Senior Accountant

Safe Fleet; Elkhart, Northern (IN, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Safe Fleet Senior Accountant role focuses on manufacturing financials, cost accounting, and tax compliance. You will drive accurate reporting, support inventory valuation, and provide insights to production and operations leadership.

Your responsibilities include ledger management, month-end close, and cross-functional collaboration with plant and supply chain teams, while upholding internal controls and GAAP standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of two years of accounting experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and foundational tax principles.
• Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Effective cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage general ledger activities including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and analyze financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and production-related financial modeling.
• Assist with external audits and inventory counts.
• Ensure internal controls and accounting policies are followed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Infor XA

Syteline

JD Edwards

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Safety is where everything begins. It shapes our culture, our products, and the way we show up for our communities. Join us as we build smarter technologies that redefine fleet safety. When you help make fleets smarter, you make people safer.

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Accountant to support our manufacturing operations by ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong cost accounting oversight, and effective financial controls. This role plays a key part in month-end close, inventory and cost accounting, tax compliance activities, and financial analysis that supports production, operations, and leadership decision-making. The ideal candidate has manufacturing accounting experience and strong analytical skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage general ledger activities including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and analyze financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Manufacturing & Cost Accounting

• Maintain and analyze standard costs, bills of materials (BOMs), and routings.
• Monitor inventory transactions and maintain accurate reporting for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Conduct manufacturing variance analysis, including PPV, labor and overhead absorption, scrap, and cycle counts.
• Support product costing, margin analysis, and cost improvement initiatives.

Tax Accounting & Compliance

• Prepare and file sales and use tax returns, property tax filings, and other required state/local tax documents.
• Ensure manufacturing-related tax compliance, including exemption certificates, resale certificates, and vendor documentation.
• Assist with federal and state income tax preparation and supporting schedules.
• Maintain tax records, reconcile tax accounts, and ensure timely payments.
• Monitor tax law changes that may impact manufacturing operations, inventory valuation, or capital expenditures.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors as needed.

Operational & Cross-Functional Support

• Partner with plant leadership, supply chain, and operations to interpret financial results and support decision-making.
• Assist with annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and production-related financial modeling.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, internal controls, and reporting efficiencies.

Audit & Compliance

• Support external audits by preparing schedules and responding to auditor inquiries.
• Participate in inventory audits and physical counts.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, company policies, and accounting standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and foundational tax principles.
• Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cost accounting or manufacturing finance.
• Exposure to tax accounting (sales/use tax, property tax, income tax support).
• CPA or CMA certification (or progress toward certification).
• Experience with manufacturing ERP systems (Infor XA, Syteline, JD Edwards).

Working Conditions

• Full-time position with standard business hours.
• Occasional extended hours during month-end close, audit periods, or tax deadlines.
• Regular interaction with plant and operations teams.