Senior Accountant – General Ledger & Financial Reporting

ARA•Albuquerque, NM

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Applied Research Associates’ Corporate Accounting Department is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant with strong technical accounting expertise, professional judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset. The role serves as a resource for revenue recognition under ASC 606, strengthens general ledger accounting processes, and helps modernize financial statement and management reporting through greater use of ERP and financial planning systems, including Deltek Costpoint and Workday Adaptive Planning. The Senior Accountant supports accurate and timely financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting services for a growing organization. The position performs revenue recognition, general ledger, financial close, reporting, audit, and compliance work; collaborates with accounting, finance, systems personnel, IT, functional subject matter experts, and business stakeholders; and identifies opportunities to improve processes and automate work. The position is primarily office-based in a hybrid arrangement and requires candidates to be local to Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Raleigh, North Carolina.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field and at least five years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated experience applying accounting principles to business transactions.
Experience applying revenue recognition principles, including ASC 606, and the ability to research, document, and communicate accounting conclusions.
Experience performing month-end close activities, preparing general ledger reconciliations, and supporting financial statement preparation.
Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies and develop supported accounting conclusions.
Experience working with financial information from enterprise accounting or ERP systems.
Advanced Excel proficiency, including analyzing large data sets, reconciling information, and developing financial schedules.
Ability to independently manage complex accounting assignments, exercise sound professional judgment, proactively resolve issues, and deliver accurate results within established deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain accounting issues and recommendations effectively.
Commitment to professional integrity, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

CPA or CMA certification, or demonstrated progress toward certification.
Experience researching and applying complex technical accounting standards, including ASC 842.
Experience in government contracting or project-based accounting environments, including exposure to FAR, CAS, or DCAA requirements.
Experience with Deltek Costpoint, Workday Adaptive Planning, Oracle, or comparable enterprise systems.
Experience preparing financial statements and management reports using ERP-generated data.
Experience supporting external financial statement audits, internal audits, or government compliance reviews.
Experience improving accounting processes through system enhancements, reporting technologies, or automation.

Responsibilities

Perform and support ASC 606 revenue recognition activities, including contract evaluation, revenue reconciliations, and period-end reporting.
Analyze complex contract arrangements, including multi-element and fixed-price contracts, and document accounting conclusions.
Support revenue reporting, variance analysis, contract closeout activities, and revenue adjustments.
Evaluate revenue recognition practices and help develop and document consistent accounting procedures.
Provide accounting support and technical analysis for unusual or nonroutine transactions.
Improve financial statement preparation and management reporting through increased use of ERP systems and reporting technologies.
Develop, maintain, and validate financial reports, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
Collaborate with accounting, finance, and systems personnel to improve data accuracy, reporting consistency, and process efficiency.
Participate in system enhancements, testing, implementation, system upgrades, and business system evaluation or migration activities affecting accounting and reporting.
Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes through standardization, improved system functionality, and appropriate automation.
Partner with IT and functional subject matter experts to improve workflows, resolve system issues, and drive process automation.
Perform and support monthly and annual financial close activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and financial statement preparation.
Analyze general ledger activity and financial results, investigate unusual transactions or variances, and recommend appropriate accounting treatment.
Prepare and review supporting schedules, reconciliations, and financial reporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Research technical accounting matters under U.S. GAAP, document conclusions, and support implementation of accounting policies and standards.
Resolve accounting discrepancies in collaboration with corporate accounting, operational finance, and other business stakeholders.
Take ownership of assigned responsibilities, proactively identify issues, and drive them toward timely resolution.
Manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and meeting critical deadlines.
Communicate accounting findings and recommendations clearly to financial and nonfinancial stakeholders.
Collaborate with team members and business partners to strengthen accounting processes and knowledge sharing.
Maintain accurate accounting records, supporting documentation, and effective internal controls.
Prepare audit schedules and respond to financial statement, internal, and government audit inquiries.
Research accounting questions, reconcile discrepancies, and provide timely, well-documented responses.
Support compliance with accounting standards, company policies, and government contracting requirements.
Identify potential accounting or control risks and recommend practical improvements.