Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Sikich is seeking a Manager, Client Accounting Services, to oversee outsourced accounting engagements for Consumer Packaged Goods clients. The role leads financial reporting and close processes, manages engagement teams and client relationships, and provides accounting guidance and strategic financial insights for CPG operations.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary Controller or Accounting Manager for assigned clients, overseeing all aspects of the accounting function
- Lead and manage monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely financial reporting
- Review journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements prepared by staff to ensure compliance with GAAP and firm standards
- Analyze financial results, trends, and variances and provide actionable insights to clients and internal stakeholders
- Establish, document, and improve accounting processes, internal controls, and workflows to enhance efficiency and scalability
- Manage client relationships, serving as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for financial and operational matters
- Coordinate client deliverables, deadlines, and engagement scope through effective project management practices
- Support budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and working capital planning
- Assist clients with system implementations, process transitions, integrations, and accounting clean-up projects
- Collaborate with tax, audit, technology, and advisory teams to support integrated service delivery
- Mentor, coach, and develop team members; review performance and provide ongoing feedback
- Delegate work effectively while maintaining accountability for engagement quality and outcomes
- Identify opportunities for additional services and contribute to CAS business development efforts
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and firm policies across all engagements
- Support CPG clients with inventory accounting, cost accounting, and gross margin analysis across product lines and sales channels
- Review and analyze inventory valuations and reserves, obsolete and slow-moving inventory, landed costs, freight allocations, and SKU-level profitability
- Improve accounting processes related to supply chain operations, manufacturing, contract manufacturers, co-packers, warehouses, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs)
- Oversee accounting for trade promotions, rebates, chargebacks, customer deductions, slotting fees, and other retailer-related programs
- Support trade promotion management (TPM) processes, including promotional spend forecasting, trade accrual accuracy, and deduction research and resolution
- Develop financial reporting and KPI dashboards covering inventory turnover, gross margin, contribution margin, product profitability, channel performance, and working capital
- Leverage syndicated retail data and point-of-sale (POS) data to support sales, margin, and trade spend performance analysis
- Provide financial and accounting guidance for wholesale, retail, distributor, eCommerce, Amazon, direct store delivery (DSD), and direct-to-consumer business models
- Ability to present financial results and operational insights to founders, executive leadership teams, lenders, and investors, translating complex accounting concepts into actionable business recommendations
- Assist clients in preparing board-ready financial reports and board decks, including support for capital raise preparation and investor updates
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Five or more years of experience in public accounting, consulting, outsourced accounting services, or an in-house accounting role with relevant client-facing responsibilities, including CPG-specific experience
- Two or more years of supervisory or team leadership experience
- Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting requirements
- Demonstrated experience managing month-end close and financial reporting processes
- Experience operating in a Controller or Accounting Manager capacity for multiple clients or business units
- CPG industry experience is required, with hands-on responsibility for inventory-intensive accounting and financial operations
- Strong understanding of inventory accounting, cost accounting, inventory valuation methodologies, inventory reserves, standard or actual costing, and gross margin analysis
- Experience accounting for trade spend, promotional allowances, customer deductions, rebates, chargebacks, and retailer programs
- Experience supporting multi-channel revenue streams, including wholesale, retail, distributor, eCommerce, Amazon, direct store delivery (DSD), and direct-to-consumer channels
- Knowledge of supply chain accounting concepts, including landed costs, freight allocation, 3PL arrangements, co-packers, and contract manufacturing
- Experience preparing and analyzing CPG performance metrics, including inventory turnover, SKU profitability, contribution margin, gross margin by channel, and working capital
- Proficiency with accounting systems such as QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP Business One, Acumatica, or similar ERP systems
- Proficiency with Cin7, SPS Commerce, Shopify, Amazon Seller/Vendor Central reporting
- Ability to evaluate cash runway, inventory investment strategies, purchase commitments, financing alternatives, and working capital optimization initiatives
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple clients and priorities simultaneously
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Strong interpersonal and client service skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders
- Ability to adapt in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and contribute to continuous process improvement
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate, adopt, and use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation tools, to enhance business processes, improve decision-making, and drive operational efficiency
- Servant Leader - You are highly focused on engaging employees, fostering their development, and building a positive culture
- Solutions Focused - You see opportunities in every business problem and can develop, articulate, and implement solutions
- Collaboration - You are a relationship builder across all levels of the organization and across business units
- Instills Trust - You do what you say, follow through on commitments, act with integrity, and are perceived as consistent and credible
- Impact and Influence Thinking - You gain support for ideas, proposals, and solutions and inspire action, with or without formal authority, to advance initiatives and objectives
- CPA certification
- Familiarity with Trade Promotion Management (TPM) or deduction management platforms
- Experience serving as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or outsourced finance leader for a CPG organization
- Experience supporting companies through rapid growth, new product launches, retail expansion, channel expansion, or supply chain transformation
- Experience working with national or regional retailers and managing the related accounting and reporting requirements
- Experience supporting private equity-backed or investor-backed CPG organizations
- Exposure to demand planning, inventory forecasting, operational finance, and unit economics
Benefits
- Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy: full-time employees, as the role permits, may use paid time off for personal time, mental or physical health care, vacation, sick leave, and other needs; FTO is activated on the first day of employment.
- Paid holidays during the year and, when client and project work permits, time off during the last week of the calendar year.
- Comprehensive wellness program.
- Flexible work arrangements.
- Health, dental, vision, life, accident, death, and disability insurance options.
- HSA employer contribution.
- Nine paid holidays annually.
- Paid Parental Bonding Leave covering birth, adoption, and foster children.
- 401(k) with employer contributions.
- CPA bonus with four paid exam days and four paid study days.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Employee referral bonus program.
- Client referral bonus program.
- Pet insurance.
- FORCE, the Sikich community volunteer program, enabling each team member to use up to four paid hours annually to volunteer in local communities.
Company Overview
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