Accounting Assistant

Connect Search, LLC; Schaumburg (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC, on behalf of a client in the greater Chicagoland commercial HVAC and building systems market, seeks an Accounting Assistant to support day-to-day and month-end activities in a collaborative department.

The role covers accounts payable, billing, general ledger, journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, expense processing, and financial close. It offers ownership of tasks and cross-training across the department.

Qualifications

• Strong Microsoft Excel skills for accounting analysis, reporting, and organization.
• Able to investigate discrepancies and resolve accounting issues.
• Detail-oriented with commitment to accurate financial information.
• Organized and capable of balancing recurring responsibilities with ad hoc requests.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate incoming vendor-related accounting requests and determine next steps.
• Maintain communication with vendors and internal departments to move matters toward resolution.
• Review invoices and billing to confirm classifications and supporting documentation.
• Prepare customer and vendor transactions for processing with correct tax considerations.
• Coordinate disbursements across payment methods and ensure proper recording.
• Maintain accounting schedules and documentation for payable activity and balances.
• Contribute to monthly close by reviewing activity and identifying adjustments.
• Prepare journal entries and accruals based on activity and supporting information.
• Investigate unusual general ledger activity and ensure correct accounts/periods.
• Review employee reimbursements for proper documentation and adherence to guidelines.
• Provide backup support across receivables and outstanding balances.
• Perform balance-sheet, cash, and reconciliations and research differences.
• Produce recurring accounting reports to support day-to-day decisions.
• Evaluate workflows to reduce manual effort and errors.
• Maintain updated accounting procedures as processes evolve.
• Provide schedules for internal and external audit requests.
• Assist with year-end accounting activities and GAAP-compliant reporting.
• Cross-train to cover responsibilities during workload spikes.

Skills

Excel skills

Detail-oriented

Organized

GAAP knowledge

Education

Accounting coursework

Job description

Our client is an established organization serving the commercial HVAC and building systems market throughout the greater Chicagoland area. The company partners with customers to provide specialized equipment and engineered solutions for a variety of commercial and industrial applications. The accounting team operates within a collaborative, hands-on environment where employees have ownership of their responsibilities while cross-training across functions to provide broader departmental support.

• $60,000-$70,000

Position Overview

The Accounting Assistant will support a broad range of day-to-day and month-end accounting activities within a collaborative accounting department. Although accounts payable represents a meaningful component of the position, this is not limited to invoice processing. The individual will also gain exposure to billing, general ledger activity, journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, employee expenses, accounts receivable, financial close, audit support, and process improvement. The position is well suited for someone who enjoys taking ownership of their work while also learning additional accounting functions and providing coverage across the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate incoming vendor-related accounting requests and determine the appropriate next steps for questions, discrepancies, and documentation
• Maintain consistent communication with vendors and internal departments to keep outstanding accounting matters moving toward resolution
• Review incoming invoices and billing information to confirm appropriate account classifications, project assignments, and supporting documentation
• Prepare customer and vendor-related transactions for processing while verifying applicable tax and other billing considerations
• Coordinate outgoing disbursements across multiple payment methods and verify that transactions are properly recorded
• Maintain supporting accounting schedules and documentation used to substantiate payable activity and financial balances
• Contribute to the monthly financial close by reviewing account activity and identifying items requiring adjustment
• Prepare selected journal entries and accruals based on underlying financial activity and supporting information
• Investigate unusual general ledger activity and determine whether transactions have been recorded in the appropriate accounts and periods
• Review employee reimbursement activity for appropriate documentation, classification, and adherence to internal guidelines
• Provide backup support across receivables, including applying incoming cash and assisting with outstanding customer balances
• Perform recurring balance-sheet, cash, and other account reconciliations and research differences requiring correction
• Produce recurring accounting information and management reports needed to support day-to-day decision-making
• Evaluate existing accounting workflows and identify opportunities to reduce manual effort, errors, or unnecessary steps
• Help maintain and refine documented accounting procedures as processes evolve
• Provide supporting schedules and documentation for internal and external audit requests
• Assist with year-end accounting activities and the preparation of financial information in accordance with GAAP
• Complete financial analyses and accounting projects requested by management
• Cross-train across accounting responsibilities to provide coverage and maintain continuity during periods of increased workload or employee absence

Qualifications

• Accounting coursework, relevant professional experience, or a combination of the two; a Bachelor's degree in Accounting is not required
• Prior experience supporting accounts payable, general accounting, bookkeeping, or another transactional accounting function is beneficial
• Comfortable working with invoices, general ledger accounts, financial records, and supporting documentation
• Exposure to month-end accounting activities, journal entries, accruals, or account reconciliations is valuable
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to use spreadsheets for accounting analysis, reporting, and organization
• Able to investigate discrepancies and work through accounting issues rather than simply processing transactions
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate financial information
• Organized and capable of balancing recurring responsibilities with unexpected accounting requests