Staff Accountant

AGS Company Automotive Solutions; Muskegon Heights (MI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Performance-based bonus up to 10%

Job summary

AGS Company Automotive Solutions is seeking a Staff Accountant to own the accounts payable cycle and support general accounting tasks as part of a growing finance team.

You will report to the Controller and drive automation, ERP improvements, and AI-assisted processes to reduce manual data entry while ensuring accurate vendor payments and reconciliations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required.
• 0–2 years of accounting, AP, or bookkeeping experience; internships and part-time finance roles count.
• Recent graduates with strong coursework in accounting and technology are encouraged to apply.
• Solid understanding of basic accounting principles (debits, credits, accruals, and the general ledger).
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel; comfort with formulas, sorting, filtering, and pivot tables.
• Curiosity about AI tools and automation, and a willingness to learn and apply them to finance work.
• Experience with an ERP system required.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and dependable with sensitive information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working with vendors and internal partners.
• Self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently and ask for help when needed.

Responsibilities

• Process vendor invoices on time with proper coding, approvals, and PO-matching.
• Manage weekly payment cycle including checks, ACH, and card payments.
• Reconcile vendor statements and maintain vendor relationships.
• Support journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and month-end close tasks.
• Seek automation opportunities to streamline finance workflows and apply AI tools where helpful.
• Build Excel models and reports to scale with the business.
• Document SOPs for AP and accounting tasks and keep them current.

Skills

Accounting fundamentals

ERP system experience

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Self-starter

Curiosity about AI

Vendor communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP system

Job description

Company Values:
Give: “Share Generously” - We commit to generosity in every action, sharing our time, knowledge, and resources to foster a collaborative and supportive environment.
Respect: “Value Every Voice” - We uphold a culture of respect, where every voice is valued and diversity is celebrated, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Act: “Act with Integrity” - We take decisive action, guided by integrity and responsibility, to address challenges proactively and achieve our goals effectively.
Innovate: “Embrace Creativity” - We embrace creativity and innovation, constantly seeking novel solutions and approaches to drive progress and stay ahead of the curve.
Lead: “Inspire by Example” - We lead by example, inspire others through our dedication and passion, and strive to empower each team member to reach their full potential.

The Staff Accountant is an entry-level accounting role at AGS Company Automotive Solutions, combining full ownership of the accounts payable cycle with early-career general accounting support and a clear expectation to bring modern tools, automation, and AI into everyday finance work. Reporting to the Controller, this role serves as the day-to-day steward of vendor invoicing, payments, and reconciliations, while supporting journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end close activities. When the transactional work is caught up, this individual actively looks for ways to simplify, automate, and improve finance processes, and grows their general accounting skills under the coaching of the Controller. The Staff Accountant owns the intersection of AP execution, general accounting support, and finance-process improvement, and partners closely with Operations, Purchasing, and People & Culture on matters that touch cash disbursement, expenses, and vendor setup. At AGS, our values of Give, Respect, Act, Innovate, and Lead shape how we work together and deliver excellence in the automotive industry.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Ownership

• Process vendor invoices accurately and on time, ensuring proper coding, approvals, and matching to purchase orders and receipts
• Manage the weekly payment cycle, including check runs, ACH, and credit card payments
• Reconcile vendor statements, research discrepancies, and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Maintain vendor master data, W-9s, and 1099 tracking
• Support annual 1099 filing and related year-end reporting

General Accounting Support

• Prepare and post routine journal entries, including accruals, prepaid expenses, and reclasses
• Perform monthly balance sheet account reconciliations and support month-end close activities
• Assist with bank reconciliations and daily cash tracking
• Help maintain the fixed asset schedule and record depreciation entries
• Support the Controller with schedules, workpapers, and documentation for the annual audit and tax preparation

Automation, AI & Continuous Improvement

• Actively look for opportunities to streamline, automate, and simplify finance workflows
• Learn and apply AI tools, ERP automation features, and workflow builders to reduce manual data entry and improve accuracy
• Build and maintain Excel models, templates, and reports that scale as the business grows
• Document standard operating procedures for AP and accounting tasks, keeping them current as processes evolve
• Partner with the Controller and People & Culture on ERP and system enhancements that touch finance

Reporting & Analysis Support

• Prepare recurring reports and simple analyses that help leaders understand spend, cash flow, and vendor activity
• Assist with expense report review, employee reimbursements, and corporate card reconciliations
• Support ad-hoc financial analysis and special projects as requested

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Purchasing, Inventory Control, and department leaders to resolve invoice, PO, and receiving discrepancies
• Serve as a friendly, responsive point of contact for internal teams with AP and expense questions
• Communicate clearly and professionally with vendors on payment status, W-9s, and account setup
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and continuous improvement initiatives

Compliance & Controls

• Follow internal controls and segregation of duties for AP and cash disbursement activities
• Maintain organized, audit-ready records and documentation
• Protect the confidentiality of vendor, employee, and company financial information at all times
• Support sales & use tax tracking and other routine compliance activities

Culture & Collaboration

• Share knowledge generously and support the development of teammates across the business
• Promote open communication, continuous learning, and shared responsibility for quality
• Participate in team building, training, and company-wide initiatives that strengthen engagement and performance
• Model AGS values in day-to-day interactions and decision-making
• Contribute to a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed

What Success Looks Like

• Vendor invoices are processed accurately, on time, and with the right approvals
• Month-end AP close is smooth, and reconciliations are clean and well-documented
• Manual, repetitive tasks are steadily replaced with automated, better-documented workflows
• Vendors and internal teams describe the accounting experience as responsive, professional, and easy to work with
• You are known as someone who asks good questions, tries new tools, and quietly makes things better every quarter

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required
• 0–2 years of accounting, AP, or bookkeeping experience; internships and part-time finance roles count
• Recent graduates with strong coursework in accounting and technology are encouraged to apply
• Solid understanding of basic accounting principles (debits, credits, accruals, and the general ledger)
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel; comfort with formulas, sorting, filtering, and pivot tables
• Curiosity about AI tools and automation, and a willingness to learn and apply them to finance work
• Experience with an ERP system required
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and dependable with sensitive information
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working with vendors and internal partners
• Self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently and ask for help when needed

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods
• Ability to move throughout office and light manufacturing environments
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, or lifting up to 25 lbs
• Visual and mental attention required for data review, reconciliations, and financial systems work

Perks & Benefits

At AGS Company Automotive Solutions, we believe great work starts with taking care of our people professionally, personally, and physically. Our benefits are designed to support your health, growth, and overall well-being while fostering a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work.

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• Life insurance and Voluntary Life Insurance
• AFLAC supplemental insurance options
• Fitness membership benefit to support an active, healthy lifestyle
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential support and resources

Time Away & Family

• Paid Time Off and paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave

Financial

• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for eligible health and dependent care expenses
• Employee referral program — $250 bonus for both the referring employee and the new hire at 90 days of employment, plus an additional $250 each at 180 days (up to $500 total per referral)

Growth & Development

• Ongoing educational and professional development opportunities
• Proud partner of Cornerstone University’s Soar Program, providing access to learning, leadership development, and career growth pathways

Culture First

• A people-centered, values-driven culture rooted in respect, collaboration, and trust
• Supportive leadership that believes in growth, feedback, and doing the right thing
• A workplace where your voice matters and your contributions are recognized

Pay & Bonus

Hourly Pay Range: $25.00–$31.25 per hour (Range is based on experience, skills, and role alignment within the organization.)

Bonus Eligibility: Eligible for a performance-based bonus of up to 10% of annual base earnings, based on individual, team, and company performance.

Why AGS?

At AGS Company Automotive Solutions, you are not just stepping into a role, you are stepping into a team that values people, collaboration, and doing things the right way. With more than 95 years in the automotive industry, AGS offers the stability of a well-established company while continuing to invest in innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Culture matters here. We lead with respect, communicate openly, and support one another across teams. As the Staff Accountant, you help keep the business running by making sure vendors are paid accurately and on time, records are clean, and finance processes keep getting smarter. When the work is done well, teams across AGS feel it in fewer invoice questions, faster answers, and better information to run the business.

This role is critical to the day-to-day health of our finance function. Your accuracy, follow-through, and curiosity directly impact vendor relationships, close timing, and how well we know our own numbers. You will not just sit behind a screen processing invoices, you will be in the business, asking good questions, building better workflows, and bringing modern tools and AI into a function that is often built on old habits.

We also believe growth should be supported, not left to chance. Through ongoing development opportunities, support for continued accounting education, and partnerships with programs like Cornerstone University’s Soar Program, we encourage employees to expand their capabilities and continue developing throughout their careers, because strong finance teams are built on people who keep learning.

At AGS, we live our values, Give, Respect, Act, Innovate, and Lead, every day. If you are looking for a place where culture and accountability go hand in hand, and where a curious early-career accountant can shape how the finance team works, AGS is a great place to grow your career.

Salary progression is guided by demonstrated capability, impact, and readiness for expanded responsibility. This approach supports fairness, internal equity, transparency, and sustainable growth for both our people and the business.