The Accounting Manager oversees the company’s accounts receivable function and leads the cash, treasury, and payment-planning activities that support the broader accounting organization across a large, multi-location auto repair operation. The role leads the day-to-day AR team, partners closely with the Accounts Payable Manager on payment planning and prioritization, standardizes processes across locations, and works closely with Operations, Store Managers, and senior Finance leadership. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, analytical, process-oriented accounting professional comfortable managing a high volume of transactions across multiple locations and entities.
Key Responsibilities
Accounts Receivable
- Oversee the complete AR process across all locations, including invoicing, cash application, reconciliation, collections, and account maintenance.
- Monitor AR aging, past-due balances, DSO, collection rates, and bad debt exposure; manage collection strategies for commercial, fleet, insurance, and warranty accounts.
- Review customer credit limits and payment terms; investigate and resolve disputed invoices, short pays, and unapplied cash.
- Partner with Operations and Store Managers to resolve billing issues and improve collection performance.
- Prepare regular AR reporting for the Controller and senior management.
Accounts Payable & Payments (in partnership with the AP Manager)
- Partner with the AP Manager to support an efficient end-to-end AP process, from invoice receipt and coding through approval, payment, and reconciliation.
- Review weekly payment proposals prepared by the AP Manager and approve payment runs based on the cash forecast, optimizing payment timing to support cash management.
- In coordination with the AP Manager, maintain appropriate approval and payment controls and accurate vendor master data.
- Support the AP Manager with vendor statement reconciliations and year-end vendor reporting, including 1099 compliance.
Cash & Working Capital Management
- Own and maintain the short-term cash forecast and use it to prioritize and approve upcoming vendor payments.
- Monitor daily and weekly cash activity; develop reporting around collections, upcoming payables, and working capital.
- Identify opportunities to improve cash conversion and reduce working capital requirements.
Accounting, Close & Controls
- Ensure accurate and timely reconciliation of AR and AP subledgers to the general ledger; oversee bank and other balance sheet reconciliations as assigned.
- Support the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, including accruals, reserves, and bad debt analysis.
- Standardize AR and AP processes across locations in collaboration with the AP Manager; maintain SOPs, approval matrices, segregation of duties, and internal controls.
- Support external audits and the implementation and optimization of accounting systems, AP automation, and payment technology.
Leadership
- Lead, train, coach, and develop the AR team; serve as a collaborative partner and resource to the AP Manager and AP team.
- Establish performance expectations and KPIs (e.g., DSO, AR aging, bad debt, on-time payments, close timeliness) and create accountability for accuracy and timeliness.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with significant AR/AP responsibility.
- Experience supervising accounting staff in a high-volume, multi-location environment.
- Strong Excel skills (PivotTables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS) and experience with ERP/accounting systems.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills; able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Preferred: experience in automotive repair, aftermarket, fleet, or other multi-location service businesses; AP automation experience; CPA or CMA a plus.