Accounting Manager - Manufacturing Food & Beverage!

Job Title: Accounting Manager (Food & Beverage Manufacturing)

Experience Level: Entry-Level to Mid-Level (3–5 years of corporate accounting experience)

Location: Rockford, Illinois

Salary:  73,000 - 82,000

Reports To: Controller / Director of Finance

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Accounting Manager with entry-to-mid-level experience to join our growing finance team. In this role, you will oversee day-to-day accounting operations, manage the month-end close process, and ensure compliance with GAAP. You will play a critical role in inventory valuation, cost accounting, and production variance analysis, making a direct impact on our plant efficiency and profitability. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior accountant or assistant manager ready to step into a leadership role within the dynamic Food & Beverage (F&B) manufacturing sector.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Manage the monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes.
• Prepare accurate balance sheet reconciliations and journal entries.
• Generate monthly financial statements, including P&L, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

Cost Accounting & Inventory Management

• Monitor and analyze standard costs versus actual manufacturing costs (raw materials, packaging, labor, and overhead).
• Track and reconcile physical inventory, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods across warehouse locations.
• Analyze production yields, ingredient scrap, and manufacturing variances to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and traceability documentation from a financial auditing perspective.

Leadership & Operations

• Supervise and mentor a small accounting team (e.g., AP/AR clerks or staff accountants).
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processing.
• Partner with Plant Managers and Operations teams to explain budget variances and operational costs.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls over financial reporting and inventory management.
• Assist external auditors with year-end audits and tax preparation.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements (including sales/use tax and industry-specific fees).

Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3 to 5 years of progressive accounting experience, ideally in a manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or food & beverage environment.
• Previous experience as a Senior Accountant or Lead Accountant is highly preferred.
• CPA license or CMA certification is a plus but not required.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of GAAP accounting principles and cost accounting methods.
• Proficiency with Manufacturing ERP software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or Sage).
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas).

Soft Skills

• Strong communication skills to translate complex financial data for non-financial plant operations teams.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage strict reporting deadlines.
• Adaptability to handle the fast-paced, shifting demands of food production lines and supply chains.

To help tailor this template to your exact needs, tell me:

• What is the specific salary range or benefits structure for this position?
• Do you use a specific ERP software (like NetSuite or SAP) that should be explicitly named?
• Is there a hybrid or remote work schedule available for this role?

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.