This role oversees the accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance activities of a closely held S-Corporation and is both strategic and hands-on, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, audit readiness, and full compliance with multi-state sales tax requirements. It requires deep experience in audit, ERP implementations, and multi-state sales and use tax, and serves as a key business partner to executive leadership during periods of growth, system modernization, and regulatory complexity. The ideal candidate is comfortable wearing multiple hats, thrives in a smaller business environment, understands the nuances of S-Corporation reporting, and can move seamlessly between transactional accounting, compliance oversight, and strategic financial leadership.
Duties
Accounting & Financial Operations (Hands-On)
- Manage and perform general ledger accounting, reconciliations, and journal entries
- Lead month-end and year-end close processes
- Prepare internal financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
- Maintain fixed asset schedules and depreciation
- Oversee AP, AR, and payroll (directly or through limited staff)
- Monitor cash flow and provide liquidity planning
S-Corporation & Owner Support
- Coordinate with external CPA firm for annual tax filings (1120-S, K-1 reporting)
- Support shareholder distributions and tax planning discussions
- Maintain accurate basis and retained earnings tracking
- Provide financial reporting and insights directly to ownership
Audit & Internal Controls
- Serve as primary contact for external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners
- Design, implement and maintain strong internal controls and policies
- Ensure audit-ready documentation and policy consistency
- Identify financial risks and implement mitigation strategies
ERP & Systems Management
- Lead ERP implementation efforts, upgrades, and system improvements
- Translate accounting and compliance requirements into system configurations and workflows
- Partner with IT and cross-functional teams to improve automation, reporting, and controls
- Implement automation where it is feasible to streamline manual processes
- Document and standardize accounting processes and procedures within the ERP environment
Multi-State Sales & Use Tax Compliance
- Manage sales tax registrations, nexus analysis, filings, and remittances across multiple states
- Monitor changes in tax regulations and ensure compliance
- Maintain exemption certificate documentation
- Support state sales tax audits and inquiries
Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, mentor, and develop accounting staff
- Establish clear expectations, accountability, and professional development plans
- Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, HR, IT, and executive leadership
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in accounting required
Experience
- 7+ years accounting experience at a senior/manager level
- Experience in a manufacturing setting preferred
- Audit background (public accounting or internal audit preferred)
- Experience in a small or closely held business environment
- Hands-on ERP implementation or system upgrade experience
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-state sales tax compliance
Preferred
- Familiarity with tax automation tools and sales tax software (e.g. Avalara, Vertex)
Skills & Attributes
- Strong knowledge of GAAP and S-Corp financial structure
- Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
- Ability to operate both strategically and tactically, with a big-picture mindset
- Comfortable working directly with leadership and external advisors
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently in a lean environment
- Process-driven with a continuous improvement mindset
- Clear, confident communicator with technical and non-technical audiences