Senior Accounting Manager

Rockstar•Southfield, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Accounting Manager is a hands-on accounting leader at an education management organization that partners with public charter schools across Southeast Michigan. The role reports directly to the CFO and supports the day-to-day accounting function, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, monthly close, payroll-related processes, and financial reporting across the company and its partner schools. This is a Controller-track position for a detail-oriented accounting professional with strong fundamentals who is interested in growing with the organization. The successful candidate will help build and scale accounting processes as the organization grows. Initially, success includes accurate and timely payroll, a consistently executed monthly close, current and reliable reconciliations, and consistent application of GAAP processes. Over time, the role may become the day-to-day accounting lead, own the close, manage 2–3 accounting team members, and grow into a Controller-level position. The organization was founded in 2003 and supports a network of schools serving more than 3,000 students and over 250 employees. It provides operational, financial, academic, HR, compliance, and student-support infrastructure. The position is based primarily in person in Southfield, Michigan.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
5–12 years of accounting, finance, payroll, or related experience.
Strong accounting fundamentals and comfort with GAAP-based reporting.
Experience with payroll and benefits processing.
Experience supporting month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Strong attention to detail and high standards for accuracy.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Comfort working primarily in person in Southfield, Michigan.
Organized and reliable, with a willingness to be hands-on.
Comfort operating in a lean, fast-moving environment.
Interest in growing with the company and taking on more responsibility over time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in school accounting, school finance, charter schools, or school district finance.
CPA or CPA-track background.
Experience with QuickBooks Online and ADP.
Experience in a people-oriented services-based business or multi-entity environment.
Experience building or improving accounting processes, controls, or systems.

Responsibilities

Support and eventually own key parts of the monthly close process.
Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
Maintain accurate financial records based on US GAAP.
Reconcile accounts receivable, payroll-related accounts, intercompany activity, and other key balance-sheet accounts.
Help prepare monthly financial statements and reporting packages for CFO review.
Own and support biweekly payroll processes for a workforce of more than 250 employees.
Work with ADP and internal teams to ensure payroll is accurate, timely, and well-controlled.
Reconcile payroll, benefits, deductions, contractor payments, stipends, and related accounts.
Partner with other functions on employee changes and compensation updates.
Support budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, and recurring reports for leadership.
Translate accounting data into clear, useful information for the CFO and senior leaders.
Provide accounting support for planning, forecasting, and financial decision-making.
Strengthen accounting checklists, controls, documentation, and recurring workflows.
Work closely with the CFO, President/COO, HR, operations, compliance, and school-level teams.
Over time, take on day-to-day accounting leadership, own the close process, and manage 2–3 accounting team members as the organization grows.