Senior Accountant / Accounting Manager - Payroll & Small Business Services (Manager Track)

Company Overview

Since 1984, Schwan Financial Group has been helping individuals, families, and businesses protect and grow their financial futures. Today, we proudly serve clients in more than 40 states, providing expertise in portfolio management, estate planning, insurance, tax planning, and business services.

Our mission is simple: help clients understand, grow, secure, enjoy, and distribute their family legacy. We believe great client service starts with great people, which is why we invest in building a collaborative, supportive workplace where employees can grow their careers while making a meaningful impact.

If you're looking for an opportunity to step into a leadership role with an established, growing firm—and develop under an experienced leader as part of a planned succession—we'd love to meet you.

Position Summary

Schwan Financial Group is seeking a Senior Accountant to lead our Small Business Services department. This is a unique leadership opportunity designed as part of a planned succession. During your first year, you'll develop under the guidance of the current Manager, gaining firsthand knowledge of our clients, systems, and operations before transitioning into the department's leadership role.

In this position, you'll oversee a small team while managing bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting, and client accounting services. You'll also play an important role in improving processes, mentoring staff, strengthening client relationships, and helping shape the future of our growing accounting services division.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional who enjoys leadership, continuous improvement, client interaction, and building long-term solutions within a well-established financial services firm.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop under the guidance of the current Manager during a planned succession before assuming leadership of the department.

• Lead and support a team responsible for bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting services.

• Oversee bookkeeping functions, including bank and investment reconciliations, journal entries, depreciation schedules, accrued expenses, prepaid expenses, related-party transactions, and financial statement preparation.

• Manage payroll processing and related compliance, including payroll deposits, EFTPS, quarterly payroll reports, W-2s, W-3s, 1099s, 1096s, and other required filings.

• Prepare annual and quarterly financial reports for clients.

• Assist new clients with QuickBooks setup and accounting system implementation.

• Develop, improve, and standardize processes for Small Business Services.

• Create and maintain departmental procedures and training documentation.

• Streamline billing processes for small business clients.

• Provide bookkeeping and payroll training and ongoing support to accounting and tax staff.

• Supervise and mentor bookkeeping staff and interns.

• Make recommendations to improve accounting, payroll, and tax procedures.

• Complete annual reports, monthly transactions, account reconciliations, journal entries, and required payroll filings for assigned entities.

• Build strong client relationships while serving as a trusted accounting resource.

• Stay current on accounting, payroll, and industry best practices.

• Prepare reports, correspondence, and client documentation.

• Communicate effectively with clients, staff, and leadership.

• Participate in meetings, educational opportunities, and special projects.

• Contribute to a collaborative, professional team environment.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field.

• 3+ years of professional accounting and payroll experience.

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, bookkeeping procedures, payroll processing, and financial reporting.

• Experience preparing reconciliations, journal entries, payroll tax filings, and financial statements.

• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage confidential financial information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with QuickBooks.

• Experience using payroll and accounting software.

• Previous leadership, mentoring, or supervisory experience.

• Public accounting or client-service experience is a plus.

Compensation, Benefits & More

Compensation

• $57,000-$62,000 annually

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance

• 100% employer-paid dental insurance

• 401(k) with 4% company match

• Paid holidays

• Six paid Summer Fridays in addition to PTO

• Medical reimbursement toward deductibles

• Paid time off

• Long-term disability insurance

• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule

• Monday-Friday

• 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Job Type

• Full-Time

Location

• Aberdeen, South Dakota (On-site)