Senior Staff Accountant

OUTFORM; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Outform Group seeks a Senior Staff Accountant to lead complex journal entries, reconciliations, and month-end close with a high degree of independence. You will ensure accuracy of financial records under US GAAP and support a broad accounting team.

You will own asset, intercompany, and audit processes, drive improvements, and collaborate across functions to meet tight timelines and strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting is required.
• 3-5 years of general accounting experience, ideally including multi-entity or consolidation exposure.
• Private Equity experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; hands-on experience with ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics.
• Strong technical knowledge of US GAAP and complex reconciliations.
• Ability to analyze data, identify variances, and implement solutions.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review complex journal entries and monthly account reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies independently.
• Own the monthly fixed assets, commission, freight reconciliation and prepaids during the close process, review supporting schedules for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare and analyze income statement and balance sheet packages, including variance and trend analysis, for review by finance leadership.
• Oversee intercompany transactions, billings, and reconciliations, ensuring consistency and accuracy across entities.
• Lead key components of the annual audit process, preparing and reviewing schedules and documentation for external auditors.
• Identify, design, and implement process and control improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy across the close cycle.
• Partner with other functional areas and business management to resolve complex issues and support overall business objectives.
• Lead or participate in special projects and ad hoc assignments as needed.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Excel

Job description

At Outform Group, our guiding philosophy is Dare To Innovate.

Outform Group specializes in creating tangible consumer engagements that elevate, connect and humanize brand experiences. We unite leading experts in research, strategy, design, innovation and manufacturing, who work together to create unforgettable brand experiences.

Lean, interdisciplinary teams work in close collaboration with clients, helping them to solve their user’s biggest problems. Our user-centric, data-driven approach focuses on creating a seamless experience across different environments.

Job Summary

The Senior Staff Accountant is responsible for leading key accounting and financial reporting activities, including preparation and review of complex journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end close deliverables. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Senior Accountant ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records in compliance with US GAAP and internal controls and serves as a technical resource to the broader accounting team.

DIRECT REPORTS

• N/A

SCOPE & ACCOUNTABILITY

The Senior Staff Accountant owns a broader and more complex set of general ledgers, reconciliation, and reporting activities, exercising judgment in areas with less-defined guidance and minimal oversight. The role works cross functionally to identify and resolve more complex discrepancies, leads key components of the annual audit cycle, and drives process improvement initiatives that strengthen the accuracy, efficiency, and controls of the close process.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and review complex journal entries and monthly account reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies independently.
• Own the monthly fixed assets, commission, freight reconciliation and prepaids during the close process, review of supporting schedules for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare and analyze income statement and balance sheet packages, including variance and trend analysis, for review by finance leadership.
• Oversee intercompany transactions, billings, and reconciliations, ensuring consistency and accuracy across entities.
• Lead key components of the annual audit process, preparing and reviewing schedules and documentation for external auditors.
• Identify, design, and implement process and control improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy across the close cycle.
• Partner with other functional areas and business management to resolve complex issues and support overall business objectives.
• Lead or participate in special projects and ad hoc assignments as needed, often with cross-functional visibility.

KEY INTERFACES (NON-REPORTING)

• Other Accounting and Finance team members, including staff-level accountants
• FP&A / Business Management
• External auditors (audit support)
• Other functional areas across the business (e.g., AP/Treasury, Operations)

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Success in this role will be measured against metrics including but not limited to:
• Timeliness and accuracy of complex journal entries and monthly account reconciliations
• Number and aging of unresolved reconciling items or discrepancies across owned areas
• On-time completion of assigned month-end close deliverables
• Quality and timeliness of audit schedules and documentation provided to auditors
• Ownership and completion rate of process improvement initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required
• 3-5 years of general accounting experience required, ideally including multi-entity or consolidation exposure.
• Project based accounting preferred, manufacturing experience required
• Private Equity experience preferred
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics) required.
• Strong technical knowledge of US GAAP and complex reconciliations, with the ability to research and apply accounting guidance.
• Ability to analyze data, identify variances, and independently recommend and implement solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and review the work of others for accuracy and completeness.

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Attention to Detail - Accuracy and thoroughness in all work.
• Organization - Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact across teams.
• Team-Oriented - Collaborative and willing to mentor and support less experienced team members in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Functions

Working conditions are in a normal office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, and stand, using hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel. The employee must occasionally exert or lift up to 20 pounds. Successful performance requires good eyesight with or without corrective lenses. Requires long periods of time working at a computer and includes phone work. Travel is not a regular requirement of this position.

DISCLAIMER

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Employer. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.