Manager, Financial Reporting

Cars.com LLC; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plans

Home office stipend

Generous PTO

Holidays & Volunteer Day

Job summary

Cars Commerce is seeking a Manager, Financial Reporting to lead SEC filings and financial reporting for senior leadership. You’ll own the monthly close, assist audits, and drive process improvements in a remote-first environment.

The ideal candidate has a CPA, 6+ years in financial reporting, and deep US GAAP knowledge. Big 4 + industry experience is preferred, with strong Excel/GA access and collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• CPA required and strong accounting background.
• 6+ years in financial reporting or public accounting.
• US GAAP/SEC rules expertise with SOX compliance.
• Experience with SEC filings (10-Q/10-K) and financial close.
• Ability to explain complex accounting to non-finance colleagues.
• Proficiency with SEC reporting tools and finance systems.

Responsibilities

• Own preparation and filing of the company’s SEC reports (10-Q, 10-K).
• Deliver timely financial reporting to senior management.
• Lead quarterly disclosure committee and assist audits.
• Manage journal entries and monthly close processes.
• Partner with internal/external auditors to optimize reviews.
• Support technical accounting projects and research.
• Monitor new accounting pronouncements and implement changes.
• Provide leadership and coaching to direct reports.
• Build relationships across teams to support finance ops.

Skills

Accounting/Finance degree

CPA

Financial reporting experience

Public accounting background

US GAAP/SEC knowledge

SOX compliance understanding

SEC reporting tools (ActiveDisclosure/

Strong communication skills

Multitasking in fast-paced env

AI tool proficiency

Analytical/problem solving

Ownership and collaboration

Advanced Excel/Google Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

ActiveDisclosure/Workiva

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. 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.

*The ideal candidate will live in the Chicagoland area.

About the Role

CARS is seeking a Manager, Financial Reporting to join our Corporate Accounting and Reporting team. Reporting to the Director, Financial Accounting & Reporting, this role owns the preparation and filing of the Company's SEC reports, delivers financial reporting to senior management, and partners across the organization to ensure accurate, timely disclosures. The ideal candidate is a strong technical accountant who thrives on ownership and wants to make a lasting mark on the organization.

Responsibilities

• Accounting and SEC Reporting
• Prepare and file the Company's Forms 10-Q, 10-K, and other SEC filings as required
• Prepare and review the monthly financial reporting package for management
• Participate in and lead the quarterly disclosure committee meeting
• Partner with external and internal auditors to ensure the review and audit processes are efficient and effective
• Support the monthly close process through preparation and review of journal entries
• Technical Accounting
• Support technical accounting projects and research, providing recommendations and analysis for complex transactions
• Monitor new accounting pronouncements, assess their impact, and lead implementation, including presenting impacts to the Company
• Review workpapers prepared by team members, including technical financial reporting areas such as cash flows
• Team Leadership
• Manage, develop, and coach direct reports throughout their careers, including providing direct feedback and coaching
• Other
• Serve as the key finance resource for the PeopleSoft ERP system
• Execute internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements
• Build strong relationships across peers, stakeholders, and team members to support a high-performing, collaborative environment
• Assist with other areas of the business, including treasury payment approvals
• Continuously simplify processes and optimize technology use to deliver cost-effective, high quality finance services
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned to support the Finance organization

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or Finance
• CPA required
• 6+ years of financial reporting or public accounting experience
• Big 4 public accounting experience combined with industry experience at a public company strongly preferred
• Deep knowledge of US GAAP accounting and SEC reporting rules and regulations
• Understanding of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements from a compliance standpoint
• Experience with financial systems; proficiency in SEC reporting tools such as ActiveDisclosure or Workiva
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex accounting and reporting issues to non-finance colleagues
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment
• Proficiency with AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT) to support technical research, policy drafting, financial narrative writing, and workflow efficiency
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• Collaborative, approachable, and self-directed with strong sense of ownership
• Advanced Excel and Google Suite skills

Salary and Benefits

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position. Salary Range $104,100.00-130,150.00 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.

• 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.

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.

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Welcome! At Cars Commerce, we think big, push boundaries, and rise together as a team. It’s all the challenge and energy of a job in the tech industry, backed by 25 years of proven resilience and growth as a leading consumer brand. Imagine getting to work on a team with a bold mission to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. A culture that’s a unique mix of innovation and collaboration. Exciting training and development opportunities that empower you to take ownership of your career. For our employees, every day is an opportunity. We’re a remote-first workplace that embraces diversity at every level. Inspired by our values, we intentionally create opportunities for our employees to grow and make an impact in our industry and local communities. Let’s move your career forward together.

Cars Commerce is an audience-driven technology company empowering automotive that simplifies everything about buying and selling cars. The Cars Commerce platform includes the flagship automotive marketplace and dealer reputation site Cars.com, innovative digital marketing technology and services from Dealer Inspire, industry-leading trade-in and appraisal technology from AccuTrade, an exclusive in-market media network, and powerful and predictive AI technologies that enable more efficient and profitable retail operations. Cars Commerce is the essential partner to stay one step ahead in automotive.