Accounting Manager

The Herald Group; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision plans

401(k) with matching & profit sharing

4 weeks PTO

Paid Parental Leave

Transportation subsidy

Hybrid schedule (in-office & remote)

Job summary

The Herald Group, a full-service public affairs firm in Washington, DC, seeks an Accounting Manager to lead accounting operations and financial reporting. The role emphasizes ownership of core functions from day one, with a hands-on, growth-focused environment.

The candidate should have at least five years of progressive accounting experience, strong ledger and close expertise, and the initiative to improve processes as the firm scales. This is a full-time position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• Minimum of 5 years of accounting experience with supervisory or team lead experience.
• Strong ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close knowledge.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks Online and advanced Excel (pivot tables, charts, data analysis).
• Solid GAAP knowledge and internal controls; excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the general ledger and perform journal entries and account analyses.
• Execute monthly close and assist in preparing financial statements and schedules.
• Prepare weekly and monthly reconciliations and support variance analysis.
• Assist accounts payable/receivable activities and ensure timely processing.
• Support annual budgeting, cash flow monitoring, and ad-hoc projects.
• Help improve accounting processes and scale infrastructure.

Skills

General ledger

Month-end close

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

Analytical skills

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Advanced Excel

Job description

The Herald Group is a full service, bipartisan public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C., that provides strategic communications services to major corporations, trade associations and other organizations seeking to advance public policy positions in federal, state and international legislative and regulatory arenas. We provide a fast-paced, energetic work environment. We're a team of approximately 50 professionals and growing, making this an exciting time to join. This is a full time, paid position.

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Accounting Manager to join our team. This is a visible, hands-on role that supports the Controller across a wide range of accounting operations and financial reporting functions. The ideal candidate brings at least five years of progressive accounting experience, strong general ledger and financial statement expertise, and the initiative to improve processes as the firm scales. This person will be a key contributor in building out our accounting infrastructure and will have real ownership of core functions from day one.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

General Ledger & Month-End Close

• Maintain the general ledger, including journal entries, account analysis, and transaction coding
• Execute the monthly accounting close process, ensuring accounting periods are closed accurately and on time
• Assist in preparing monthly financial statements and supporting schedules for the Controller
• Prepare weekly and monthly account reconciliations

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Assist with preparing management reports and supporting variance analysis
• Support the annual budgeting process and assist with financial forecasting
• Help monitor cash flow and flag any unusual activity to the Controller

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Participate in accounts payable and accounts receivable activities, ensuring timely and accurate processing

Compliance & Audit

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, GAAP standards, and internal accounting procedures
• Assist in providing supporting documentation and responding to inquiries from external auditors
• Support internal controls and flag potential issues to the Controller

Process Improvement & Scaling

• Document new accounting policies and procedures as the department evolves with company growth
• Utilize advanced Excel skills and AI-assisted tools to improve and automate current accounting processes
• Assist with ad-hoc special projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred but not required
• Minimum of 5 years of accounting experience, with some supervisory or team lead experience
• Strong working knowledge of general ledger processes, reconciliations, and month-end close
• Proficiency in QuickBooks Online and advanced Excel, including pivot tables, chart creation, and data analysis
• Solid knowledge of GAAP, financial regulations, and internal controls
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and manage multiple deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a professional services or consulting firm
• Experience working in a company with 50-100 employees, ideally one in a growth phase
• Familiarity with expense management software implementation (e.g., Concur, Expensify, Amalgam or similar)
• Experience supporting ERP or accounting system upgrades or migrations

Benefits

The Herald Group presents unique opportunities for advancement of innovative professionals seeking to excel in a growing, fast-paced environment. For more information on The Herald Group please visit our website at www.theheraldgroup.com.

EOE M/F/V/D

Benefits include:

• Health, Dental & Vision plans for all employees
• 401(k) Plan with matching & profit sharing
• 4 weeks of PTO your first year
• Paid Parental Leave program
• Transportation subsidy
• In-office & work-from-home hybrid schedule