Junior Staff Accountant, Accounts Receivable

Lulu Press • Research Triangle Park, NC

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

Lulu Press is seeking a Junior Staff Accountant for its Accounting team. The position primarily owns the accounts receivable process, including invoicing, cash application, collections, and month-end reconciliation. The accountant issues accurate customer invoices, applies payments across channels and currencies, follows up on past-due balances, monitors AR aging, researches payment discrepancies, and partners with customer service and sales to resolve billing disputes. The role also supports sales-tax compliance, customer credit reviews, financial and tax audits, reporting, reconciliations, and process improvements. The successful candidate will maintain accurate customer records, meet month-end deadlines, and communicate with customers about billing and payments while collaborating with the finance team. The position is based in a hybrid environment from Lulu Press’s RTP, North Carolina office, with approximately two days in the office each week and additional in-office attendance as needed. Candidates must live or plan to live in North Carolina and be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• General accounting experience, including general ledger work, posting journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and practices.
• Familiarity with accounting software and ERP systems.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including demonstrated use of advanced functionality.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to summarize financial data for business use.
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines while maintaining completeness and accuracy; self-motivated.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage and adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment from the RTP, NC office, approximately two days per week and as needed.
• Must live or plan to live in North Carolina.
• Must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; the company cannot sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in accounts receivable or a similar financial role.
• Experience in accounts receivable, collections, or cash application.
• Experience with NetSuite and Excel, including pivot tables and lookups.
• Familiarity with multi-currency transactions, foreign currencies, and online payment processors.
• Internship experience; recent graduates and candidates with internship experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Generate and distribute accurate, timely customer invoices that comply with contractual terms and company policies.
• Maintain customer accounts and information, respond to customer inquiries, and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Maintain sales tax certificates in Avalara.
• Apply customer and retailer payments, including credit-card-processor payments, to the appropriate accounts and reconcile payments against outstanding invoices.
• Process sales tax and VAT refunds through the Freshdesk ticket system.
• Monitor accounts receivable aging and follow collection strategies to minimize overdue payments.
• Assess and establish customer credit limits and evaluate the creditworthiness of new and existing customers.
• Generate accounts receivable reports and provide management with performance insights and analysis.
• Assist with financial and tax audits, including AR confirmations and supporting documentation.
• Assist with month-end close by preparing accounts receivable reports and reconciliations and collaborating on accurate financial reporting.
• Reconcile the accounts receivable sub-ledger with the general ledger and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain organized, current records of customer transactions and ensure compliance with company policies and accounting standards.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase accounts receivable efficiency.
• Collaborate with finance colleagues and other teams, assist with special projects, and be available for training as a Finance Team backup based on management review.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• FSA/HSA accounts.
• Voluntary benefit options.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Benefits eligibility for full-time employees beginning on their first day of employment.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level