Manager - Accounting (Hybrid)

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network. Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together. Description We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning & Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals. This position is Chicago-based hybrid, requiring 2-3 days in office weekly. The Manager - Accounting is responsible for supervising and managing accounting operations which combines technical accounting expertise with a continuous improvement mindset. This position oversees staff-performed key contributions towards the monthly close process and preparation of consolidated financial statements and internal reporting packages (BS/IS/CFS) as well as other activities such as: Preparation / review of monthly journal entries Reconciliation of general ledger balance sheet accounts Determining the appropriate accounting treatment for various contracts / transactions Other key corporate accounting tasks In addition, this role is responsible for identifying and supporting innovation and continuous improvement opportunities under the CFO’s overall strategy of finance transformation. The objective of this strategy includes improving efficiencies, elevating the division’s ability to provide insight to our business partners and gain transparency into trends in financial data. This role will specifically include oversight and supervision of initiatives such as: Assess current accounting processes for process improvements through simplification and standardization Improving manual processes through automation Serve as a change agent and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement Data aggregation and analysis This role requires the individual to partner with internal business areas to drive process efficiency end-to-end and earlier visibility to trends in data. Oversee accounting operations Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including support of the month-end close processes and quarterly/annual reporting to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting Ensure current and any future transformation initiatives comply with accounting standards (e.g., US GAAP) and regulatory requirements where applicable (e.g., DOT, etc.) Ensure the accounting for various contracts and transactions are properly reflected in the Company’s books and records in accordance with US GAAP Ensure appropriate controls are embedded in existing and/or modified or new business processes Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Fleet, Corporate Real Estate, Treasury, Investor Relations, and others to ensure accurate and timely accounting guidance is provided to the business Drive continuous improvement, process optimization and automation Assess current accounting processes to identify areas for process improvements through simplification, standardization, end-to-end optimization (by working cross-functionally), and automation Implement best practices and automation tools (e.g., EPM, Alteryx, RPA, etc.) to streamline accounting processes and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reporting, reconciliation, and month-end close activities Continuously identify and evaluate opportunities for process improvement, focusing on cost savings and operational efficiency Identify and drive finance transformation initiatives Collaborate with leadership to help define accounting transformation initiatives Partner with stakeholders (e.g., DT, Finance, others) to ensure an integration of accounting initiatives with the broader organizational goals Track efforts against transformation initiative milestones, maintain timelines and report on progress to senior management Serve as a change agent and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement Develop and coach team members Supervise and mentor team members, delegating tasks, providing performance feedback, and supporting professional development Lead by example and drive a positive team culture that focuses on diversity, inclusiveness, collaboration, and teaming

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
Certified Public Accountant
3+ years of accounting experience
Strong understanding of technical accounting rules, accounting processes and key internal controls
A highly motivated individual with strong leadership, analytical and organizational skills
Self-confidence with ability to interface with and develop consensus among multiple constituencies at varying levels
Ability to translate strategic initiatives into tactical implementation plans
Ability to work with both technical and business user teams to identify and solve issues
Up to 15% travel required
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable with making presentations
Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty

Nice To Haves

Master's degree
Experience in airline or similar industry
Understanding of data and experience with data analytic tools

Responsibilities

Preparation / review of monthly journal entries
Reconciliation of general ledger balance sheet accounts
Determining the appropriate accounting treatment for various contracts / transactions
Other key corporate accounting tasks
Assess current accounting processes for process improvements through simplification and standardization
Improving manual processes through automation
Serve as a change agent and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement
Data aggregation and analysis
Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including support of the month-end close processes and quarterly/annual reporting to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting
Ensure current and any future transformation initiatives comply with accounting standards (e.g., US GAAP) and regulatory requirements where applicable (e.g., DOT, etc.)
Ensure the accounting for various contracts and transactions are properly reflected in the Company’s books and records in accordance with US GAAP
Ensure appropriate controls are embedded in existing and/or modified or new business processes
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Fleet, Corporate Real Estate, Treasury, Investor Relations, and others to ensure accurate and timely accounting guidance is provided to the business
Implement best practices and automation tools (e.g., EPM, Alteryx, RPA, etc.) to streamline accounting processes and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reporting, reconciliation, and month-end close activities
Continuously identify and evaluate opportunities for process improvement, focusing on cost savings and operational efficiency
Partner with stakeholders (e.g., DT, Finance, others) to ensure an integration of accounting initiatives with the broader organizational goals
Track efforts against transformation initiative milestones, maintain timelines and report on progress to senior management
Supervise and mentor team members, delegating tasks, providing performance feedback, and supporting professional development
Lead by example and drive a positive team culture that focuses on diversity, inclusiveness, collaboration, and teaming