Accounting Manager

Position Description

The Accounting Manager leads Argen’s accounting, accounts payable, and payroll teams and directs the day-to-day operations of these functions, including the monthly, quarterly, and annual close. This is a people-first role: the primary focus is building a reliable, accountable team through clear expectations, coaching, and consistent follow-through. The Accounting Manager exercises independent judgment in setting priorities, establishing performance standards, and developing staff, and is accountable for the integrity of the general ledger, the effectiveness of internal controls, and the timely completion of the financial close. This position reports to the Corporate Controller and partners with the Corporate Controller on consolidation, technical accounting, and financial reporting matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads, coaches, and develops a team of approximately seven across accounting, accounts payable, and payroll.
• Holds regular one-on-ones and team meetings, sets clear priorities and expectations, and gives timely, direct feedback.
• Owns performance management for direct reports, including goal setting, mid-year and annual reviews, and performance improvement plans when needed.
• Hires, onboards, and trains new team members, and builds cross-training and backup coverage so no process depends on one person.
• Delegates tasks, monitors progress, and ensures alignment with departmental goals.
• Builds a culture of collaboration and accountability while actively resolving team conflicts.
• Ensures the team’s compliance with company policies, procedures, and standards.
• Creates accountability for deadlines and quality through checklists, close calendars, and visible tracking of open items.
• Manages the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring entries are recorded accurately, completely, and on time.
• Reviews and approves journal entries and balance sheet account reconciliations, and makes sure variances are investigated and resolved.
• Maintains the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Prepares monthly financial statements, account analyses, and variance (flux) explanations for review by the Corporate Controller.
• Oversees cash management activities, including bank reconciliations, daily cash reporting, and support for cash flow forecasting.
• Oversees inventory and cost accounting activities in partnership with operations, including inventory valuation, standard cost and variance analysis, and reconciliation of physical inventory and cycle counts.
• Oversees fixed asset accounting, including capitalization, depreciation, and disposals.
• Prepares and reconciles intercompany transactions and balances in support of the Corporate Controller’s consolidation process.
• Oversees the accounts payable function through the AP Supervisor, including vendor payments, payment controls, accruals, and the 1099 process.
• Oversees payroll processing to ensure it is accurate, timely, and compliant, and reviews payroll-related accruals and journal entries.
• Oversees sales and use tax, property tax, and other non-income tax filings, unclaimed property reporting, and business license renewals, and prepares supporting schedules for external tax advisors.
• Maintains and improves internal controls across accounting, accounts payable, and payroll.
• Develops and maintains written accounting policies, procedures, and desk instructions consistent with U.S. GAAP and company policy.
• Supports external audits by coordinating schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor requests.
• Partners with the Corporate Controller on consolidation, technical accounting matters, and financial reporting.
• Supports the annual budget and periodic forecasts by providing accounting data and analysis.
• Administers financial modules in the ERP, including opening and closing accounting periods.
• Identifies and implements process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Partners with HR, operations, sales, and other departments to answer accounting questions and resolve issues.
• Maintains the confidentiality of payroll, compensation, and other sensitive financial information, and ensures financial records are retained in accordance with company records retention requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance required, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on ownership of the month-end close.
• 3+ years of experience directly supervising and developing accounting staff. Experience managing accounts payable and/or payroll teams strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead people: coaching, setting expectations, holding team members accountable, and having difficult conversations constructively.
• Manufacturing industry experience strongly preferred.
• CPA a plus but not required.
• Solid working knowledge of U.S. GAAP as applied to the close process, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Working knowledge of internal control practices, including segregation of duties, and experience preparing schedules and documentation for external audits.
• Working knowledge of federal and California payroll and wage and hour requirements, including payroll tax filings, preferred.
• Experience with inventory and cost accounting, including standard costing and inventory valuation, preferred.
• Working knowledge of sales and use tax, 1099 reporting, and unclaimed property requirements preferred.
• Experience with multi-entity accounting, intercompany reconciliations, and/or foreign currency transactions preferred.
• Hands-on experience with ERP/accounting systems (QAD experience a plus) and familiarity with payroll systems such as ADP or Paylocity.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office. Experience with BI tools (e.g., DOMO, Power BI) a plus.
• Willingness to learn and use AI tools. Prior AI experience is not required; training will be provided.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels.