Ashley Furniture Industries

Staff Accountant

Ashley Furniture Industries • $95K — $115K *
Edison, NJ 08817In-Person
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
3 weeks ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required
  • 4-7 years of progressive accounting experience in retail or multi-entity environments
  • Demonstrated expertise in month-end close and financial statement preparation
  • Strong working knowledge of GAAP and lease accounting under ASC 842
  • Experience with multiple ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Excel
  • Proven experience in audit preparation and external auditor interaction
  • Ability to mentor or train team members, ready for succession into managerial roles

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate and execute month-end close activities and financial reporting
  • Analyze budget-to-actual variances and provide actionable insights to leadership
  • Manage store operations accounting activities for new openings and cost analysis
  • Oversee lease accounting under ASC 842 and maintain accurate fixed asset records
  • Prepare and file multi-jurisdictional sales and use tax returns for compliance
  • Lead the annual audit process and coordinate with external auditors
  • Identify and implement process improvements within accounting systems

Benefits

  • Hybrid work schedule: In-office presence required Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
  • Opportunities for team leadership and professional development
  • Participation in a growing finance team with expansion opportunities
  • Engagement in strategic initiatives influencing company growth
  • Flexible, solution-oriented workplace environment
Full Job Description
Essential Functions

Factory Direct Enterprises LLC d/b/a Ashley (FDE) is seeking a hands-on, forward-thinking Staff Accountant to join our growing finance team. With 20+ retail locations across the tri-state area and continued expansion ahead, this position plays a critical role in managing the financial backbone of our multi-location retail operation.

We're looking for a high-performing accounting professional who thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and is ready to take on leadership responsibilities.
  • Month-End Close & Financial Reporting: Coordinate and execute monthly and quarterly close activities in accordance with GAAP - including preparing and posting journal entries, reconciling and analyzing balance sheet accounts, and producing accurate internal financial statements and management reports.
  • Variance & Budget Analysis: Analyze and explain budget-to-actual variances and period-over-period financial changes on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, providing clear, actionable insights to leadership to support business decision-making.
  • Store Operations Accounting: Manage accounting activities related to new store openings, relocations, and monthly rent and occupancy cost analysis across all retail locations, ensuring accuracy and alignment with operational decisions.
  • Lease & Fixed Asset Management: Oversee lease accounting under ASC 842, including evaluation of new and modified contracts, preparation of required schedules, and maintenance of accurate fixed asset records-additions, disposals, depreciation, and reconciliation.
  • Sales & Use Tax Compliance: Prepare, file, and analyze multi-jurisdictional sales and use tax returns to ensure compliance with state and local regulations; proactively identify discrepancies or risk areas.
  • Audit & Compliance: Lead the annual audit process by coordinating directly with external auditors, preparing supporting schedules, and ensuring timely and accurate submission of all required documentation.
  • System & Process Optimization: Identify, design, and implement improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, automation, and scalability within accounting processes, ERP systems, and reporting tools.
  • Team Leadership & Development: Mentor, train, and support accounting team members to strengthen overall department capability and develop future bench strength for leadership roles - supporting the succession path toward Accounting Manager.
  • Strategic Support: Partner with the Accounting Manager and VP of Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and ad hoc financial analyses that drive strategic initiatives, operational performance, and company growth.
Schedule Expectations
  • Full-time Position - Minimum of 40 hours per week
  • Hybrid Schedule: Mon/Tues/Thurs in office required
Education & Experience Requirements

Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required; strong foundational accounting knowledge is essential for success in this role.
  • CPA credential or active progress toward CPA preferred, reflecting the technical depth required for GAAP compliance, lease accounting, audit leadership, and future managerial responsibilities.

Required Experience:
  • 4-7 years of progressive accounting experience, ideally within a retail, multi-entity, or high-volume operating environment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in month-end close, financial statement preparation, account reconciliations, and variance analysis.
  • Strong working knowledge of GAAP, including hands-on experience with lease accounting under ASC 842 and fixed asset accounting.
  • Experience utilizing and navigating multiple ERP systems, with the ability to troubleshoot issues, streamline workflows, and support system enhancements.
  • Advanced proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling) to support analysis and reporting requirements.
  • Proven experience supporting or leading audit preparation, including developing schedules, reconciling supporting documentation, and interacting with external auditors.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor or train team members, reflecting readiness for a succession track into Accounting Manager.

Preferred Experience & Technical Skills:
  • Experience with Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot, or data warehouse reporting tools to support automation, dashboarding, and enhanced analytics.
  • Background in sales and use of tax compliance or multi-jurisdictional tax filings.
  • Exposure to new store accounting, lease review, and operational accounting in a multi-location retail model.
  • Experience driving process improvements that increase accuracy, automation, or efficiency within accounting operations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Strong analytical thinking with the ability to translate financial data into clear, actionable insights.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to support collaboration with leadership, store operations, auditors, and cross-functional partners.
  • High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in all accounting processes.
  • Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to improve existing workflows and build scalable processes for a growing retail organization.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight timelines while maintaining a high standard of quality.

About Ashley Furniture Industries

Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is a furniture manufacturing company headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin. The company is owned by father and son team Ron and Todd Wanek. Ashley Furniture manufactures and distributes home furniture products throughout the world. The company has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Wisconsin, Mississippi, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, China, and Vietnam. Ashley Furniture is the largest furniture manufacturer in the United States and one of the largest in the world. The company's products are sold through a network of over 6,000 retail partners in 123 countries.
Learn more about Ashley Furniture Industries
Size
30,000 employees
Industry
Retail & Consumer Goods
* Ladders Estimates

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