Director of Accounting

Leslie's•Phoenix, AZ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director of Accounting, you will play a key role in providing strategic leadership and direction, fostering a collaborative culture, and driving operational excellence across the organization. This pivotal role involves shaping and executing the company's strategic initiatives to drive growth, profitability, and operational excellence. You will be responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of inventory accounting activities within the organization. You will play a critical role in ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective inventory control, and compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements (including Sarbanes-Oxley, SOX, requirements). As a key leader, you will play a crucial role in fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture that aligns with Leslie’s vision and values. In addition, the role is responsible for the development and enforcement of general accounting policies and procedures and ensuring strong internal controls while driving process improvements. This position is responsible for meeting ad hoc requests from internal customers, internal/external audit requests as well as special projects, while driving a service delivery culture focused on customer-centric process excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance. CPA preferred.
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in public accounting and/or public company accounting function with at least two (2) years experience in a supervisory role.
Experience in inventory accounting preferred.
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and SOX level internal controls, required.
Experience with month end close, general ledger, journal entries, reconciliations, budgeting/forecasting and variance analysis required.
Effective verbal and written communications, including active listening skills, problem solving skills and presentation skills.
Excellent documentation skills, research and resolution skills, data analysis.
Organized and extremely detail-oriented.
Process oriented with a strong knowledge of applicable general ledger systems and accounting.
Holds self and others accountable for ensuring that results are achieved; seizes opportunities to produce results without direct supervision; takes action on items beyond formal job responsibility; sets high expectations for self and others.
Ability to work independently, with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment.
Ability to maintain composure under pressure while meeting multiple deadlines and priorities.
Proven leadership and mentoring skills, self-starter and team player.
Advanced to Expert competency in Excel and proficient with other Microsoft Office suite products (e.g., One Note, Word, PowerPoint).

Nice To Haves

CPA preferred.
Experience in inventory accounting preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and develop a talented and highly motivated team, including establishing and managing goals that are aligned with overall departmental and company objectives.
Review month-end entries, account reconciliations, and account analyses including but not limited to inventory accounting and vendor rebate accounting with appropriate internal control documentation and support where required.
Facilitate period-end close activities by ensuring the accurate and timely completion of the Accounting Department’s close-related responsibilities while focusing on strategies to drive the reduction of the close timeline.
Evaluate, develop, implement, and monitor accounting and operational policies and procedures for owned areas, with an emphasis on improving accuracy and timeliness, enhancing documented procedures, reducing risk and strengthening compliance; especially the reduction of manual, Excel-based activities.
Act as a key member of cross-departmental teams to improve the flow of data and reporting. Ensure information flows between general accounting team and other internal and external partners.
Continuously evaluate internal controls in response to changing systems/processes and work with department leadership and the Controller to identify and implement necessary control changes.
Provide internal and external auditors with requested documentation on a timely basis.
Maintain ownership of key controls related to corporate accounts and processes; update SOX narratives as needed and perform all assigned controls to ensure a strong control environment over assigned processes.
Support Finance with accounting information needed for budgeting and forecasting activities.
Other projects as requested by management.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, pharmacy, dental, & vision plan options.
Health savings account (with enrollment in the high deductible health plan option).
Health & dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance.
Voluntary supplemental life insurance.
Company-paid short-term disability and voluntary long-term disability insurance.
Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) with company match.
Paid vacation, sick, and bereavement leave.
Paid holidays, including a floating personal day.
Employee assistance and wellness programs.
Earned Wage access is available, allowing early access to a portion of your earned wages before payday.
Product discounts at Leslie’s Retail stores.