Lead Accountant

Title: Lead Accountant

Location: Alexandria, VA

US Citizenship: Required

Security Clearance: Top Secret preferred

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end A/P process, including invoice receipt, coding, three-way matching (PO, receipt, invoice), approval routing, and timely entry into the accounting system
• Prepare and process weekly check runs, ACH payments, and wire transfers, verifying approvals and vendor payment details prior to disbursement
• Reconcile vendor statements, research and resolve invoice and payment discrepancies, and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Monitor A/P aging and cash requirements, ensuring payments align with terms and support cash flow optimization
• Maintain organized, audit-ready A/P files, reports, and supporting documentation
• Prepare and support annual Form 1099 filings and other vendor tax reporting requirements
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on the A/P workflow system, supporting and training users as needed
• Own A/P-related close activities, including accruals, subledger-to-general-ledger reconciliations, and cutoff analysis
• Prepare and review journal entries - including accruals, reclassifications, and adjustments supporting the monthly and annual close
• Perform reconciliations of assigned balance sheet accounts (cash, prepaids, accruals, clearing accounts, and similar) and ensure reconciling items are researched and resolved timely
• Analyze account fluctuations and variances, providing clear, well-supported explanations to the Controller and finance leadership
• Support preparation of monthly financial statement packages and supporting schedules
• Prepare schedules and documentation in support of external audit requests
• Identify inefficiencies within A/P and close processes and recommend and implement solutions that increase automation, accuracy, and speed
• Partner with Procurement, FP&A, and IT to streamline procure-to-pay workflows and improve utilization of financial systems
• Develop and maintain desk procedures, close checklists, and process documentation as the organization's finance function scales
• Evaluate and champion the adoption of technology and automation tools to scale AP and accounting operations
• Monitor relevant KPIs and use data trends to drive continuous performance improvement
• Ensure AP and close activities comply with company policy, US GAAP, and internal control standards
• Identify control gaps and recommend and help design mitigating controls
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties across payment processing and vendor master maintenance
• Support internal control testing and audits, providing complete and accurate documentation to auditors
• Monitor for potential vendor fraud risk and recommend mitigation practices to relevant stakeholders

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including A/P, financial close, and account reconciliation
• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP and internal control principles
• Proficiency in accounting/ERP systems (e.g., Unanet, Costpoint) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• CPA certification or active progress toward CPA is a plus
• Top Secret clearance a plus, but not required

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veteran/Disabled