Accounting Manager

Creative License International; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative License International is seeking an Accounting Manager to lead day-to-day accounting and financial operations. You will own the general ledger, monthly close, financial reporting, cash management, A/P, A/R, and core processes while overseeing project accounting, revenue recognition, and project profitability.

The role requires flexibility to support payroll and HR tasks as needed, with a focus on visibility into project performance, margins, and cash flow.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Strong GAAP understanding and fundamental accounting principles.
• Experience managing month-end close, reconciliations, general ledger activity, and financial reporting.
• Experience with project-based accounting, including project profitability, cost reporting, billing, and revenue recognition.
• Strong Excel and accounting-system skills.
• Ability to independently research and resolve accounting discrepancies.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Flexibility to wear multiple hats in a smaller organization.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day accounting activities including general ledger, A/P, A/R, cash management, and reconciliations.
• Manage monthly close process and ensure complete, accurate, and timely reporting.
• Review balance sheet accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain chart of accounts and ensure consistent transactions.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Oversee project accounting including revenue, costs, WIP, billings, and related accounts.
• Coordinate year‑end activities and support external tax/audit providers.
• Maintain accounting documentation and supporting records.
• Provide leadership with clear visibility into financial performance.
• Analyze project profitability reporting, including budget-to-actual performance and gross margin.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planning.
• Partner with project leaders to review performance and margin risks.
• Monitor financial trends and communicate insights to leadership.
• Translate accounting information into practical business insights for decision-making.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Company Description

Creative License International (CLi) is an award-winning commercial interior design and environmental branding agency that creates custom, one-of-a-kind spaces for clients. The team blends strategic and creative thinking to deliver innovative solutions that reflect each client’s brand and evolving needs. CLi partners with organizations that value bold ideas and are open to exploring unexpected design directions. The agency focuses on designing environments that enhance how people live, work, and engage with spaces, offering a collaborative and inspiring design experience for both clients and team members.

Position Summary

The Accounting Manager will serve as a hands‑on financial and administrative leader for the company. This role will own the day‑to‑day accounting function, including the general ledger, monthly close, financial reporting, cash management, accounts payable and receivable, and core accounting processes. The Accounting Manager will also oversee project accounting, including revenue and cost recognition, cost of goods sold, work in process, billing, and project‑level profitability. Given the size of the organization, this individual must be comfortable wearing multiple hats, moving between detailed transactional work, financial analysis, operational support, and broader administrative responsibilities as business needs evolve.

Working closely with company leadership and operational teams, the Accounting Manager will provide clear visibility into project performance and overall business results. This includes monitoring budgets versus actual results, labor and material costs, project margins, WIP, unbilled activity, and cash flow to identify risks, trends, and opportunities early. The role may also assume responsibility for payroll administration and selected human resources activities, such as employee records, benefits coordination, onboarding support, and collaboration with external HR, benefits, and payroll providers. The ideal candidate is practical, resourceful, and forward‑looking, with the ability to establish priorities, solve problems independently, improve processes, and build scalable financial and administrative practices without creating unnecessary complexity.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day accounting activities, including general ledger activity, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and account reconciliations.
• Manage the monthly close process and ensure financial information is complete, accurate, and timely.
• Review balance sheet accounts and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and ensure transactions are recorded consistently and appropriately.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Oversee project accounting, including the accurate recording and reconciliation of project revenue, direct costs, cost of goods sold, work in process, billings, and related balance sheet accounts.
• Coordinate year‑end accounting activities and support external tax, audit, or other financial service providers as needed.
• Maintain appropriate accounting documentation, schedules, and supporting records.

Financial Reporting & Business Support

• Provide leadership with clear visibility into the financial performance of the business.
• Prepare and analyze project‑level profitability reporting, including budget‑to‑actual performance, gross margin, labor and material costs, WIP, unbilled activity, and project variances.
• Prepare recurring reporting related to revenue, expenses, cash flow, working capital, and other key financial metrics.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planning.
• Partner with project and operational leaders to review project performance, validate cost and completion estimates, and identify margin risks or corrective actions.
• Monitor financial trends and identify unusual activity or areas requiring management attention.
• Help translate accounting information into practical business insights for company leadership.
• Support decision‑making by providing timely financial information and analysis.

Business Management & Operations

• Serve as a key financial and administrative resource to company leadership.
• Maintain visibility into vendor commitments, customer billing, cash needs, and other financial obligations.
• Coordinate with banks, insurance providers, payroll providers, vendors, and other external business partners as appropriate.
• Manage or coordinate payroll administration, including payroll processing, employee changes, payroll reconciliations, reporting, and coordination with the company’s payroll provider.
• Provide practical support for selected human resources activities, which may include maintaining employee records, coordinating benefits and onboarding, supporting routine employee administration, and working with external HR advisors as needed.
• Review and finalize contracts, master agreements, terms and conditions.
• Support management of contracts, financial documentation, and recurring administrative requirements.
• Assist leadership with budgeting, planning, special projects, and operational initiatives.
• Help establish greater structure, accountability, and consistency across financial and administrative processes.

Controls & Process Improvement

• Develop and document accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and automate accounting processes.
• Strengthen controls around cash, purchasing, payments, expense management, billing, and financial reporting.
• Create clear ownership and recurring timelines for accounting activities.
• Evaluate accounting systems and workflows and recommend improvements where appropriate.
• Ensure processes are scalable as the organization grows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and fundamental accounting principles.
• Experience managing month‑end close, reconciliations, general ledger activity, and financial reporting.
• Experience with project‑based accounting, including project profitability, cost of goods sold, work in process, revenue recognition, billing, and project cost reporting.
• Strong Excel and accounting‑system skills.
• Ability to independently research and resolve accounting discrepancies.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfort working in a smaller organization where the role requires flexibility, sound judgment, and a willingness to handle both strategic and hands‑on responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non‑accounting stakeholders.