Accounting Manager

Client Overview: Our client is a U.S.-based food manufacturing organization operating within the food and beverage sector. The company is part of a larger internationally owned group with European roots and is currently in a development and expansion phase within the U.S. market. The U.S. operation is structured as a lean, entrepreneurial environment with close coordination to global headquarters.

Job title: Accounting Manager

Mission: The Accounting Manager is responsible for leading and stabilizing the U.S. accounting function, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and effective cost and inventory accounting in a fast-growing food manufacturing environment. The role acts as a key liaison between U.S. operations and international headquarters, building scalable accounting processes while improving visibility into margins, working capital, and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements.

• Own general ledger integrity, including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and coordination with external consultants during the transition to in-house accounting operations.

• Manage end-to-end cost accounting activities including standard costing, variance analysis (labor, overhead, yield, waste), inventory valuation, and BOM accuracy.

• Oversee inventory accounting and working capital management, including cycle counts, reconciliations, shrinkage tracking, and inventory optimization initiatives.

• Develop and maintain internal control frameworks, support audit processes, and ensure compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements.

• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, providing insights into product, customer, and channel profitability.

• Act as the key finance liaison between U.S. operations and international Group Finance, ensuring alignment in reporting and governance.

• Contribute to ERP optimization, process standardization, and scalable finance infrastructure development.

• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA strongly preferred).

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, ideally including Big Four or top-tier audit/advisory background.

• Strong experience in manufacturing, food production, or industrial environments with deep expertise in cost accounting and inventory management.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP with exposure to IFRS reporting environments.

• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred).

• Proven ability to operate in lean, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments with high ownership and hands-on execution.

• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate financial data into operational insights.

• Excellent communication skills and experience working with international or multi-entity organizations.