Accounting Manager — San Fernando Valley, California | Pacific Executive Search

Accounting Manager

(Job ID: 1887)

San Fernando Valley, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Restaurant

$125,000 – $140,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic and collaborative team as an Accounting Manager, where you will play a pivotal role in overseeing core accounting operations, particularly the Accounts Payable function. This position offers a unique opportunity to drive process improvements and enhance financial reporting in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment. You will be part of a culture that values curiosity, connection, and personal growth, fostering an environment where innovative ideas are welcomed and team members support one another in achieving excellence.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day accounting operations with a focus on Accounts Payable, ensuring the integrity of the general ledger and timely month-end close activities.
Implement process improvements and lead automation initiatives to enhance efficiency in AP workflows and accounting operations.
Design and maintain robust internal controls over AP processes, supporting compliance and audit readiness.
Manage full-cycle Accounts Payable operations, including invoice processing, vendor maintenance, and resolution of discrepancies.
Lead and develop a high-performing accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with IT to optimize ERP systems and document standard operating procedures for accounting processes.
Support cash forecasting and working capital management by providing visibility into AP disbursements.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CMA or CPA preferred.
3–5+ years of progressive accounting experience with a strong focus on Accounts Payable.
Prior experience in managing teams and demonstrated leadership skills.
Proficiency in GAAP and accounting operations best practices, with a solid understanding of AP controls.
Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or Workday.
Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and data analysis.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience in high-volume, multi-entity, and/or multi-currency environments.
Familiarity with AP automation and OCR tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with effective communication skills.
Experience in managing shared services or offshore teams is a plus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.