Sr Staff Accountant

Ulta Beauty; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Ulta Beauty is seeking a Senior Staff Accountant to support general ledger, close processes and financial reporting. You will manage journal entries, reconciliations, and variance analysis while enhancing system capabilities in SAP S/4HANA and BlackLine.

You will collaborate with Accounting, Finance and IT to strengthen internal controls, improve processes, and support forecasts and budgets in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and CPA required.
• 4 - 7 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Experience with general ledger accounting, financial close, account reconciliations, journal entries, and variance analysis.
• Experience with financial accounting systems, system implementations, master-data maintenance, or related process improvements.
• SAP experience strongly preferred; SAP S/4HANA experience is a plus.
• BlackLine or similar financial‑close‑management system experience preferred.
• Public accounting or retail industry experience preferred.
• Experience supporting international entities and foreign‑currency accounting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, and close workpapers.
• Analyze variances, investigate differences, and communicate findings to management.
• Maintain general ledger master data, chart of accounts, and related configurations.
• Support system setups, upgrades, testing, and deployment for SAP S/4HANA and BlackLine.
• Collaborate with Accounting, Finance, IT and business partners to improve processes.
• Ensure SOX controls and internal-control requirements are met.

Skills

Analytical skills

CPA

GL accounting

Financial close

Reconciliations

SAP

BlackLine

Retail experience

Foreign currency accounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA certification

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

BlackLine

Alteryx

Job description

Overview

something categorically different. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S., a thriving digital ecosystem and a growth trajectory that’s put Wall Street on notice; Ulta Beauty provides dynamic challenges for those who want to apply their financial acumen to ever-increasing levels of complexity. Professional ownership. Diverse and ever-evolving projects. Greater levels of impact. The ability to influence decisions and organizational direction. It’s all part of the daily experience of our Finance & Accounting associates.

If you want a collaborative environment where continual learning, career self-determination and trust are prioritized, where an engaged leadership provides deep levels of support and guidance, Ulta Beauty is uniquely positioned to deliver greater levels of career satisfaction. Are you up for the challenge?

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

The General Accounting department is seeking an experienced Senior Staff Accountant to support the company’s general ledger accounting, financial close, planning processes, and financial accounting systems. This role will perform key period-end accounting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis, internal controls, and support for forecasts and budgets.

The Senior Staff Accountant will also support the administration and maintenance of accounting-related functionality within SAP S/4HANA, BlackLine, and other financial systems. Responsibilities will include assisting with general ledger master data, legal-entity and ledger configurations, financial-system enhancements, and issue resolution.

This position will collaborate with Accounting, Finance, IT, and other business partners to maintain accurate financial information, strengthen internal controls, improve processes, and support the company’s evolving financial-system and reporting needs.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY:

General Accounting and Financial Close

• Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, supporting schedules, and other accounting workpapers during accounting close processes.
• Partner with business and finance teams to obtain information supporting accruals, estimates, reclassifications, and other accounting adjustments.
• Analyze financial results, investigate period-over-period and forecast-to-actual variances, document findings, and communicate significant items to management.
• Monitor assigned close activities and ensure journal entries, reconciliations, variance analyses, and other deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Support the preparation of forecasts, annual budgets, and related financial analyses.
• Assist with internal and external financial reporting requirements.
• Develop subject-matter expertise and serve as a resource for assigned accounting areas.
• Support accounting for domestic and international entities, including foreign‑currency transactions and translation, as applicable.
• Partner across General Accounting to identify and implement opportunities to streamline period‑close activities, reduce manual effort, and improve the efficiency of journal‑entry and reconciliation processes.

Financial Accounting Systems

• Support the administration, maintenance, and continued improvement of BlackLine, SAP S/4HANA, and related financial accounting systems.
• Support the creation, maintenance, and governance of general ledger master data, including the chart of accounts, cost centers, profit centers, company codes, ledgers, and other accounting structures.
• Support the financial-system setup and integration of new legal entities, business units, and accounting requirements.
• Assist with the maintenance of the chart of accounts and related governance processes.
• Support BlackLine configurations and processes, including automated journal entries (AJDs), matching, account reconciliations, close tasks, variance analysis, and other enabled functionality.
• Partner with Accounting, Finance, Technology, and system owners to define and document business requirements for system enhancements and process changes.
• Participate in system implementations, upgrades, testing, and deployment activities, including the development and execution of test scripts.
• Investigate accounting-system issues, coordinate resolution with appropriate partners, and validate that solutions meet business and control requirements.
• Maintain process documentation, configuration records, desktop procedures, and training materials for assigned accounting and system activities.
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate, standardize, and improve accounting processes through Blackline, Alteryx, SAP S/4HANA, and other available tools.

Controls and Compliance

• Perform assigned SOX controls and help ensure compliance with accounting policies, internal-control requirements, and established procedures.
• Evaluate the control implications of new accounts, entities, configurations, system changes, and process enhancements.
• Assist with internal and external audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and resolving audit requests.
• Help ensure the completeness, accuracy, and appropriate authorization of financial-system master data and configurations.
• Support remediation activities related to accounting, systems, or internal-control findings.

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCESS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and CPA required.
• 4 - 7 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Experience performing general ledger accounting, financial close, account reconciliations, journal entries, and variance analysis.
• Experience with financial accounting systems, system implementations, master-data maintenance, or related process improvements.
• SAP experience strongly preferred; SAP S/4HANA experience is a plus.
• BlackLine or similar financial‑close‑management system experience preferred.
• Public accounting or retail industry experience preferred.
• Experience supporting international entities and foreign‑currency accounting is a plus.

Special Position Requirements

• Solid analytical skills and technical accounting knowledge
• Strong understanding of financial processes and SOX internal controls
• Ability to meet deadlines and work in a fast‑paced environment
• Good communication, written and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates leadership ability/potential
• Able to work independently, as well as cross‑functionally
• Dedicated and detail oriented
• Self‑starter with willingness to work hands‑on
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 Suite
• International experience/FX accounting

The pay range for this position is $77,600.00 - $111,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part‑time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

About

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make‑up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.