Staff Accountant

Cengage; Ohio; Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage is hiring a Staff Accountant, Global Accounting & Reporting, to join the Consolidations & Group Reporting team. You will engage in high-level financial reporting, balance sheet analysis, and close processes for a global education company.

Responsibilities include journal prep, reconciliations, recon-population analysis, and supporting BlackLine tasks, with collaboration across accounting and finance functions worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or similar; equivalent experience accepted.
• 1-3 years in accounting, financial reporting, or audit.
• Public accounting experience preferred for externally traded companies.
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and core financial statements.
• Proficient Excel and detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced close.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Support financial close by preparing journals and reconciliations.
• Perform balance sheet analysis and follow up on open close items.
• Maintain documentation for reconciliations and close activities.
• Analyze reconciliation populations and support quality reviews.
• Assist with BlackLine tasks and related workstreams.
• Validate financial data and ensure system tie-outs.
• Support audit requests with reports and documentation.
• Research differences and document findings for review.
• Coordinate with accounting and finance teams to obtain info.
• Drive item resolution and monitor open actions across teams.
• Assist with other consolidations and reporting tasks as assigned.

Skills

U.S. GAAP

Excel

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Public accounting experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

SAP

SAP Group Reporting

BlackLine

Essbase

Job description

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

• 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

• 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

• 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 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. 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