Staff Accountant

Cengage Group; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage Group, a global education technology company, seeks a Staff Accountant, Global Accounting & Reporting, to join the Consolidations & Group Reporting team. You will engage in high‑level financial reporting and consolidation tasks in a global environment.

Responsibilities include preparing journals, reconciliations, balance sheet analysis, supporting audits, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a similar area, or equivalent experience.
• 1-3 years of accounting, financial reporting, or audit experience.
• Public accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow).
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced close and reporting environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with accounting, finance, and cross-functional teams.
• Curiosity about consolidations and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare journals and account reconciliations to support financial close.
• Perform balance sheet analysis, run reports, and follow up on open items.
• Maintain documentation for reconciliations and close activities.
• Conduct analytical reviews of reconciliation populations for quality checks.
• Assist with BlackLine tasks and reconciliation workstreams.
• Perform routine financial-data validations and system tie-outs.
• Support audit requests with reports and documentation.
• Research and document differences in accounts and reporting findings.

Skills

Attention to detail

Excel

Communication

GAAP knowledge

Public accounting

Multi-tasking

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial reporting

Consolidations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or related field

Tools

SAP

SAP Group Reporting

BlackLine

Essbase

Job description

Ohio, USA

United States

Full time

R2026-1347

We believe in the power and joy of learning

At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping learners around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

About the Role

As a Staff Accountant, Global Accounting & Reporting at Cengage, you will serve as an essential member of our Consolidations & Group Reporting team. This role stands out by offering hands‑on involvement in a global company environment, allowing you to engage in high‑level financial reporting and consolidation functions.

Key Responsibilities

You will contribute significantly to maintaining accurate financial reporting and consolidation processes. Your tasks will include:

• Supporting financial close processes by preparing journals and account reconciliations.
• Performing balance sheet analysis, running reports, and following up on outstanding close items.
• Maintaining documentation supporting reconciliations, financial reporting, and close activities.
• Conducting analytical reviews of the account reconciliation population as part of quality reviews.
• Assisting with recurring BlackLine tasks and account reconciliation workstreams.
• Performing routine financial-data validations and system tie‑outs.
• Supporting audit requests by gathering reports and supporting documentation.
• Researching account and reporting differences, documenting findings, and advancing complex or unusual items for review.
• Coordinating with accounting and finance teams to obtain supporting information and follow routine open items through resolution.
• Assisting with Blackline issue resolution and team collaboration, driving open action items monitoring and completion.
• Supporting other Consolidations and financial‑reporting activities as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you should bring:

• A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a similar area, or equivalent experience.
• 1-3 years of accounting, financial reporting, or audit experience.
• Public accounting experience, experience auditing or supporting publicly traded companies strongly preferred.
• A solid understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial statements, including the Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Outstanding attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced close and reporting environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with accounting, finance, and cross‑functional teams.
• A curiosity about developing deeper knowledge in consolidations and financial reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following qualifications will set you apart:

• Experience with corporate consolidations or multi‑entity financial reporting.
• Experience with SAP, SAP Group Reporting, BlackLine, Essbase, or comparable financial systems.
• Exposure to intercompany accounting, or global financial reporting.
• Experience preparing financial statement reconciliations and analyzing financial data.
• CPA or progress toward CPA certification is a plus.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

About Cengage

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here (https://www.cengagegroup.com/news/perspectives/2024/cengage-group-total-rewards-philosophy/) to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy .

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.

$52,000.00 - $67,600.00 USD

Cengage, a global edtech company, supports learners, educators and institutions across more than 100 countries. With products serving nearly 16 million digital users across the Higher Education, School, Work and English Language Learning markets, we’ve built a learning ecosystem that connects education to employment. We combine trusted content, AI-powered insights and scalable digital platforms to power learning for every future and drive meaningful outcomes at every stage of the learning journey.

Warning: Be aware, there has been an increase of targeted recruitment scams perpetrated by bad actors falsely providing job offers on behalf Cengage Group to candidates as a means of obtaining personal information. Note that Cengage will always interview candidates via live in-person meetings, phone calls and video calls before an offer would be extended. Also, be sure to check that communication is coming from an @cengage.com email address.