Senior Accountant

Job Description

About Black Spectacles

At Black Spectacles, we have ambitious plans to help support the architecture community. Our team is passionate about fostering a collaborative environment where creativity and professionalism thrive. We are seeking a Senior Accountant to oversee all aspects of accounting, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and providing strategic financial insights to support our growth objectives.

We’re looking for teammates who:

• Are passionate about architecture and making an ambitious impact on the Architecture and Design community
• Own it - comfortable taking responsibility for your work
• Take calculated risks and encourage others to do the same
• Take a world-class approach to everything you do
• Make it safe to share ideas
• Take care of your people

At Black Spectacles, you’ll benefit from working with a team who lives and celebrates our values everyday, and you can be sure that you will regularly see and feel the impact of your work. As a fully remote company you’ll benefit from working from home year round, and from semiannual company trips to keep you connected to your team. 

Black Spectacles has been recognized by Great Place to Work and Built In as a great place to work, by the American Institute of Architects for the national impact we’re having on the profession of architecture, and has been recognized by Inc Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

Role Overview

We’re seeking an accomplished and experienced Senior Accountant, preferably located in Chicago, Illinois, to join our dynamic team. In this role, you'll take ownership of the company’s financial health and oversee all financial activities, directly supporting the owner.You’ll work closely with the Leadership team to develop and implement financial strategies, ensure compliance with financial regulations, and provide guidance on financial decision-making to drive the company vision, values, and working environment forward. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in accounting and a demonstrated history of success in leadership roles. We offer a competitive base salary of $105,000 to $125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Expectation for all Team Members:                                                                                                                            

Support the organization's mission and values by exemplifying the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, commitment, accountability, and ownership.

To thrive in this role, demonstrate a passion for learning and growth, work effectively within a team, and actively contribute to a results-oriented and innovative culture through your actions and collaboration.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:

• Oversee daily accounting operations, including sales tax, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and financial reporting.
• Manage and coordinate relationships with outsourced accounting staff and vendors, ensuring alignment with company standards and objectives.
• Establish protocols and procedures for accounting functions to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Provide weekly and monthly financial KPIs and reports to the Leadership Team.

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare, review, and analyze monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to the CEO and the third-party accountant.
• Maintain, review, analyze, and reconcile balance sheet and income statement general ledger accounts.
• Maintain, review, and revise month-end closing work papers.
• Oversee and manage month-end closing work papers and review the reconciliation of sales data by the 5th of each month. Reconcile monthly gross income and sales tax with third-party credit card processing and sales tax providers for accuracy.
• Prepare and review journal entries for all material financial statement line items.
• Manage corporate funds, including deposits, payroll, and benefits, ensuring proper coding and categorization.
• Upload, code, approve, and process all invoices and payments while ensuring budget consistency.
• Reconcile bank accounts and credit card payments to the general ledger.
• Maintain and review schedules for deferred revenue, accruals, prepaids, and fixed assets.
• Ensure compliance with vendor requirements (e.g., W-9s) and process 1099s in a timely manner.
• Update and own the chart of accounts.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop the annual corporate budget and financial re-forecasts.
• Monitor financial performance against the budget and provide variance analysis.
• Ensure financial accountability across departments, holding corporate directors responsible for their budgets.
• Manage cash flow and provide cash-on-hand forecasts.

Compliance, Auditing & Process Establishment:

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, local regulations, and company policies.
• Coordinate external audits, manage auditor relationships, and implement recommendations.
• Provide reports and schedules for audits, ensuring accuracy and alignment with financial statements.
• Establish and document strong accounting processes and internal controls to enhance efficiency and mitigate risk.
• Conduct internal audits regularly to ensure adherence to processes and identify areas for improvement.
• Oversee corporate contracts, agreements, subscriptions, and licenses, ensuring efficiency and value.

Process Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for process efficiencies and implement best practices in accounting functions.
• Leverage technology and business intelligence tools to enhance accounting operations and reporting capabilities.

Strategic Planning:

• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic initiatives and investments.
• Use business intelligence to analyze data trends, inform decision-making, and drive overall financial performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial strategies with business objectives.

General:

• Take on special projects while maintaining oversight of core accounting responsibilities.
• Stay informed on technical accounting and reporting developments and their potential impacts.
• Demonstrate leadership through attitude, communication, and professional appearance.
• Build strong internal and external relationships, leveraging entrepreneurial skills.
• Support team growth and development by mentoring and enabling professional success.
• Assist with ad-hoc projects and contribute to fostering best practices for business growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting; CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of demonstrated working experience in month-end accounting.
• Minimum of 2 years as a Senior Accountant.
• Experience working with Avalara (e.g., Sales and Use). 
• Experience working with third-party credit card processing firms.
• Experience working with a SaaS (Software as a Service) company.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting requirements.
• Strong efficiency in creating spreadsheets and reports in MS Excel and Word.
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Demonstrated business intelligence acumen, with proficiency in data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to summarize ideas and data clearly and concisely in a persuasive, organized, and appropriate manner to both finance and non-finance business leaders and executive leadership teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrate unwavering integrity, honesty, and professionalism in all interactions and decisions, fostering trust and accountability within the team and organization.
• Ability to travel as required to join in-person team gatherings.

Benefits

• Work From Home: Enjoy the flexibility of working remotely year-round.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Starting day one, access BCBS Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance coverage.
• Savings & Retirement Plans: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and a 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 4%.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation annually, along with 8 holidays, 2 floating holidays, and up to 1 week of sick leave.
• Employee Referral Program: Earn rewards by referring top talent to our team.
• Team Building: Enjoy semi-annual team gatherings and events that foster collaboration and camaraderie.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and make a significant impact at Black Spectacles, please submit your resume and explain why you’re interested in this role. We look forward to considering your application!

Black Spectacles is an equal-opportunity employer.