Senior Accountant

United Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401K with company match

Paid time off

Commuter benefits

Free gym and fitness classes

Catered meals

Free parking

Job summary

United Center in Chicago is seeking a Senior Accountant to support financial operations, GAAP reporting, and strategic analysis for a fast-paced venue. You will manage month-end close, fixed assets, sponsorship and event cost reporting, and participate in budgeting, audits, and cross-team collaboration to inform sound financial decisions.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Accounting and 3+ years in accounting, with CPA/CMA preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• 3+ years of accounting experience.
• Experience with month-end close, audits, fixed assets, FP&A, and budgeting/forecasting.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate across teams.
• Support evening work as needed based on event schedules.
• CPA or CMA designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual GAAP financial statements.
• Maintain timely month-end close with journal entries for revenue, sponsorship, and events.
• Oversee reconciliations for accounts, prepaids, fixed assets, and accruals.
• Manage fixed asset accounting including depreciation and disposals.
• Own sponsorship revenue schedules and reporting.
• Oversee concert expenses and staffing budgets with variance tracking.
• Support annual operating budget and forecast analyses.
• Assist with tax reporting and related audits as needed.
• Coordinate with Controller and external auditors for GAAP and regulatory audits.
• Prepare event settlements and adapt schedules for evening events.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Fixed asset management

FP&A

Budgeting/Forecasting

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Evening event work

Sports/Entertainment experience

CPA/CMA preferred

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Job description

At the United Center, we bring excitement to life through sports, entertainment, and community. Home to the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), we've welcomed over 70 million fans and host more than 200 events annually, from premier sporting events and concerts to family shows and special industry events. In the role as Senior Accountant, you will help our team bring the next round of stories to life on the United Center campus.

Ready to take center stage?

As the Senior Accountant, you’ll support the organization’s financial operations through accurate reporting, efficient accounting processes, and insightful financial analysis. The Senior Accountant also plays a key role in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and partnering across teams to inform sound financial decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

What You’ll Do

• Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Ensure accurate and timely month-end close process by preparing journal entries, including but not limited to revenue, sponsorship, and event settlements; support broader close efforts as part of a growing team.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of periodic account reconciliations and financial activity, including accounts receivable, prepaids, fixed assets, accrued amusement taxes, and other accrued liabilities.
• Oversee and manage fixed asset accounting, including invoice flow, capitalizations, disposals, depreciation schedules, placement into service, and ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Take ownership of sponsorship revenue schedules and ensure proper revenue recognition and reporting.
• Oversee and manage the concert expenses and staffing budget, including tracking of actuals and variance monitoring.
• Assist in the preparation of the annual operating budget and maintain ongoing analysis of budget-to-actual and forecast variances.
• Assist in the preparation of reporting to tax authorities, including sales/use, amusement, and lease transaction taxes, and participate in related audits as needed.
• Work with the Controller and external audit teams to ensure clean and timely GAAP, NBA, NHL, and other regulatory audits.
• Prepare, review, and perform event settlements, including pre-settlements, with flexibility to support evening work as needed based on event schedules.

What You’ll Need

• A Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Accounting.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in accounting, preferably a combination of public accounting and private industry experience.
• Experience with month-end closing, audit preparation, fixed asset management, FP&A, and budgeting/forecasting.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively amongst teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to support evening work as needed based on event schedules.
• Previous experience within sports, entertainment, media or large venue operations is preferred.
• A CPA or CMA designation is preferred.

The pay range for this role is $85,000-90,000 annually. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. The total compensation package for this position may also include annual performance bonus, 401K retirement plan with company match, paid time off and commuter benefits. Additional perks include access to our state-of-the-art gym with free fitness classes, catered meals, fun events and free parking.