Accounting Manager

MediaNews Group•Willoughby, OH

10d•Remote

About The Position

The General Ledger Manager oversees general ledger and financial close activities for MediaNews Group (MNG) properties managed in the Shared Services Center, and ensures payroll activity for MediaNews Group and Tribune Company is recorded accurately and on time. Using Oracle and its reporting tools, including EPM, the role prepares and records journal entries, maintains supporting documentation, and oversees account reconciliations. The position is assigned financial statement responsibilities for one or more newspaper properties and payroll activity, supervises staff, and serves as a communication link with assigned properties’ FP&A contacts. It may also involve tracking newsprint inventory and calculating related expenses. This is a remote position, but candidates must reside in Colorado or Ohio. The role supervises and develops the General Ledger Team, supports financial reporting and close requirements, responds to questions about financial results, and works with field and corporate contacts. It also supports process improvement and the future expansion of Shared Services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, math, or a related field of study.
At least 5 years of related General Ledger accounting experience.
At least 2–3 years of supervisory experience.
Knowledge of accounting processes and internal controls.
Strong knowledge and application of GAAP.
Experience executing the financial statement close.
Ability to read and comprehend written instructions, correspondence, and financial documents.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present organized technical information to clients by email.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle situations with limited standardization.
High degree of self-initiative, good interpersonal skills, ability to remain calm under pressure, and strong attention to detail.
Proven team collaboration skills, demonstrated leadership and team development skills, and a customer-focused approach.
Ability to communicate technical problems to appropriate IT staff for troubleshooting and resolution.
Advanced Excel proficiency, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and building reconciliations and roll-forward schedules.
Knowledge of automated accounting systems and business intelligence and reporting systems.
Must reside in Colorado or Ohio.
Must be willing to submit to and pass required pre-employment checks.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
A combination of college education and experience that enables successful performance in all aspects of the position.
Oracle system experience.
Experience with EPM business intelligence and reporting systems.
5–7+ years of related General Ledger accounting experience.
8–10 years of overall business experience.

Responsibilities

Supervise the General Ledger Team to ensure financial close activities are completed accurately and on time in accordance with GAAP.
Review and post journal entries, and review and approve payroll journal entries and reconciliations.
Prepare monthly journal entries and supporting schedules for assigned properties, ensuring required approvals are obtained.
Prepare documentation for journal entries related to advertising and interactive revenue, circulation revenue and expenses, advertising expenses, newsprint expenses, payroll expenses, benefits expenses, and allocations.
Enter journal entries into Oracle.
Complete quarterly reporting requirements for Internal Control Questionnaires and Representation Letters.
Participate in quarterly close calls and respond to PAR questions from the Corporate Accounting Team.
Support the Senior Director of Accounting with special projects and reporting.
Release P&L details to department heads at field locations.
Respond to inquiries from department heads, FP&A contacts, and publishers about financial results, and conduct related research.
Assist FP&A resources with variance analyses and Day 7 reports.
Review account reconciliations.
Track newsprint inventory orders, receipts, and invoices.
Complete the inventory roll-forward to calculate newsprint expense and prepare the related journal entry.
Perform bad debt analysis and record bad debt expense.
Provide customer service to key contacts at field locations and the corporate office.
Identify opportunities for process improvement and increased efficiency.
Hire, train, and manage the General Ledger Team.
Participate in the future expansion of Shared Services.