Interim Sr. Manager, Financial Accounting

Cars.com; Illinois; On-site; USD 119,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision plans

New Hire Home Office Stipend

Generous PTO

Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer/

Job summary

Cars Commerce is seeking a Sr Manager, Financial Accounting to lead the accounting and SEC reporting functions for a publicly traded company.

You will supervise a team, partner with finance and investor relations, and ensure accurate external disclosures while supporting SOX controls and policy development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance.
• CPA required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience with 1-2+ years SEC reporting in a US-listed company.
• Big 4 public accounting and corporate accounting experience desirable.
• Strong US GAAP and SOX knowledge.
• Experience with SEC reporting software like Workiva.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly, quarterly and annual close per US GAAP.
• Prepare and review SEC reports (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K etc.).
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors during reviews and audits.
• Serve as technical accounting resource on complex issues.
• Support guidance on revenue recognition and contracts.
• Lead M&A due diligence and ERP integration efforts.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance

CPA required

Tools

Workiva

Excel

Google Suite

Job description

Be Essential At Cars Commerce

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry.

Be Essential At Cars Commerce

At Cars Commerce, we’re fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We do right by our customers and consumers to better connect the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure and drive local automotive retail. Whether through our No.1 most recognized marketplace, Cars.com, our industry-leading digital experience, Dealer Inspire, our trade and appraisal technology, AccuTrade, our reputation-based digital wholesale auction marketplace, Dealerclub, or our new Cars Commerce Media Network, Cars Commerce is essential for success in the automotive industry.

No one ever travels alone here: at its core, Cars Commerce is collaboration. In fact, it’s built into the very fabric of our shared values. We like to say we Rise Together – putting people at the center of what we do, from consumer to customer to community. Life at Cars Commerce makes it easy when we share the ethos to be Open to All, encouraging open-minded communication because we know diverse thinking yields better outcomes. But critical to our success is Caring to Challenge and Taking Ownership, fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment where we think about tomorrow but act today. At our foundation, we have integrity, Doing the Right Thing, even when it’s hard. It’s our shared commitment to these values that makes Cars Commerce a place where growth becomes not only possible, but downright unavoidable.

But don't take our word for it. We are proud to be named one of Built In's 2026 Best Places to Work in Chicago and across the U.S. Ready to make your mark? Join a team that's driving real change in the automotive industry.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

CARS is seeking a Sr Manager, Financial Accounting to support the Accounting and SEC reporting teams. This role will help manage day-to-day external financial reporting and support compliance with SEC regulations, US GAAP, and SOX requirements for a publicly traded company. This individual will supervise a team of accounting and reporting professionals and serve as a technical resource on complex accounting matters. They will partner with various internal stakeholders, including finance leadership, legal, and investor relations, to support consistent and accurate external disclosures. The ideal candidate must have a strong technical accounting background, solid management skills, and a proven track record in a public company setting. The position reports to the Sr. Director, Assistant Controller.

Responsibilities

Accounting and SEC Reporting

• Support day-to-day management of monthly, quarterly and annual close processes, helping ensure timely and accurate financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP
• Assist in the preparation and review of SEC reports, including Form 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and other required regulatory filings
• Support coordination with internal and external auditors on quarterly reviews and the annual audit

Technical Accounting

• Serve as a technical accounting resource, researching and documenting accounting issues (e.g., revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, leases, business combinations) under the direction of the Director
• Help monitor new accounting pronouncements from FASB and SEC, assisting in assessing their impact on the company's financial statements and supporting implementation efforts
• Assist in developing and maintaining accounting policies and procedures
• Support guidance on structuring revenue streams and/or contracts to optimize revenue recognition and financial/operational efficiency
• Serve as a first point of contact for day-to-day issues, partnering with appropriate parties to reach practical resolutions and escalating complex matters to the Director as needed

Special Projects

• M&A Due Diligence and Integration: Support the due diligence process for accounting and reporting and assist in integration of new business across Finance, such as contributing to the integration plan and timeline for the OTC process
• ERP Integration: As supported by a Technology project manager and 3rd party service providers, participate as a team member in the systems migration project, from requirements gathering through system integration efforts

Other

• Responsible for execution of certain internal controls over financial reporting that are integral to an effectively designed and operating internal control environment in compliance with SOX requirements
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with peers, stakeholders, leaders, and team members to continually develop and enhance the capabilities of the team
• Support strategies to reduce functional and operational complexity through streamlined processes, optimized use of technology, and efficient use of resources to deliver cost effective, high quality services to all stakeholders

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance
• CPA required
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience required, including 1-2+ years of SEC reporting experience with a US-listed company
• Experience with a blend of Big 4 public accounting and corporate accounting is highly desirable
• Solid working knowledge of US GAAP and Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) internal controls
• Working understanding of revenue recognition principles, with exposure to complex revenue transactions
• Proficiency in financial systems and experience with SEC reporting software like Workiva is preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilitiesAbility to support large scale projects across the organization
• Ability to effectively research and compile data from financial reporting systems, databases, spreadsheets, and other data sources
• Ability to manage and balance multiple priorities and urgent requests effectively, with the ability to quickly adapt for changing business needs
• Focus on accuracy and high attention to detail
• Advanced skills in Excel and Google suite
• Positive, collaborative, and approachable work style to enable success in working cross functionally
• Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and ability to prioritize work with the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the company
• Excellent, clear communication skills, written and oral

Salary Range

$118,600.00-148,250.00

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes

• Medical, Dental & Vision Healthcare Plans
• New Hire Stipend for Home Office Set-Up
• Generous PTO
• Paid Holidays, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Recharge Day

For US-based Positions: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that we are unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Applicants: Click here to review our Privacy Policy for Applicants. For current employees, please click here to review our California Privacy Policy for Employees.