Client Accounting Manager

Lede Company LLC; Beverly Hills (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lede Company seeks a Client Accounting Manager to own the full client billing cycle for our entertainment clients and brand partners. This role will manage invoicing, billbacks, collections, and project accounting against approved purchase orders and client advances, ensuring every engagement is billed accurately and on schedule.

The Manager will be the go-to accounting contact for account teams and clients, drive GAAP compliance, set up quality metrics, and lead process improvements across

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required.
• 8+ years of accounting experience, including client billing, AR, or revenue accounting.
• 2+ years in a supervisory or team lead role.
• Experience in entertainment, PR, media, or another agency setting preferred.
• Hands-on experience with project accounting, including billing against POs and accounting for client advances, client deposits, and deferred revenue.
• Proven results in collections, dispute resolution, and AR reporting.
• Experience handling client billbacks, markups, and billing discrepancies quickly.
• Familiarity with client billing portals and vendor/supplier registration.
• Good working knowledge of accounting principles, especially revenue recognition and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience with accounting systems (ERP, billing, and AP tools).
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data analysis).
• Experience implementing new software, including supporting a team through onboarding and process change, a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as the main accounting contact for account leads and their teams, meeting with them once or twice a month to review billing, open items, and upcoming projects.
• Work directly with clients and their business managers on invoices, statements, credits, and account questions.
• Handle client tax paperwork such as W-9s and 1099s.
• Own client billing from start to finish: retainers, project fees, pass-through costs, and processing fees.
• Prepare project-level reports on budget, billed, collected, and remaining balances for account leads.
• Own collections for the client portfolio, and set collection strategies that reduce past-due balances and improve DSO.
• Lead process improvements and automation across the team and our systems, and give status updates to leadership.

Skills

AR management

Billing accuracy

Team leadership

Excel (Advanced)

Revenue recognition

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Associate degree in related field

Tools

ERP systems

Billing tools

AP tools

Job description

The Lede Company seeks a Client Accounting Manager to own the full client billing cycle for our entertainment clients and brand partners. This person will manage invoicing, billbacks, collections, and project accounting against approved purchase orders and client advances.

The Client Accounting Manager will be the point person for accounting questions from account teams and clients. They will work closely with account teams to make sure every engagement is billed accurately, on time, and in line with GAAP. They will also set up and track quality metrics and keep improving how we bill and collect.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Client and team relationships

Act as the main accounting contact for account leads and their teams, meeting with them once or twice a month to review billing, open items, and upcoming projects

Work directly with clients and their business managers on invoices, statements, credits, and account questions

Handle client tax paperwork such as W-9s and 1099s

Give clients and colleagues excellent service

Client billing and invoice management

Own client billing from start to finish: retainers, project fees, pass-through costs, and processing fees

Prepare, review, and issue client invoices accurately and on schedule

Manage billbacks: gather expense backup, code reimbursable costs (travel, events, talent, and vendor costs) to the right client and project, and bill them back with support

Review and approve new client profiles, invoice setup, and account updates

Lead client billing onboarding, including client portal registrations and vendor/supplier forms

Approve billing batches and other work done at all levels of the team

Client account reconciliation and billing accuracy

Own the reconciliation of client accounts, ensuring invoices, payments, credits, advances, and reimbursable expenses are accurately recorded and allocated

Identify and resolve unbilled expenses, missing fees, incorrect allocations, and historical account discrepancies

Reconcile client and project-level billing activity to accounting records and supporting documentation

Partner with internal account teams to investigate discrepancies and ensure all billable activity is captured and invoiced

Establish regular reconciliation procedures and controls to prevent recurring billing issues

Project accounting: POs and prepaid advances

Set up and track client projects against approved purchase orders, and monitor billed versus remaining PO balances

Flag overages and scope changes to account teams before billing goes past what the PO approves

Account for client advances and deposits: record deferred revenue, draw down balances as work is delivered, and reconcile advance balances monthly

Prepare project-level reports on budget, billed, collected, and remaining balances for account leads

Collections and accounts receivable

Own collections for the client portfolio, and set collection strategies that reduce past-due balances and improve DSO

Monitor AR aging, follow up with clients, business managers, and brand partners, and elevate high-risk accounts

Manage the team's cash application, making sure payments and bank deposits are posted accurately and on time (for example, deposits applied within 3 business days)

Reconcile cash and bank accounts to AR, and review the team's cash reconciliations

Resolve billing disputes, short payments, and unapplied cash

Review and approve write-offs, credit memos, and payment adjustments within policy limits

Reporting and analysis

Prepare and present AR reports to management, including aging, cash forecast, and collection trends

Track key metrics such as DSO and bad debt, and find areas to improve

Provide schedules and analysis for month-end and year-end close

Support internal and external audits with documentation and supporting schedules

Processes and controls

Document current billing, collections, and project accounting processes, and follow best practices

Review, update, and enforce AR and credit policies, and own the key controls for billing and AR

Lead process improvements and automation across the team and our systems, and give status updates to leadership

Support system administration in our accounting and ERP platforms as needed

Handle sensitive client and financial information with discretion

People and collaboration

Supervise, mentor, and develop the AR and billing team

Assign and prioritize work, run regular performance reviews, and coach team members

Be the main escalation point for complex billing disputes, collection issues, and account exceptions

Meet regularly with the GL, finance, and AP teams

Handle ad-hoc projects and special requests as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

Associate or bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required

8+ years of accounting experience, including client billing, AR, or revenue accounting

2+ years in a supervisory or team lead role

Experience in entertainment, PR, media, or another agency setting preferred

Hands-on experience with project accounting, including billing against POs and accounting for client advances, client deposits, and deferred revenue

Proven results in collections, dispute resolution, and AR reporting

Experience handling client billbacks, markups, and billing discrepancies quickly

Familiarity with client billing portals and vendor/supplier registration

Good working knowledge of accounting principles, especially revenue recognition and balance sheet reconciliations

Experience with accounting systems (ERP, billing, and AP tools)

Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data analysis)

Experience implementing new software, including supporting a team through onboarding and process change, a plus

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE IS

A hands-on problem solver who does well in a fast-paced agency environment

Detail-oriented, with the ability to handle a high volume of transactions accurately

Able to manage competing priorities, both independently and as part of a team

An excellent written and verbal communicator, comfortable working with clients, business managers, and senior leaders

Someone who shows sound judgment and discretion with confidential information

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Direct reports

3 Accounts Receivable Associates

In-office expectation

Hybrid, 4 days a week in our Los Angeles office

The Lede Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

ABOUT THE LEDE COMPANY

The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, communications and social impact consulting firm, specializing in corporate, entertainment, brand and nonprofit sectors. With dedicated Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Social Impact divisions, we work with our clients to advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media, campaigns and partnerships. Our service offerings draw on our expertise, relationships, and resources, all of which enable us to exceed client expectations and ultimately, deliver results.