Accounting Manager

Blue Signal Search; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is assisting a growing food and beverage manufacturing company in Columbia, SC area and London, Ontario to hire a hands-on Accounting Manager. This role leads day-to-day accounting, closes, controls, and provides insight to drive profitability.

You will partner with plant and operations leaders, optimize ERP usage, and help build scalable finance infrastructure, with exposure to senior leadership and a path toward broader executive responsibility over time.

Qualifications

• Strong manufacturing accounting experience and leadership.
• Experience with month-end and year-end closes and core accounting operations.
• Exposure to multi-entity structures and operations-focused finance.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in ERP systems.
• Familiarity with cost accounting and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations across GL, AP, AR, payroll support, fixed assets and cash.
• Own the monthly and annual close process with timely, accurate reporting across entities.
• Oversee inventory accounting, valuation, reconciliations and related controls in manufacturing.
• Partner with plant/operational leaders to analyze costs, variances and profitability trends.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and ongoing financial planning for leadership visibility.
• Establish and refine internal controls, SOPs and reporting workflows for scaling.
• Coordinate audit, tax support and compliance reporting including sales/use tax and payroll.
• Help optimize ERP usage and reporting tools to improve data quality and decision support.
• Deliver practical financial insights linking accounting to operations.

Skills

Accounting leadership

Month-end close

Inventory accounting

Manufacturing

ERP systems

Excel advanced

Cross-functional collaboration

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Variance analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CMA or related credential welcomed

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC

Job description

Location: On site in Columbia, SC Metropolitan Area or London, Ontario

Schedule: Mon – Fri with some travel needed between sites

A growing family-owned manufacturer in the food and beverage space is building out its finance leadership bench and is hiring a hands-on Accounting Manager to help shape the next chapter of expansion. This is a highly visible role for someone who wants more than a traditional close and report position. The right leader will help strengthen financial operations, improve reporting discipline, support plant level decision making, and create the infrastructure needed for long term growth. This opportunity is especially attractive for someone who enjoys fast moving environments, values direct access to leadership, and wants a path toward broader executive responsibility over time.

What You Will Do

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations across general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll support, fixed assets, and cash activity.
• Own the monthly and annual close process, ensuring timely, accurate financial reporting across multiple entities.
• Oversee inventory accounting, valuation, reconciliations, and related controls within a manufacturing setting.
• Partner with plant and operational leaders to analyze manufacturing costs, variances, and trends that impact profitability.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and ongoing financial planning efforts that improve visibility for leadership.
• Establish and refine internal controls, standard operating procedures, and reporting workflows to support a scaling business.
• Coordinate audit preparation, tax support activities, and compliance reporting, including sales and use tax and payroll related requirements.
• Help optimize ERP usage and reporting tools to improve data quality, process consistency, and decision support.
• Deliver practical financial insights that connect accounting results to operational performance.
• Serve as a trusted finance partner in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where adaptability and ownership matter.

What You Bring

• Strong accounting leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Track record managing month end close, year-end close, and core accounting operations.
• Experience with inventory accounting, cost accounting concepts, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Exposure to multi-entity accounting structures and operationally focused finance work.
• Advanced Excel capability and comfort working within ERP systems.
• Ability to work cross functionally with operations, leadership, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of process improvement, internal controls, and financial reporting best practices.
• Experience in food and beverage, consumer products, packaging, or other inventory intensive manufacturing environments is highly attractive.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a plus.
• CMA or related professional credential is welcomed, but not required.

What Will Help You Stand Out

• You are hands on and willing to roll up your sleeves.
• You are comfortable in a growth environment where structure is still being built.
• You own mistakes, solve problems quickly, and bring a low ego team first mindset.
• You enjoy improving systems, processes, and reporting rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

Why Candidates Are Interested

• Newly created role tied to company growth, not a backfill.
• High visibility position with direct exposure to senior leadership.
• Opportunity to help build financial infrastructure in a growing manufacturing operation.
• Long term runway toward broader finance leadership, potentially including future executive progression.
• Entrepreneurial culture that values work ethic, accountability, and practical thinking.