and Finance team.
As with any position, additional expectations exist. Some of these are, but are not limited to, adhering to normal working hours, meeting deadlines, following company policies as outlined by the Employee Handbook, communicating regularly with assigned supervisor, and staying focused on the assigned tasks.
ResponsibilitiesGeneral Accounting and Financial Reporting- Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual general ledger close activities.
- Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other balance sheet accounts.
- Analyze general ledger accounts and investigate unusual or unexpected transactions.
- Prepare monthly financial statements and supporting schedules in accordance with GAAP.
- Assist with preparation of financial reporting packages for management.
- Maintain accurate and complete accounting records and supporting documentation.
- Identify accounting issues and recommend appropriate solutions to the Controller or CFO.
- Assist with implementation and documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
- Assist with year-end close and preparation for the Company's financial statement audit, tax return, and other external reporting requirements.
Government Contracting Accounting- Apply accounting principles and Company policies to transactions arising from government contracts.
- Assist with accounting for direct and indirect costs associated with government contracts.
- Understand the distinction between direct and indirect costs and ensure costs are properly classified.
- Assist with preparation and maintenance of indirect cost pools, allocation bases, and indirect rate calculations.
- Assist with analysis of labor, fringe, overhead, and general and administrative costs.
- Support preparation of government contract cost reports and other contract-related financial information.
- Assist with monitoring accounting compliance with applicable FAR and Cost Accounting Standards requirements, as applicable.
- Maintain appropriate documentation supporting costs charged to government contracts.
- Assist with identifying potentially unallowable or non-reimbursable costs and ensuring appropriate accounting treatment.
- Support audits and reviews by government agencies, DCAA, independent auditors, and other external parties, as applicable.
Payroll and Labor Accounting- Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts.
- Review labor-related accounting entries and investigate discrepancies.
- Assist with reconciliation of payroll, benefits, taxes, and related accruals.
- Coordinate with Human Resources and payroll personnel regarding accounting issues.
Internal Controls and Compliance- Maintain and follow established accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes and strengthen internal controls.
- Assist with documentation of accounting processes and controls.
- Ensure accounting transactions are supported by appropriate documentation.
- Assist with internal and external audits and respond to auditor requests.
- Maintain confidentiality of financial, employee, customer, and contract information.
Financial Analysis and Management Support- Analyze financial information and identify trends, variances, and unusual activity.
- Prepare account analyses and management reports.
- Assist with monthly budget-to-actual analysis.
- Provide accounting support to management and program managers.
- Assist with financial modeling, forecasting, and special projects as requested.
- Support the Chief of Accounting and Tax with ad hoc financial and accounting analyses.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field; Accounting degree strongly preferred.
- 3-7 years of progressive accounting experience, with increasing responsibility.
- Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and the ability to apply GAAP to actual accounting transactions.
- Strong general ledger and financial statement experience.
- Experience preparing and reviewing account reconciliations.
- Strong Excel skills, including the ability to work with large data sets and perform financial analysis.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with accounting and non-accounting personnel.
- Ability to maintain confidential information and exercise sound professional judgment.
- If applicable: If you are or have been recently employed by the U.S. government, a post-employment ethics letter will be required if employment with VSolvit is offered
Preferred Qualifications- Experience working for a federal government contractor.
- Knowledge of FAR and government contract accounting requirements.
- Familiarity with DCAA audits and audit requirements.
- Experience with indirect cost pools and indirect rate calculations.
- Understanding direct versus indirect labor and other direct and indirect costs.
- Experience with cost-reimbursable, CPFF, FFP, T&M, or other federal contract types.
- Experience with Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) or CAS-related requirements.
- Experience with government contract billing and cost reporting.
- Experience with Deltek, JAMIS, Unanet, Costpoint, Acumatica, or other ERP/accounting systems.
- CPA, CPA candidate, or other relevant professional certification is a plus.
Technical SkillsThe Senior Accountant should be comfortable working with:
- General ledger and ERP accounting systems
- Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, lookups, formulas, and financial analysis
- Financial statement reporting
- Account reconciliations
- Journal entries and accruals
- Fixed asset accounting
- Payroll accounting
- Cost accounting
- Government contract accounting
- Indirect rate calculations
- Budget-to-actual analysis
Key CompetenciesGAAP Knowledge: Demonstrates a strong understanding of GAAP and can independently apply accounting principles to transactions and financial reporting.
Government Contracting Knowledge: Understands the unique accounting, cost allowability, billing, and compliance requirements associated with federal government contracts.
Analytical Ability: Can identify unusual transactions, investigate variances, and determine the underlying cause of accounting issues.
Attention to Detail: Maintains accurate accounting records and recognizes errors or inconsistencies before they affect financial reporting.
Communication: Clearly communicates financial information and accounting issues to both accounting and non-accounting personnel.
