Accounting Manager

Hawke Media•Santa Monica, CA

27d•$95,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Hawke Media is a leading full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Santa Monica. We have partnered with thousands of brands across ecommerce, retail, and DTC to drive measurable growth — and our accounting team is central to keeping that engine running. We are looking for an Accounting Manager to take ownership of core accounts receivable, billing, and month-end close functions. This is a hands-on, high-accountability role that works closely with senior finance leadership and cross-functional teams. The right candidate is detail-oriented, operationally sharp, and comfortable working across multiple billing systems in a fast-paced environment. This role is based in the Santa Monica office, as documented in the position requirements, and requires regular on-site presence to support cross-functional collaboration and operational continuity. We move fast, and we play offense. Finance here is not a back-office function — it's a thought partner to the business. The people who thrive are the ones who spot a problem before it becomes one, take ownership end-to-end, and show up with answers, not just questions. If you want to be part of a team that's here to win, not just stay compliant, this role is for you.

Requirements

4-6+ years of accounting experience, with meaningful time in AR, billing, revenue operations, and cross-functional finance processes.
Prior team leadership, mentorship, or people management experience strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of cash application, billing adjustments, and month-end close processes.
Experience with billing platforms (Chargebee or similar subscription/billing tools a plus).
High attention to detail and strong organizational skills; able to manage multiple priorities without dropping balls.
Clear, professional communicator — comfortable fielding inquiries across teams and with clients.
Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets; experience with ERP or accounting software.
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency — you take ownership, follow through without being chased, and hold yourself accountable to deadlines and quality.
Proven ability to identify operational risks, improve processes proactively, and drive scalable solutions across accounting workflows.
Ability to analyze financial and operational data, surface actionable insights, and partner with leadership to support business decision-making.
AI-native or AI-curious: comfortable using AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) to work faster and smarter, whether automating repetitive tasks, drafting communications, or analyzing data.
Experience supporting audits, compliance initiatives, or external accounting partnerships preferred.

Nice To Haves

Chargebee or similar subscription/billing tools experience
Experience supporting audits, compliance initiatives, or external accounting partnerships

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including AR, billing, cash application, and support month-end close activities.
Manage end-to-end AR workflows, including customer ledger review, outstanding balance tracking, and reporting cadence.
Execute collections processes: send reminders, manage escalation paths, and maintain documentation standards.
Serve as primary liaison with our external collections partners — coordinate on escalated accounts, align on strategy, and ensure resolution.
Partner with internal Sales and Client Services teams to resolve billing disputes, communicate account status, and maintain strong client relationships.
Handle chargeback identification, logging, dispute support, and evidence gathering.
Prepare and review monthly invoices; identify and resolve discrepancies proactively.
Execute approved billing adjustments with proper documentation and approval history.
Manage and process disengagement and billing adjustments requests.
Act as a cross-functional point of contact for billing inquiries across Sales, Client Services, and internal Operations teams.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure billing accuracy reflects service delivery and contractual terms.
Reconcile and clear all incoming ACH, wire, and check transactions daily.
Ensure accurate payment application and resolve discrepancies.
Maintain precise daily cash application records.
Conduct productivity audits to identify billing risks and missed revenue.
Own month-end close deliverables: AR aging reconciliation, billing logs, revenue data checks, and reporting.
Collaborate with finance leadership and accounting partners to continuously improve close accuracy, speed, and efficiency.
Surface insights and flag risks proactively — don't wait to be asked.
Work within our billing/subscription platform and support ongoing system improvements.
Partner with our outsourced accounting firm to ensure clean processes, clear documentation, and a structured handoff to internal operations.
Serve as an internal point of coordination between finance, ops, and external accounting partners to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Identify and drive opportunities for process improvement across accounting and finance operations.
Build and maintain SOPs for key accounting workflows to ensure continuity and institutional knowledge.
Partner with Finance leadership to analyze revenue trends, operational KPIs, and process efficiencies to support strategic decision-making.