Staff Accountant

TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY•Saint Petersburg, FL

1d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized General Ledger and Payroll Accountant to join our finance team. This role is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger, performing full-cycle accounting tasks, and managing payroll processing in compliance with company policies, GAAP, and applicable regulations. The ideal candidate brings strong technical accounting expertise, exceptional organizational abilities, and a proactive approach to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and employee compensation. This position reports directly to the Accounting Manager and plays a critical role in supporting month-end close, reconciliations, and payroll accuracy.

Requirements

Experience 3–5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with significant hands-on experience in general ledger accounting and payroll processing.
Proven experience with full-cycle month-end close and account reconciliations.
Prior experience using payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Paychex, UKG, or similar) strongly preferred.
Experience with ERP/accounting software (e.g., Sage Intaact, Sage, QuickBooks, or Microsoft Dynamics) required.
Strong accounting expertise, including solid knowledge of GAAP and payroll tax compliance.
Exceptional organizational skills with a high attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis) and comfort working with large datasets.
Analytical mindset with the ability to identify discrepancies, investigate root causes, and propose solutions.
Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) for collaborating with team members, HR, and employees.
High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism when handling sensitive financial and payroll information.
Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Experience in a mid-sized company or similar environment.
Familiarity with multi-state payroll compliance.
Previous involvement in financial audits or process improvements.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with other accounting team members and departments to resolve accounting issues and improve processes.
Maintain strong internal controls and documented procedures for GL and payroll functions.
Assist with special projects, audits, and year-end activities as assigned.
Continuously identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and accuracy in accounting and payroll processes.
Prepare and post monthly journal entries, including accruals, deferrals, allocations, payroll-related entries, and other adjusting entries.
Perform monthly account reconciliations for balance sheet accounts (e.g., cash, prepaids, fixed assets, accruals, payroll liabilities, intercompany).
Support the full-cycle month-end close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial close in accordance with GAAP.
Analyze general ledger activity, investigate variances, and provide explanations and recommendations to management.
Maintain and update general ledger records, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
Assist with the preparation of financial reports, schedules, and supporting documentation for internal reviews and external audits.
Support annual budget preparation, forecasting, and variance analysis as needed.
Process bi-weekly (or as scheduled) payroll, including calculation of wages, overtime, bonuses, deductions, taxes, and benefits.
Prepare and post payroll journal entries to the general ledger.
Reconcile payroll accounts and liabilities monthly, ensuring all withholdings and employer contributions are accurately recorded and remitted.
Maintain payroll records, files, and employee data in the payroll system.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, including timely filing of payroll tax reports (e.g., 941, W-2, state unemployment).
Handle payroll inquiries from employees and managers, resolving issues promptly.
Serve as a backup or primary contact for payroll-related functions, coordinating with HR as needed.