Accounting Operations Manager

Axle Energy; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage

Educational Benefits

Paid Time Off

Employee Referral Bonus

401K Matching

FSA: Healthcare

FSA: Parking Reimbursement

FSA: Dependent Care

FSA: Transportation

Job summary

Axle Informatics in Rockville, MD seeks an experienced Accounting Operations Manager to lead day-to-day accounting and build scalable processes. This hands-on role covers AP, payroll, GL, month-end close, and contract accounting while developing a high-performing team on-site.

You will identify manual processes, drive automation, ensure audit-ready controls, and partner with external accountants. The role requires strong GAAP knowledge and leadership across functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience with hands-on responsibility for accounting operations
• At least 3 years in a direct management or supervisory role
• Strong understanding of GAAP and experience across GL, AP, AR, billing, payroll, and month-end close
• Proven track record of implementing automation to streamline accounting processes
• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while staying hands-on in day-to-day details

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations — AP, payroll, and general ledger — and manage the monthly/year-end close process on a disciplined calendar
• Prepare and/or review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger
• Maintain vendor records, employee expense/credit‑card reconciliation, and payment authorization controls
• Manage customer billing, validating billable labor, rates, and invoice components against contractual requirements
• Maintain accurate AR records and aging, monitoring collections and resolving billing adjustments
• Maintain accurate project and contract financial records, reconciling contract billing and supporting closeout and billing-rate adjustments
• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and approval workflows; identify and correct control weaknesses
• Support external accountants, auditors, and customer or government reviews, maintaining an audit-ready environment
• Lead and develop a high-performing accounting team, including staffing, workload balancing, and performance reviews
• Set KPIs, deliver regular coaching, and support retention and succession planning
• Identify opportunities to automate and standardize accounting processes, and build new processes or reporting from scratch where none currently exist

Skills

Leadership & supervision

Automation implementation

GAAP knowledge

Strategic thinking (hands-on)

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or CMA (preferred)

Tools

General Ledger software

Payroll systems

Billing systems

Job description

(ID: 2026-3457)

Axle Informatics is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations around the globe. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision‑making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with premier research organizations and facilities including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other public and private organizations.

Benefits We Offer

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Educational Benefits for Career Growth
• Paid Time Off (Including Holidays)
• Employee Referral Bonus
• 401K Matching
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Healthcare (FSA)
  • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
  • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Accounting Operations Manager to lead and strengthen our day‑to‑day accounting operations. This is a hands‑on role responsible for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and integrity of the company’s accounting processes and financial records — and for building the disciplined, scalable processes a growing organization needs. This role manages both the work and the people doing it: the Accounting Operations Manager owns core accounting activities while leading, developing, and holding accountable a team of accounting professionals. The ideal candidate takes ownership, identifies discrepancies proactively, drives issues through resolution, and is comfortable operating both strategically and in the weeds. This role will require an onsite presence in Rockville, MD or Tysons, VA.

Role Overview

The Accounting Operations Manager will oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable and customer billing, payroll and labor reconciliation, general ledger activities, month‑end close, project and contract accounting, and internal controls — while managing and developing the team responsible for executing this work. A core part of the role is identifying manual, repetitive, or error‑prone processes and implementing automation to eliminate them, building disciplined and scalable operations rather than relying on ad hoc fixes.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Close

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations — AP, payroll, and general ledger — and manage the monthly/year-end close process on a disciplined calendar
• Prepare and/or review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger
• Maintain vendor records, employee expense/credit‑card reconciliation, and payment authorization controls

Billing, Receivables & Contract Accounting

• Manage customer billing, validating billable labor, rates, and invoice components against contractual requirements
• Maintain accurate AR records and aging, monitoring collections and resolving billing adjustments
• Maintain accurate project and contract financial records, reconciling contract billing and supporting closeout and billing‑rate adjustments

Internal Controls & Audit

• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and approval workflows; identify and correct control weaknesses
• Support external accountants, auditors, and customer or government reviews, maintaining an audit‑ready environment

Team Leadership & Process Improvement

• Lead and develop a high‑performing accounting team, including staffing, workload balancing, and performance reviews — this role manages both the work and the people doing it
• Set KPIs, deliver regular coaching, and support retention and succession planning
• Identify opportunities to automate and standardize accounting processes, and build new processes or reporting from scratch where none currently exist

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands‑on responsibility for accounting operations
• At least 3 years in a direct management or supervisory role
• Strong understanding of GAAP and demonstrated experience across GL, AP, AR, billing, payroll, and month‑end close
• Proven track record of implementing automation to streamline accounting processes
• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while staying hands‑on in day‑to‑day details

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in government contracting, including FAR/DCAA accounting requirements and indirect rate structures
• CPA, CMA, or similar certification

What Success Looks Like

• Monthly closes and customer invoicing are accurate and completed on schedule
• Accounting discrepancies are identified and resolved proactively, with controls consistently audit‑ready
• Accounting processes become increasingly standardized, automated, and scalable
• The team is well‑managed, developing, and delivering consistently

The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment-based age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process, please contact [e-mail]

Disclaimer: The above is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individual’s assigned to this position or job. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job or responsibilities as needed.

This role has a market‑competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

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Salary Range

$130,000 — $150,000 USD