Senior Accounting Manager

Education Management and Networks

$88K — $105K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 5-12 years of experience in accounting, finance, or payroll
  • Strong understanding of GAAP-based reporting
  • Experience with payroll processing and benefits
  • Background in month-end close and financial reporting
  • A keen attention to detail and accuracy
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work in-person in Southfield, Michigan

Responsibilities

  • Support and eventually lead the monthly close process
  • Prepare and review journal entries and account reconciliations
  • Maintain accurate financial records in compliance with US GAAP
  • Reconcile accounts including AR and payroll-related accounts
  • Assist in preparing monthly financial statements for CFO review
  • Oversee biweekly payroll processes for over 250 employees
  • Collaborate with other departments to ensure employee compensation accuracy
  • Provide budget-to-actual reporting and financial analysis

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation including performance bonuses
  • Free healthcare coverage (medical, dental, vision)
  • 401(k) match from day one
  • Generous paid time off and holidays
  • Opportunities for professional development with coaching and training
Full Job Description
Job Description
The Senior Accounting Manager will be a hands-on accounting leader reporting directly to the CFO. This person will support the day-to-day accounting function, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, help execute monthly close, manage payroll-related processes, and support financial reporting across EMAN and the schools it partners with.

This is a Controller-track role for someone with strong accounting fundamentals who takes pride in being detail-oriented, and wants to grow with the company. The right candidate is comfortable with data/numbers and brings the entrepreneurial drive to build and scale our processes as we grow.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting and Monthly Close

  • Support and eventually own key parts of the monthly close process
  • Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules
  • Maintain accurate US GAAP-based financial records
  • Reconcile AR, payroll-related accounts, inter-company activity, and other key balance sheet accounts
  • Help prepare monthly financial statements and reporting packages for review by the CFO


Payroll and Employee-Related Accounting

  • Own and support biweekly payroll processes for a workforce of 250+ employees
  • Work with ADP and internal teams to ensure payroll is accurate, timely, and well-controlled
  • Reconcile payroll, benefits, deductions, contractor payments, stipends, and related accounts
  • Partner with other functions to ensure employee changes and compensation updates


Reporting, Budgeting, and Finance Support

  • Support budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, and recurring reports for leadership
  • Help translate accounting data into clear, useful information for the CFO and senior leaders
  • Provide accounting support for planning, forecasting, and financial decision-making
  • Strengthen accounting checklists, controls, documentation, and recurring workflows
  • Work closely with the CFO, President / COO, HR, operations, compliance, and school-level teams

What Success Looks Like

First 6 months.Payroll runs accurately and on time, monthly close is executed flawlessly, reconciliations are current and reliable, and GAAP processes are followed consistently.

Over time.Becoming the day-to-day accounting lead, owning the close process, managing 2-3 accounting team members, and growing into a Controller-level role as the company scales.

Why This Role Is Compelling

This is a chance to join a growing mission-driven organization with a long operating history and ambitious plans for the future. The role reports directly to the CFO and will have exposure to senior leadership across the organization.

For the right person, this is more than an accounting role. It is a path to become the accounting leader inside a growing organization. You will help build stronger processes, take on more responsibility, and grow into a Controller-level seat as EMAN continues to expand.

Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor's degree
  • 5 - 12 years of accounting, finance, payroll, or related experience
  • Strong accounting fundamentals and comfort with GAAP-based reporting
  • Experience with payroll and benefits processing
  • Experience supporting month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting
  • Strong attention to detail and high standards for accuracy
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Comfort working primarily in person in Southfield, Michigan


Preferred

  • Experience in school accounting, school finance, charter schools, or school district finance
  • CPA or CPA-track background
  • Experience with QuickBooks Online and ADP
  • Experience in a people-oriented services-based business or multi-entity environment
  • Experience building or improving accounting processes, controls, or systems


Benefits
  • Competitive Compensation. Base salary plus performance bonus; we reward results and impact.
  • Free Healthcare Coverage. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision.
  • 401(k) Match. Build financial security starting day one.
  • Generous PTO. Full pay for personal time and holidays.
  • Professional Development. Direct coaching and training, and clear pathways to lead.

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