Accountant - Operations

Credit Union Leasing of America (CULA)•Los Angeles, CA

3d•$70,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Accountant will report to the Accounting Manager in Operations and play a key role at the intersection of accounting operations, financial analysis, data validation, cash activity, and process automation. This position is responsible for executing core accounting responsibilities while helping improve workflows, strengthen controls, and turn financial and operational data into actionable insights. Prepare month-end journal entries, supporting schedules, and account analyses across key accounting areas, including cash, loan receivables, accruals, payments, funding, intercompany activity, and other operational flows. Evaluate the business purpose and financial statement impact of proposed entries to ensure transactions are supported, accurate, and appropriately classified. Reconcile balance sheet accounts, including cash, loan receivables, intercompany balances, accruals, and other assigned accounts; investigate reconciling items and drive timely resolution. Maintain and analyze daily cash balances and support treasury and cash management activities, including the review of bank activity, funding requirements, and cash movement trends. Support the month-end close process by preparing review-ready deliverables, documenting assumptions, and communicating issues that may impact financial reporting timelines. Perform financial statement fluctuation analysis, research significant variances, and clearly explain the operational or accounting drivers behind the results. Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, exceptions, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. Validate data across the general ledger, bank platforms, subledgers, source systems, reconciliation tools, and reporting outputs to ensure completeness and accuracy. Partner with Treasury, Finance, Operations, Tax, and Technology teams to resolve accounting issues, research transaction breaks, and improve end-to-end processes. Assist in building and maintaining reconciliation logic, data matching frameworks, exception reporting, dashboards, variance analyses, and KPI tracking in a high-volume transaction environment. Use Excel, SQL, AI-enabled productivity tools, and automation solutions to reduce manual work, improve repeatability, and build scalable accounting processes. Identify opportunities to automate manual reconciliations, streamline exception handling, improve close cycle timing, and enhance reporting accuracy. Participate in system implementations, data validation efforts, workflow redesign, and cross-functional projects impacting accounting, treasury, reporting, and financial operations. Contribute to the development and enhancement of scripts, workflows, queries, data models, or reporting tools using Excel, Power Query, SQL, Power BI, Python, or similar tools. Partner with Accounting leadership to implement best-in-class close, reconciliation, documentation, and reporting processes. Prepare audit-ready documentation and supporting schedules for internal reviews, external audits, interim and year-end requests, and other compliance needs. Assist with supporting schedules and documentation for annual business license filings, tax-related requests, regulatory inquiries, and other compliance requirements. Ensure adherence to U.S. GAAP, internal accounting policies, internal controls, and documentation standards. Support the development and maintenance of process narratives, control documentation, and accounting support packages that clearly explain procedures, assumptions, and conclusions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
One to three years of general accounting, corporate accounting, public accounting, audit, financial analysis, or related experience; relevant internships may be considered.
Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and core accounting concepts, with a desire to continue developing technical accounting knowledge.
Experience preparing journal entries, performing account reconciliations, analyzing account activity, and supporting month-end close
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including lookups, PivotTables, formulas, data analysis, and data manipulation; Power Query experience is a plus.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to communicate clearly, explain financial concepts to cross-functional partners, and document conclusions in a review-ready manner.

Nice To Haves

Basic SQL knowledge or a demonstrated willingness to learn how to query, analyze, and validate financial data.
Experience with ERP systems, reconciliation tools, banking platforms, subledgers, financial reporting systems, or accounting platforms such as Great Plains, BlackLine, Oracle, or similar systems.
Experience in high-volume transaction environments such as auto finance, financial services, fintech, payments, lending, banking, or similar industries.
Familiarity with Power BI, Python, automation tools, AI-enabled productivity tools, workflow tools, or process improvement frameworks.
Comfort using or learning technology to support research, analysis, documentation, reconciliation, variance analysis, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Prepare month-end journal entries, supporting schedules, and account analyses across key accounting areas, including cash, loan receivables, accruals, payments, funding, intercompany activity, and other operational flows.
Evaluate the business purpose and financial statement impact of proposed entries to ensure transactions are supported, accurate, and appropriately classified.
Reconcile balance sheet accounts, including cash, loan receivables, intercompany balances, accruals, and other assigned accounts; investigate reconciling items and drive timely resolution.
Maintain and analyze daily cash balances and support treasury and cash management activities, including the review of bank activity, funding requirements, and cash movement trends.
Support the month-end close process by preparing review-ready deliverables, documenting assumptions, and communicating issues that may impact financial reporting timelines.
Perform financial statement fluctuation analysis, research significant variances, and clearly explain the operational or accounting drivers behind the results.
Analyze financial and operational data to identify trends, exceptions, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
Validate data across the general ledger, bank platforms, subledgers, source systems, reconciliation tools, and reporting outputs to ensure completeness and accuracy.
Partner with Treasury, Finance, Operations, Tax, and Technology teams to resolve accounting issues, research transaction breaks, and improve end-to-end processes.
Assist in building and maintaining reconciliation logic, data matching frameworks, exception reporting, dashboards, variance analyses, and KPI tracking in a high-volume transaction environment.
Use Excel, SQL, AI-enabled productivity tools, and automation solutions to reduce manual work, improve repeatability, and build scalable accounting processes.
Identify opportunities to automate manual reconciliations, streamline exception handling, improve close cycle timing, and enhance reporting accuracy.
Participate in system implementations, data validation efforts, workflow redesign, and cross-functional projects impacting accounting, treasury, reporting, and financial operations.
Contribute to the development and enhancement of scripts, workflows, queries, data models, or reporting tools using Excel, Power Query, SQL, Power BI, Python, or similar tools.
Partner with Accounting leadership to implement best-class close, reconciliation, documentation, and reporting processes.
Prepare audit-ready documentation and supporting schedules for internal reviews, external audits, interim and year-end requests, and other compliance needs.
Assist with supporting schedules and documentation for annual business license filings, tax-related requests, regulatory inquiries, and other compliance requirements.
Ensure adherence to U.S. GAAP, internal accounting policies, internal controls, and documentation standards.
Support the development and maintenance of process narratives, control documentation, and accounting support packages that clearly explain procedures, assumptions, and conclusions.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
Life Insurance and Long-term disability plans
Flexible Spending Account
401K matching
Employee Stock Ownership Program in a $18.2 Billion Company, plus company matching
Wellness Programs
Metro Tap Card and Metro-link Reimbursement (for Los Angeles, CA employees only)
Career Path Opportunities
Discounts on Parks, Museums, Movie Tickets, and Attractions
Employee Loan Assistance
Annual Flu Shot
Paid Vacations Days
Paid Sick days
Paid holidays
HGym (available in our Los Angeles, CA & Dallas,TX office)
Rental Car Discounts, Dell Member Purchase Program
UKG Wallet