Senior Accounting Specialist

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Accounting Specialist plays a critical role within the accounting operations team, overseeing complex financial processes with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement. This position is primarily responsible for managing high-volume and complex accounts payable operations, conducting general ledger reconciliations, overseeing corporate expense report compliance, and ensuring the integrity of financial data across multiple business units.

As a subject matter expert in accounting systems and processes, the Senior Accounting Specialist partners closely with leadership, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders. The role requires deep knowledge of ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and internal control procedures. Operating with minimal supervision, this individual also mentors junior team members, drives process improvements, supports internal and external audits, and contributes to enterprise-wide initiatives, including system upgrades and policy enhancements.

This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical acumen, and the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly across technical and non-technical teams.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions/primary responsibilities.

30% - Subject Matter Expert & Point of Contact: Oversee full-cycle accounts payable processes, including invoice verification, coding, approvals, and payment execution in alignment with company policy and internal controls.

Review and reconcile high-volume transactions to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies related to pricing, PO matching, and goods receipt. Serve as a primary liaison between the AP team, vendors, procurement, and internal business units to resolve complex payment and vendor issues. Prepare and review month-end accruals, GL account reconciliations, and related journal entries.

25% - Accounts Payable & Financial Processing: Independently manages the end-to-end accounts payable processing cycle, including verification, approval, distribution, and secure record retention in compliance with internal policies and external audit requirements. Serves as the subject matter expert on check disbursement procedures, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and fraud prevention controls are consistently maintained. Identifies and implements process improvements to optimize efficiency and mitigate risk.

20% - General Ledger, Journal Entries & Account Reconciliation: Prepares and posts accurate and timely journal entries as part of the monthly financial close process, ensuring compliance with GAAP and internal control standards.

Performs in-depth general ledger account reconciliations and variance analyses across multiple cost centers and accounts. Identifies, investigates, and resolves discrepancies proactively, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure financial data integrity. Maintains detailed documentation to support audit readiness and facilitates continuous improvement in reconciliation procedures. Utilizes accounting software and ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, NetSuite) to manage and validate transactional accuracy across financial reporting periods.

15% - Mentoring, Training & Team Development: Delivers onboarding training and continuous support to new team members on department policies, procedures, and accounting systems. Develops and maintains comprehensive training materials, process documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements. Acts as a go-to resource for real-time guidance, coaching, and troubleshooting across core accounting functions. Collaborates with leadership to identify knowledge gaps and recommends process improvements and cross-training opportunities to enhance team effectiveness and operational efficiency.

5% - Systems Testing & Continuous Improvement: Serves as an end-user subject matter expert (SME) in the testing and validation of company-wide system upgrades and software implementations. Actively participates in user acceptance testing (UAT), identifying system issues, validating functionality against business requirements, and providing detailed feedback to technical teams. Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders—including IT, project managers, and accounting leadership—to ensure systems meet operational needs and compliance standards. Assists in developing testing documentation, training materials, and go-live support to ensure seamless transitions and user adoption.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & SKILLS REQUIRED

Educational/Experience Requirements: 

• Associate’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred

• 2+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a multi-entity or retail environment

• Demonstrated experience with general ledger and financial close processes

Core Technical Skills/Knowledge: 

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, v-lookups, formulas)

• Familiarity with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office is preferred

• Familiarity with mid to enterprise level ERP systems (Oracle NetSuite, SAP)

• Accurate 10-key proficiency (still applicable in some high-volume environments)

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills

• Ability to interpret financial reports and identify discrepancies

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision

• High attention to detail and strong numerical accuracy

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills

• Ability to support system testing, UAT, and data validation during software implementations and upgrades

Specialized Accounting Specialist Technical Skills/Knowledge: 

• Manage full-cycle accounts payable processes

• Oversee and improve AP systems and workflow efficiencies

• Handle high-value and complex transactions and vendor statement reconciliations (e.g., EDI)

• Experience with expense management platforms (Concur, Coupa, or similar)

• Knowledge of tax and regulatory requirements (e.g., 1099, W-9), Corporate expense policies and internal controls

• Familiarity with electronic payment systems, ACH, and vendor portals

• Experience with building and documenting, and resolving discrepancies between GL and subledgers

• Collaborate with finance and procurement for audit support

• 6+ months experience with Les Schwab systems and processes preferred

General Knowledge and Abilities:  

• Communication - Ability to communicate clearly and professionally (both verbally and in writing) while ensuring that the quality and content of the message are relevant to the circumstances; ability to be an active-listener; the ability to draft, proofread, and send written communications effectively; the ability and willingness to carefully listen to others by asking appropriate questions and avoiding interruptions

• Adaptability -  Willingness to work in an ever-changing environment with the ability to positively adapt to organizational, process, and technology changes. Remaining flexible and effective in response to changing priorities, technologies, regulations, and team needs. Since accounting environments are often fast-paced and deadline-driven, the ability to adjust quickly is essential. 

• Service Excellence - Exhibit the willingness to be stakeholder-focused by anticipating and understanding stakeholders' needs; collaborate with them to reach a suitable solution; then consistently meet and deliver on those expectations

• Teamwork - The ability to establish and maintain rapport, interact comfortably, and work well with co-workers. This includes cooperating, being supportive of others, willingly helping others, considering others’ ideas and opinions, sharing information, giving proper credit, and fulfilling team responsibilities

• Analytical Skills - Invoice and payment reconciliation, general ledger review, trend and error detection, expense report audits, supports software testing, data driven decision making. These skills are essential for maintaining accuracy, ensuring compliance, and supporting decision-making within the organization. Serves as an end-user subject matter expert (SME) in the testing and validation of company-wide system upgrades and software implementations. Actively participates in user acceptance testing (UAT), identifying system issues, validating functionality against business requirements, and providing detailed feedback to technical teams. 

• Initiative - Demonstrates initiative by proactively identifying opportunities to improve processes, resolve issues before they escalate, and support both their team and internal stakeholders without waiting for direction. Stay current on system upgrades, policy changes, and new processes to remain effective without being asked. Prepares for monthly close activities by reviewing accounts and resolving discrepancies in advance.

• Leadership -Ownership & Accountability, Leading by Example, and suggesting improvements. Follows up with stores, vendors, or other departments before deadlines to ensure required documentation or approvals are submitted on time. Proactively reaches out to colleagues or department leads to assist during high-volume periods or to help train new team members. Identifies inefficiencies in invoice processing, expense report handling, or payment workflows and recommends enhancements. Proposes changes to reduce manual tasks or increase accuracy, such as improved use of automation tools or updated templates. Delivers onboarding training and continuous support to new team members on department policies, procedures, and accounting systems. Develops and maintains comprehensive training materials, process documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements. Acts as a go-to resource for real-time guidance, coaching, and troubleshooting across core accounting functions. Collaborates with leadership to identify knowledge gaps and recommends process improvements and cross-training. Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders—including IT, project managers, and accounting leadership—to ensure systems meet operational needs and compliance standards. Assists in developing testing documentation, training materials, and go-live support to ensure seamless transitions and user adoption opportunities to enhance team effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Physical Requirements: 

Primarily sedentary position; frequently required to sit, occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, and bend. Requires frequent and repetitive use of hands and fingers to operate computer, mouse, keyboard, and office related equipment and the ability to reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close visual acuity and the ability to adjust focus.  Requires the ability to communicate verbally and exchange information over the phone and in person.

Work Environment: 

Office, non-manual work; the worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. 

This job description is not all inclusive and is subject to change. Additional duties, responsibilities, and tasks may be assigned, as necessary. Employment remains “AT WILL” at all times.