Accounting Manager

Trakstar; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Brighton Science, headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, is seeking an Accounting Manager to bring structure and rigor to a growing finance function. You will own the monthly close, ensuring audit-ready records and compliance with DOD and GSA contracts, while leading process improvements across the GL and cost accounting areas.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years of accounting experience, GAAP expertise, and hands-on ERP knowledge. SaaS and AI-assisted insight are a plus in a lean, hands-on finance team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Accounting.
• 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including prior general ledger ownership.
• Advanced Excel skills and willingness to use AI to provide meaningful operating insight.
• Experience with SaaS offerings is a plus.
• Government contracting experience (DCAA, FAR/CAS compliance) is a plus.
• Solid understanding of cost accounting.
• Hands-on ERP experience (Sage 50 or a comparable mid-market system).

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly and quarterly close process, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Apply cost accounting practices consistent with FAR and CAS requirements across DOD cost-reimbursable and GSA MAS contract activity.
• Support Avalara/AvaTax sales tax compliance, including reconciliations and review of sales tax payments.
• Assist with PO-first purchasing controls and expense card platform administration to strengthen spend controls.
• Prepare schedules and documentation for the annual financial statement audit and tax return preparation.
• Proactively identify process and control gaps before they surface as issues, and lead the resolution.
• Establish and maintain accounting procedures and controls appropriate for a growing organization.
• Maintain clean, well-organized, and audit-ready financial records.

Skills

Attention to detail

Process automation

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Accounting

Tools

Sage 50

Excel

Claude

Job description

Brighton Science is the global leader in providing surface intelligence solutions and high-precision instruments that bring unprecedented visibility to surfaces for manufacturers in aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device and other demanding industries. With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Brighton Science’s products are licensed and sold to manufacturers worldwide, including some of the most sophisticated companies in the industry. In December 2025, Brighton Science was acquired by Click Bond, a designer and manufacturer of bonded fasteners which also serves the defense industry. Brighton Science is experiencing high growth, and as the company scales, it is essential for the finance function to support this growth. This role will be central to building the infrastructure, controls and reporting rigor needed to support continued growth.

Position Summary

Brighton Science is looking for an Accounting Manager who is energized by bringing structure and rigor to a growing finance function. This role calls for someone who doesn’t just maintain a process, but evaluates it critically, identifies where it can be strengthened, and takes ownership of making it better. You’ll own the monthly close, working closely with the Controller on compliance-sensitive reporting tied to our DOD and GSA contract vehicles. The ideal candidate takes genuine pride in leaving processes measurably stronger than they found them.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Naturally drawn to bringing structure and consistency to processes that are inefficient, undocumented, or still evolving.
• Works well independently, setting priorities and driving initiatives forward with minimal oversight.
• Highly detail-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to catch discrepancies and inconsistencies before they become issues.
• Proactive by nature, anticipating potential problems and addressing them ahead of time rather than after the fact.
• Motivated by ownership and measurable impact, and takes pride in the processes and improvements they build.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the monthly and quarterly close process, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analysis, ensuring the close closes on schedule and the GL stays audit-ready.
• Apply cost accounting practices consistent with FAR and CAS requirements across DOD cost-reimbursable and GSA MAS contract activity, in coordination with the Controller.
• Support Avalara/AvaTax sales tax compliance, including reconciliations and review of sales tax payments.
• Assist with PO-first purchasing controls and expense card platform administration to strengthen spend controls.
• Prepare schedules and documentation for the annual financial statement audit and tax return preparation.
• Proactively identify process and control gaps before they surface as issues, and lead the resolution — from close-cycle bottlenecks to reconciliation weaknesses.
• Establish and maintain accounting procedures and controls appropriate for a growing organization.
• Maintain clean, well-organized, and audit-ready financial records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Accounting.
• 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including prior general ledger ownership.
• Excellent knowledge of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Experience with SaaS offerings is a plus.
• Government contracting experience (DCAA, FAR/CAS compliance) is a plus.
• Solid understanding of cost accounting.
• Hands‑on ERP experience (Sage 50 or a comparable mid‑market system).
• Advanced Excel skills and willingness to use AI to provide meaningful operating insight.
• Experience with Claude is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience building, improving, or automating accounting processes, rather than simply operating within established systems.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems independently and drive them to resolution.
• Comfortable operating on a lean, hands‑on finance team.