Senior Accountant

Planet Group; Franklin (MA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Group is seeking a Senior Accountant for its USA manufacturing operation in Franklin, MA. The role is hybrid (3 days onsite) and reports to the Controller.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in accounting, a BS in accounting/finance, advanced Excel skills, and experience with manufacturing cost and inventory accounting. You will leverage Microsoft Copilot and approved Microsoft 365 tools to streamline processes and strengthen controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field.
• At least five years of progressive accounting experience; manufacturing is a plus.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and ERP experience.
• Demonstrated ability to improve, document or redesign accounting processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and year-end close activities with journal entries, accruals, reconciliations and analyses.
• Prepare financial statements, management reports and plant-performance analyses.
• Maintain inventory accounting, cost variances and related reconciliations in collaboration with Operations.
• Oversee fixed-asset records, depreciation and asset disposals.

Skills

4+ years in Accounting

Excel

Process improvement mentality

AI tools adoption

Education

BS degree in Accounting/Finance or related

Tools

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Senior Accountant

Direct Hire

Salary: 80-95k plus bonus

Hybrid 3 days onsite - Franklin, Massachusetts

Must Haves

• 4+ years in Accounting
• BS degree in Accounting, Finance or related
• Excel
• Process improvement mentality
• Open to learning/implementing AI tools

Plus

• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Manufacturing industry
• Small-mid size company experience

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant safeguards the accuracy and integrity of accounting for the USA manufacturing operation while helping build a more efficient, controlled and insight-driven Finance function. The role leads assigned close, cost-accounting, inventory, fixed-asset, reconciliation and reporting activities; and actively reviews, simplifies and documents processes. The Senior Accountant is expected to use Microsoft Copilot and approved Microsoft 365 tools responsibly to reduce repetitive work, improve analysis and strengthen documentation, with all outputs validated and all financial controls maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and year-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, variance analysis and supporting schedules, in line with Group deadlines and policies.
• Prepare accurate financial statements, management reports and plant-performance analyses in accordance with company policies.
• In conjunction with Controller, maintain average costs and analyze material, labor, overhead, purchase-price, scrap, yield and production-volume variances; work with Operations to identify root causes and track corrective actions.
• Oversee inventory accounting, including cycle-count results, reserves, excess and obsolete inventory, work in process and finished-goods valuation.
• Maintain fixed-asset records, capital-project accounting, depreciation schedules, and asset-transfer and disposal documentation.
• Monitor credit control, collections, banking activities and the USA cash position; coordinate issue resolution and elevate material risks promptly.
• Manage accounts payable.
• Review and post payroll related entries.
• Support budgets, forecasts, cash-flow planning, capital-expenditure analysis and working-capital initiatives, with particular attention to inventory and receivables.
• Maintain and improve internal controls, accounting procedures, reconciliations and evidence; promptly elevate control gaps, unusual transactions or data-quality issues.
• Prepare schedules and documentation for internal and external audits and respond to auditor requests in a timely, organized manner.
• Support federal, Massachusetts and local tax, recordkeeping and reporting requirements in coordination with the Controller and internal or external specialists.
• Review assigned accounting and reporting processes end to end. Remove unnecessary steps, simplify and standardize work, strengthen controls, and document the approved future-state process before automation.
• Use Microsoft Copilot and other approved Microsoft 365 capabilities to support repetitive activities such as drafting procedures, summarizing exceptions, preparing first-pass variance commentary, organizing supporting evidence and developing repeatable analytical workflows. Validate source data, calculations and conclusions before use or distribution, and protect confidential information.
• Help improve Microsoft Dynamics 365 and reporting-data integrity by investigating root causes, correcting errors, strengthening master-data and transaction discipline, and coordinating sustainable solutions with process owners and IT.
• Create and maintain process documentation, control narratives, reconciliation instructions and backup procedures; contribute to cross-training and reduced dependency on individual employees.

Success Measures

• Accurate and timely close, reconciliations and reporting with fewer recurring corrections.
• Clear explanations of operational variances, supported by root-cause analysis and tracked actions.
• Reduced manual effort and cycle time in selected recurring processes without weakening controls.
• Current process documentation and effective backup coverage for assigned responsibilities.
• Reliable ERP and reporting data, with recurring issues addressed at their source rather than repeatedly corrected downstream.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field.

• At least five years of progressive accounting experience,manufacturing a plus.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, reconciliations and financial statement preparation.
• Hands-on standard-costing, inventory-accounting and variance experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with an ERP.
• Demonstrated ability to improve, document or redesign accounting processes.
• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills, with sound judgment and attention to detail.

Preferred

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations experience.
• Manufacturing experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Copilot, or comparable reporting and automation tools.
• Experience supporting audits in a multi-site or global manufacturing organization.
• Lean, continuous-improvement or process-mapping experience.

Core Competencies

• Accounting integrity and close discipline | Manufacturing cost and inventory accounting | Internal controls and risk awareness
• Operational business partnering | Root-cause analysis and action follow-through | Process simplification and documentation
• ERP and data fluency | Responsible use of Copilot and automation tools | Accountability, adaptability and continuous learning

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based within a manufacturing plant and requires regular interaction with production, warehouse and maintenance areas. The employee must work safely in an industrial environment and use required personal protective equipment in designated areas. Additional hours may be required during close, budgeting, audits or other peak periods.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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