Senior Accountant

Pavlov Media Inc•Chicago, IL

19h•$74,000 - $111,000

About The Position

At Pavlov Media, we are on a mission to create something extraordinary. We’re passionate about delivering a far superior internet experience to the communities we serve, powered by cutting-edge fiber technology. But it is not just about speed and reliability—at Pavlov, we see our role as an opportunity to bring people closer together. Through the services we provide, we connect more than just devices; we help foster connections that strengthen communities, businesses, and enrich lives. If you are looking to be part of a team that is making a real impact, Pavlov Media is the place for you. The Senior Accountant is responsible for the accurate auditing, processing, and reconciliation of telecommunications vendor invoices, with a primary focus on bandwidth, transport, colocation, and other network-related costs from Type 2 carriers and service providers. This role serves as the accounting owner of telecom cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) accounting, ensuring invoice accuracy, cost allocation integrity, timely month-end close activities, and effective management of vendor payment processing workflows. The position will act as the primary business and accounting liaison for the company's payment processing SaaS platform, overseeing system administration, user access controls, audit compliance, and integration with the company's ERP system (Odoo). The ideal candidate possesses strong accounting fundamentals, experience working with telecommunications expenses, and the ability to collaborate across Finance, Network Operations, Procurement, and IT teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field.
5+ years of progressive accounting experience.
Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, accrual accounting, account reconciliations, and month-end close processes.
Experience auditing and processing high volumes of vendor invoices.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and vendor management abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Telecommunications, ISP, carrier, broadband, or network services industry experience.
Experience auditing carrier invoices including bandwidth, transport, fiber, and colocation charges.
Experience administering invoice automation, AP workflow, or payment processing SaaS platforms.
Experience with user access management, internal controls, and audit compliance.
Experience with ERP systems, preferably Odoo.
Knowledge of SOX-style control environments and segregation-of-duty concepts.
CPA, CMA, or progress toward certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Review, audit, validate, and process monthly invoices from telecommunications vendors, including: Bandwidth providers, Transport carriers, Colocation providers, Dark fiber providers, Network infrastructure and related service providers.
Verify billing accuracy against contracts, purchase orders, circuit inventories, pricing schedules, and service agreements.
Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies, billing disputes, credits, and adjustments with vendors and internal stakeholders.
Identify billing anomalies, duplicate charges, incorrect rates, and other cost recovery opportunities.
Ensure proper coding and allocation of telecom expenses to the general ledger and cost centers.
Maintain supporting documentation and audit trails for all invoice approvals and adjustments.
Serve as the Accounting owner for telecom and network-related COGS accounting.
Prepare month-end accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules related to carrier and network expenses.
Analyze monthly COGS variances and provide explanations to management.
Partner with Procurement, Network Operations, and Finance leadership to ensure accurate expense recognition and forecasting.
Support financial statement preparation and close processes related to network operating costs.
Act as the primary Finance administrator and business owner for the company's invoice payment processing platform.
Manage user provisioning, de-provisioning, security roles, and system access reviews.
Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and segregation-of-duty standards.
Maintain system governance documentation, approval workflows, and control procedures.
Partner with internal and external auditors to support audit requests and compliance reviews.
Coordinate system configuration changes, upgrades, testing, and issue resolution with the SaaS provider.
Own the transfer of approved invoice data from the payment processing platform into Odoo ERP.
Ensure accurate mapping of accounts, vendors, cost centers, and coding structures between systems.
Identify opportunities to automate workflows and improve data quality.
Reconcile data between the SaaS platform, ERP system, and vendor invoices.
Develop and maintain procedures supporting integration accuracy and operational efficiency.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with telecommunications carriers, vendors, and service providers.
Serve as the key finance contact for invoice and payment-related inquiries.
Collaborate with Procurement, Network Operations, Information Technology, and accounting teams to resolve billing and operational issues.
Participate in vendor reviews and support contract implementation and service transitions.
Maintain compliance with company policies, accounting standards, and internal control requirements.
Support internal and external audits by providing documentation, reconciliations, and process narratives.
Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen financial controls and operational efficiency.
Assist in developing policies and procedures related to telecom expense management and payment processing.