Senior Accountant

K&L Wine Merchants•Northern or Southern, CA

14d•$110,000 - $135,000•Hybrid

About The Position

K&L Wine Merchants is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to serve as a cornerstone of our finance function. This role goes beyond transactional accounting — you will own key areas of the general ledger, drive month-end close, support financial reporting, and help elevate the overall quality and controls of our accounting operations. You will work closely with the Controller and senior finance leadership and will be expected to bring both technical depth and strategic thinking to the team. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in GAAP accounting, experience managing complex reconciliations across multiple entities, and the judgment to identify issues, propose solutions, and see them through to resolution independently.

Requirements

5–8 years of progressive accounting experience, including meaningful time in a senior or lead role
Deep proficiency in QuickBooks (Desktop), including GL management, multi-entity reporting, and advanced transaction workflows
Advanced Excel skills — pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, INDEX/MATCH, etc. for automating accounting and reconciliation workflows
Solid command of GAAP, including accrual accounting, revenue recognition principles, and balance sheet management
Demonstrated ability to support and manage month-end close processes with minimal oversight
Experience with AP automation platforms such as Tipalti, Bill.com, or similar
Strong judgment and the ability to identify, escalate, and resolve issues independently
Attention to detail/accuracy and the ability to manage multiple special projects in addition to weekly and monthly workflows

Nice To Haves

Experience in the beverage, alcohol, retail, or distribution industry
Familiarity with foreign currency (FX) accounting, including multi-currency invoicing, exchange rate application, and FX gain/loss recording
Experience supporting external audits and working directly with auditors or tax advisors
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA license optional but preferred

Responsibilities

Support the full month-end and year-end close process, ensuring timely and accurate completion across all entities
Prepare, review, and post complex journal entries including accruals, prepaid amortization, intercompany transactions, and expense allocations
Perform and review balance sheet reconciliations with a high degree of rigor, identifying and resolving variances
Maintain and continuously improve the integrity of the general ledger, chart of accounts, and supporting documentation
Support the preparation of monthly financial statements and management reports for senior leadership
Full ownership of AP cycle from invoice processing to payment execution
Lead vendor management, communication, statement reconciliations, credit applications, etc.
Review and execute payment transactions processed across check, ACH, wire, and automated platforms and support cashflow planning
Ensure accurate GL coding, proper approvals, and audit-ready documentation across all AP activity
Drive accurate and appropriate location and departmental coding and expense allocations in line with budgets; support variance analysis as necessary
Oversee monthly credit card reconciliations and expense report reviews, ensuring policy compliance and accurate posting
Manage annual 1099 preparation, filing, and vendor compliance processes
Identify gaps in existing processes and controls, and proactively recommend and implement improvements
Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal accounting policies across all areas of responsibility
Maintain audit-ready workpapers and documentation; support information needs from for external auditors and tax advisors
Support the development and enforcement of accounting policies and procedures
Serve as a power user of QuickBooks Desktop and AP automation platforms (e.g., Tipalti, Bill.com, Expensify), identifying opportunities to streamline workflows
Build and maintain Excel-based tools, models, and automation (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, macros) to improve efficiency and reporting accuracy
Contribute to systems evaluation and implementation projects as the finance team scales
Partner with the Controller and Finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and special projects
Serve as a resource and informal mentor to junior accounting staff
Collaborate with operations, procurement, and other departments to resolve accounting issues and ensure accurate financial capture