Accounting Manager

South Carolina Ports; Mount Pleasant (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Ports seeks a senior accounting professional to manage general ledger, capital accounting, and month-end close processes. You will serve as the primary liaison to external auditors and oversee accounting policies, controls, and reporting packages.

The role requires strong GAAP knowledge, CPA progress preferred, and experience with GASB standards. On-site position in Mount Pleasant, SC with responsibility for regulatory and internal reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and 5–8 years of relevant experience with at least 2 years supervisory experience.
• Direct experience with a full-cycle close and external audit.
• CPA license or progress toward CPA certification (strongly preferred).

Responsibilities

• Supervise the Accountant, General Ledger and the Accountant, Capital and Project Accounting, including work assignment, prioritization, and performance evaluation.
• Perform monthly analysis of expense accounts to confirm correct coding, direct required reclassifications, and approve the resulting entries.
• Review and approve journal entries and account reconciliations in accordance with the departmental review requirements.
• Approve chart of accounts additions and changes and combination edit rule changes.
• Research technical accounting matters and prepare memoranda documenting the analysis and recommended conclusion.
• Monitor new GASB pronouncements, assess applicability, and prepare implementation plans.
• Prepare debt issuance, refunding, and defeasance accounting and debt covenant calculations.
• Assist in drafting the annual financial statements and note disclosures, including preparation of assigned statements and notes and the supporting documentation for each.
• Draft and maintain accounting policies; recommend additions and changes.
• Prepare interim and internal reporting packages.
• Prepare the statement of cash flows.
• Serve as primary liaison to the external auditors by maintaining the PBC list, coordinating planning and fieldwork, and tracking remediation of prior-year items through to closure.
• Serve as coordinator for audits and examinations other than the annual financial statement audit, including State audits, grantor reviews, agreed-upon procedures engagements, insurance and workers compensation audits, unclaimed property examinations, and tax reviews.
• Maintain the segregation of duties matrix and monitor for drift as duties change.
• Maintain documentation of key controls and evidence of their operation.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Deadline driven

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

CPA progress toward certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP software

Accounting software

Job description

Manages the general ledger and capital accounting function and is responsible for the accuracy and timely completion of the monthly close. The position serves as the department's technical accounting resource, supports preparation of the annual financial statements, and is the primary point of contact for external auditors. The position also oversees state and other required reporting, the supplemental executive retirement plan, owns the ERP financial modules, and serves as backup to the Controller.

• Supervise the Accountant, General Ledger and the Accountant, Capital and Project Accounting, including work assignment, prioritization, and performance evaluation.
• Perform monthly analysis of expense accounts to confirm correct coding, direct required reclassifications, and approve the resulting entries.
• Review and approve journal entries and account reconciliations in accordance with the departmental review requirements.
• Approve chart of accounts additions and changes and combination edit rule changes.
• Research technical accounting matters and prepare memoranda documenting the analysis and recommended conclusion.
• Monitor new GASB pronouncements, assess applicability, and prepare implementation plans.
• Prepare debt issuance, refunding, and defeasance accounting and debt covenant calculations.
• Assist in drafting the annual financial statements and note disclosures, including preparation of assigned statements and notes and the supporting documentation for each.
• Draft and maintain accounting policies; recommend additions and changes.
• Prepare interim and internal reporting packages.
• Prepare the statement of cash flows.
• Serve as primary liaison to the external auditors by maintaining the PBC list, coordinating planning and fieldwork, and tracking remediation of prior-year items through to closure.
• Serve as coordinator for audits and examinations other than the annual financial statement audit, including State audits, grantor reviews, agreed-upon procedures engagements, insurance and workers compensation audits, unclaimed property examinations, and tax reviews.
• Maintain the segregation of duties matrix and monitor for drift as duties change.
• Maintain documentation of key controls and evidence of their operation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and five (5) to eight (8) years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and skills required for this position, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Direct experience with a full-cycle close and an external audit.
• CPA license or progress toward CPA certification (strongly preferred).
• Able to meet all federal requirements for obtaining and maintaining a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• A valid SC driver’s license.

Skills, Abilities, & Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and financial reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of GASB standards.
• Working knowledge of multiple finance and accounting functions, such as general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable/billing, payroll, budgeting, or cash management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and financial/accounting software systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, management, vendors, customers, auditors, and other external parties.
• Ability to plan and organize work to meet recurring deadlines, including monthly close, fiscal year-end, and audits.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive financial information.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Vision is required to analyze and process various forms and documents utilized within the framework of performing assigned tasks.
• Hearing is required to adequately perform telecommunication functions.
• Ability to communicate clearly with vendors, customers, co-workers, etc. verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard and view a computer monitor screen.
• Ability to stand and/or sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to walk, bend, stoop, kneel, push and pull.