Manager, Financial Accounting

Cars.com; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision plans

New Hire Stipend for Home Office

Generous PTO

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Cars Commerce, a leading automotive tech company, seeks a Manager of Financial Accounting to drive accurate month-end close, SEC filings and transformation of financial processes. You will oversee a team, ensure GAAP compliance, and collaborate with auditors and senior leaders to modernize our financial infrastructure.

The role requires CPA, 7+ years in financial accounting with Big 4 or similar experience, and strong ERP (PeopleSoft) knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance
• CPA required
• 7+ years of progressive financial accounting experience with increasing responsibility
• Big 4 or mid-tier public accounting experience with corporate accounting background preferred
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP and SOX internal controls
• Experience supporting SEC reporting (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team
• Exposure to ERP systems and financial transformation initiatives; PeopleSoft experience a plus
• Proficiency with AI tools to support research, workflow efficiency and financial narrative writing
• Advanced Excel and Google Suite skills
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
• Clear, effective communicator; written and verbal
• Ownership mindset and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly and annual close processes in accordance with US GAAP and SEC Rules
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements, journal entries and reconciliations
• Assist in SEC filings preparation and review (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K) and related earnings materials
• Provide materials for executive leadership, Audit Committee and Board presentations
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors on quarterly reviews and annual audit
• Maintain internal controls over financial reporting in line with SOX requirements
• Support treasury operations with daily cash reporting and share repurchase tracking, including automated reporting
• Act as SME on evolving GAAP guidance for SaaS, cloud computing and M&A accounting
• Lead cross-functional implementations for new standards
• Mentor team on complex accounting judgments and documentation
• Collaborate with external auditors to facilitate audits
• Manage and develop a high-performance accounting team
• Foster cross-functional relationships with Finance, FP&A, Legal and other departments
• Support design/ testing of financial reporting processes (SIT/UAT)
• Partner with IT and Finance leadership for system upgrades
• Develop reports, dashboards and tools to improve efficiency and insights

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finan

CPA

7+ years experience

US GAAP

SOX controls

SEC reporting

Team leadership

ERP systems

AI tools

Advanced Excel & Google Sheets

Communication skills

Ownership mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

PeopleSoft

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 Manager, Financial Accounting to support our Accounting team. Reporting to the Director, Financial Accounting and Transformation, this role plays a key part in driving an accurate and timely month-end close, supporting SEC filings and partnering on our finance initiatives to modernize our financial infrastructure and processes. The ideal candidate is a technically strong accountant with public company experience and a passion for process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly and annual close processes, ensuring financial statements are prepared accurately and on time in accordance with US GAAP and SEC Rules and Regulations
• Prepare and review consolidated financial statements, journal entries and account reconciliations
• Assist in the preparation and review of SEC filings, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and related earnings materials
• Prepare supporting materials for the Executive Leadership Team, Audit Committee and Board of Director presentations
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors on quarterly reviews and the annual audit
• Execute and maintain internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with SOX requirements
• Support treasury operations through daily cash reporting and share repurchase tracking, including automated report generation

Technical Accounting

• Act as the subject matter expert on evolving GAAP guidance, specifically providing interpretations for SaaS arrangements, cloud computing, and M&A integration accounting.
• Lead cross-functional implementation efforts for new standards, translating technical requirements into operational procedures.
• Review and approve high-risk journal entries and team workpapers to ensure accuracy, GAAP adherence and internal and external audit readiness.
• Provide timely, actionable feedback to team members, mentoring them on complex accounting judgments and documentation standards.
• Collaborate with external auditors on judgmental areas, presenting well-supported, high-quality documentation to facilitate a streamlined audit process.

Team Leadership

• Manage, mentor and develop a team of accounting professionals, fostering a high-performance culture through regular feedback and professional growth opportunities
• Build strong cross-functional relationships across Finance, FP&A, Legal and other departments to support accurate financial reporting

Finance Initiatives

• Support design and testing of financial reporting processes, including System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Partner with IT, Finance leadership and external consultants to ensure accounting requirements are captured and satisfied in system upgrades
• Drive development of financial reports, dashboards and analytical tools that improve team efficiency and insight

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance
• CPA required
• 7+ years of progressive financial accounting experience with increasing responsibility
• Big 4 or mid-tier public accounting experience combined with a corporate accounting background strongly preferred
• Strong technical knowledge of US GAAP and SOX internal controls
• Experience supporting SEC reporting (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K)
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team
• Exposure to ERP systems and financial transformation or process improvement initiatives; PeopleSoft experience a plus
• Proficiency with AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT) to support technical research, workflow efficiency and financial narrative writing
• Advanced Excel and Google Suite skills
• Exceptional analytical skills and high attention to detail
• Clear, effective communicator — written and verbal
• Collaborative, approachable and self-directed with a strong sense of ownership
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment
• Clear, effective communicator — written and verbal

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position. In addition to base salary, some roles are eligible for our bonus and/or equity programs, depending on level and role. Regular full-time positions are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. If you are hired at Cars Commerce, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills and/or experience. If the salary range is close to what you're seeking, then we encourage you to apply and learn more about the total compensation package for this position.

Salary Range

$104,100.00-130,150.00

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

Learn more about our Benefits, Perks, & Culture on our LinkedIn Life Pages!

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.

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