Senior Accountant

Wow Bao; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance (medical, dental, VIs

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off & holidays

Employee discount programs

Job summary

Wow Bao in Chicago is seeking a Senior Accountant to support corporate and manufacturing accounting. You will prepare journal entries, maintain the general ledger, and perform month-end close and reconciliations.

The role requires collaboration with operations, supply chain, and sales teams in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of accounting experience, strong Excel skills, and a background in GLS/AP/AR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required
• 3+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) and/or manufacturing preferred
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong background in general ledger accounting, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• CPA or pursuing a CPA preferred

Responsibilities

• Prepare journal entries for month-end and year-end close.
• Maintain accuracy and integrity of the general ledger.
• Perform monthly account reconciliations and investigate variances.
• Support external audits and tax compliance activities.
• Develop and improve accounting processes, controls and documentation.
• Oversee accounts payable processes to ensure timely and accurate vendor payments.
• Enter invoices and code for accuracy.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor aging reports and maintain positive vendor relationships.
• Support the implementation and optimization of AP workflows and controls.
• Generate customer billings and initiate collections activities.
• Monitor customer account balances and aging reports.
• Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Partner with internal teams to improve collection processes.
• Validate deductions passed on by distributors.
• Conduct monthly inventory counts and track inventory levels.
• Handle prepaid expenses and accruals.
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations.
• Assist with restaurant accounting and reporting.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Process employee expense reports.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate financial data.
• Undertake additional duties to drive team success

Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

General ledger accounting

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Analytical/problem solving

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance or related field

CPA or pursuing CPA

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Wow Bao is seeking a highly motivated and detailed-oriented Senior Accountant to support both corporate accounting and accounting activities related to our food manufacturing operations. The Senior Accountant will assist in the creation of financial records to track the organizations assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liabilities and other related financial activities. Responsibilities include reconciling account balances, helping maintain the general ledger and conduct month-end close procedures.

This role is onsite five days a week in our Chicago (River North) office. The ideal candidate is a hands on accounting professional with strong technical accounting knowledge with the ability to work cross-functionally with operations, supply chain, and sales teams in a fast-paced environment.

This is a unique opportunity to join Wow Bao during an exciting period of growth! With our newly opened food manufacturing plant, the ideal candidate will embrace a startup mindset, take ownership, and help shape the future of both the accounting function and the company’s long-term success. The Senior Accountant will play a critical role as we continue to build scalable accounting processes and strengthening financial controls.

Innovative. Fast Pace. Growth.

At Wow Bao, we believe food should be bold, exciting, and anything but ordinary. We're on a mission to reinvent the Asian Street Food experience—bringing inventive flavors and high-quality ingredients to every bite.

As the fastest-growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the U.S., Wow Bao achieved over 370% retail sales growth in 2024, and our products are now available in 16,000+ grocery stores nationwide thanks to strong partnerships with leading retailers.

Our journey began in 2003 with the opening of our first restaurant, and today Wow Bao is a thriving omni-channel brand with a presence in Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities. We continue to expand across all verticals—including foodservice, retail, and corporate operations.

Wow Bao is proud to be the only brand recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shakers—earning the #1 spot in both 2019 and 2022, and #4 in 2023. This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence in what we do.

Join us and be part of a team that’s transforming the way the world experiences Asian cuisine—one bao at a time.

We foster a culture of caring.

Whether it’s our guests or our employees, we put people first. We strive to inspire, to motivate, and to appreciate one another every day. We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor. We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (Other duties will be assigned as needed)

General Ledger & Financial Close

• Prepare journal entries for month-end and year-end close.
• Maintain accuracy and integrity of the general ledger.
• Perform monthly account reconciliations and investigate variances.
• Support external audits and tax compliance activities.
• Develop and improve accounting processes, controls and documentation.

Accounts Payable

• Oversee accounts payable processes to ensure timely and accurate vendor payments.
• Enter invoices, coding for accuracy.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor aging reports and maintain a positive vendor relationships.
• Support the implementation and optimization of AP workflows and controls.

Account Receivable

• Generate customer billings and initiate collections activities.
• Monitor customer account balances and aging reports.
• Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Partner with Wow Bao’s internal team to improve collection processes and reduce outstanding receivables.

Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Validate deductions passes on by distributors
• Conduct monthly inventory counts and track inventory levels
• Handle prepaid expenses and accruals
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations
• Assist with restaurant accounting and reporting
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities
• Process employee expense reports
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate financial data
• Undertake additional duties as assigned, demonstrating flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to driving overall team success

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required
• 3+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) and/or manufacturing industry preferred
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong background in general ledger accounting, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• CPA or pursuing a CPA preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Partake in a professional and positive work environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Compensation for this position is between $80,000.00 to $95,000.00 per year.

Wow Bao is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Competitive salary
• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
• Domestic Partner Benefits
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Discount Programs
• We foster a culture of CARE