Senior Controllership & Advisory Accountant — Hybrid

Smith & Howard; Chattanooga (TN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Excellent training opportunities

Great benefits

Job summary

Smith + Howard, a Southeast accounting and advisory firm, is seeking an Accounting + Advisory Services Senior Accountant for our Chattanooga office in a hybrid role. You will lead controllership tasks for a diverse client portfolio, ensuring accurate month-end closes and robust reporting.

You will apply full-cycle accounting knowledge, GAAP, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality financial statements, process improvements, and client service excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance is required.
• CPA license or active pursuit with a defined path is preferred.
• 2–4 years of progressive accounting experience including at least 2 in public accounting or outsourced client services.
• Solid understanding of full-cycle accounting and GAAP.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills—know when to dig into details and when to see the big picture.
• Comfortable working in different client environments and accounting platforms.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to shifting priorities with professionalism.
• Hybrid working arrangement out of Chattanooga office.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a controllership resource, guiding clients through monthly and year-end closes, complex reconciliations, accrual adjustments, and more.
• Prepare financial statements including Balance Sheets, Income Statements, and Statements of Cash Flows.
• Triage and resolve accounting errors creatively—prioritizing materiality, impact, and client experience.
• Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improved reporting.
• Coach and support client personnel and junior team members in applying accounting principles and using accounting systems effectively.
• Work across accounting platforms, including QBO, Xero, NetSuite, Intacct, Acumatica, and AppFolio—and adapt quickly to new tools and workflows.
• Use CaseWare Working Papers to maintain clear documentation of trial balances, adjusting entries, and balance sheet support.
• Contribute to process improvement internally and with clients, helping streamline operations and improve reporting accuracy.
• Review 1099s, W-2s, 941s, 940s, and other required federal/state payroll forms.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Communication skills

Multitasking / project management

Public accounting experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

QBO

Xero

NetSuite

Intacct

Acumatica

AppFolio

CaseWare Working Papers

Job description

Smith + Howard, a Southeast accounting and advisory firm, is seeking an Accounting + Advisory Services Senior Accountant for our Chattanooga office in a hybrid role. You will lead controllership tasks for a diverse client portfolio, ensuring accurate month-end closes and robust reporting.

You will apply full-cycle accounting knowledge, GAAP, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality financial statements, process improvements, and client service excellence.