About the position
The Staff Accountant II role is a critical position within the Accounting department, located in Chicago, Illinois. This position is primarily responsible for supporting the preparation of GAAP financial statements and ensuring the timely completion and analysis of financial results and accounting transactions. The Staff Accountant II will play a key role in participating in an efficient close process, which is essential for accurate financial reporting. The individual in this role will need to understand both internal and external requirements to ensure that all financial reporting is accurate and compliant with relevant standards. In this role, the Staff Accountant II will coordinate and participate in the monthly close process for their assigned area of responsibility. This includes assisting Senior Accountants and Accounting Managers with daily accounting activities and month-end closing procedures. The Staff Accountant II will also be tasked with analyzing financial reports and records, making recommendations, and seeking solutions for any accounting problems that arise before presenting these issues to senior management. The ability to analyze a moderate scope of situations or data is crucial, as is the capacity to review a variety of factors that may impact financial reporting. The Staff Accountant II will apply company policies and procedures to resolve routine issues, exercising judgment within defined accounting procedures and practices to determine the appropriate course of action. Timely and accurate preparation of journal entries and account analyses is a key responsibility, as is the review, research, and recommendation of improvements to analysis, reporting, billing, and compliance systems. Additionally, the Staff Accountant II will respond to financial inquiries from field management, providing the requested information to facilitate effective management of the business. Meeting the monthly schedule for reporting is also a critical expectation of this role.
Responsibilities
- Support the preparation of GAAP financial statements.
- Contribute to the timely completion and analysis of financial results and accounting transactions.
- Participate in an efficient close process.
- Coordinate and participate in the monthly close process for assigned area of responsibility.
- Assist Senior Accountants and Accounting Managers in daily accounting activities and month-end closing procedures.
- Analyze financial reports and records, making recommendations or seeking solutions for accounting problems before presenting issues to senior/manager.
- Analyze a moderate scope of situations or data review of a variety of factors.
- Apply company policies and procedures to resolve routine issues exercising judgment within defined accounting procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
- Prepare journal entries and account analyses timely and accurately.
- Review, research, and recommend improvements to analysis, reporting, billing and compliance systems.
- Respond to financial inquiries of field management providing requested information for use in effective field management of the business.
- Meet monthly schedule for reporting.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance.
- Knowledge of fundamental accounting principles, practices and procedures.
- Strong PC literacy skills in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Access and Word).
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills with attention to detail.
- Continuous improvement mindset.
- Ability to identify and recognize routine or standard problems that have established precedents and organizational impact.
- Anticipate additional requirements and use available resources appropriately.
- Ability to communicate structured information in a clear, concise, and organized manner suited to the characteristics and needs of the audience.
