Job Description
Accounting Manager Full-Time Accounting and Finance Chicago SW Burbs, IL Company Overview Our client is a well-established, middle-market industrial product manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality, operational excellence, and customer service. As a privately owned organization, the company maintains an entrepreneurial culture focused on continuous improvement, financial discipline, and sustainable growth. The Accounting Manager will play a critical role in supporting the company's financial operations, strengthening internal controls, and providing leadership across key accounting functions.
Position Summary:
The Accounting Manager serves as a key member of the accounting and finance team, reporting directly to the company's Controller. This position is responsible for overseeing day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting, maintaining effective internal controls, and supporting inventory and cost accounting activities. The role provides leadership to accounting staff while partnering closely with operation, supply chain, and executive leadership to drive financial performance and process improvements throughout the organization. Position Responsibilities:
Leads the execution of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. Oversees the preparation, review, and reconciliation of general ledger accounts, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies. Directs inventory accounting activities, including inventory reconciliations, cycle count analysis, reserve calculations, and valuation assessments. Manages standard cost accounting processes, including cost roll-ups, cost maintenance, variance analysis, and support of annual standard cost updates. Analyzes manufacturing variances related to labor, materials, overhead, scrap, and production efficiencies while providing actionable recommendations to management. Oversees the development, implementation, and monitoring of internal controls designed to safeguard company assets and strengthen financial reporting accuracy. Partners closely with operations, production, procurement, and supply chain leadership to improve financial visibility and support informed business decisions. Coordinates external audit activities by preparing schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries. Mentors, develops, and evaluates accounting staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth within the department. Drives process improvement initiatives that enhance reporting efficiency, strengthen controls, improve data integrity, and support organizational scalability. Key Qualifications and Attributes:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline; CPA or CMA designation preferred. Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including experience within a manufacturing environment; prior supervisory experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated expertise in inventory accounting, cost accounting, standard costing methodologies, and manufacturing financial reporting. Experience partnering effectively with external auditing firms and supporting annual financial statement audit activities. Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across finance, operations, and executive leadership teams. Advanced proficiency with ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and financial reporting tools commonly utilized within manufacturing environments. Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions. Compensation:
$110,000 - $140,000 plus bonus potential
