Accounting Manager — Greater Los Angeles, CA | Pacific Executive Search

Accounting Manager

(Job ID: 1944)

Greater Los Angeles, CA

On-Site

Direct Hire

Retail

$120,000 – $140,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic finance team as an Accounting Manager, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial landscape of the organization. This position offers a unique blend of public accounting rigor and private industry agility, empowering you to take ownership of the financial ecosystem while driving efficiency and strategic insights through modern technology. With opportunities for career growth and a collaborative work environment that values innovation and flexibility, you will be part of a culture that fosters professional development and teamwork.

Responsibilities

Oversee the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting and compliance with GAAP.
Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reserves, and balance sheet reconciliations, proactively resolving discrepancies.
Take full ownership of General Ledger functions, understanding business processes to drive impactful financial changes.
Lead the implementation and optimization of accounting software and automation tools to enhance departmental efficiency.
Manage and mentor junior accounting staff, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
Utilize advanced data analytics and visualization tools to provide actionable financial insights to leadership.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial results with business drivers and support strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

Must-Have: 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, including 2–3 years in a "Big 4" or mid-tier public accounting firm and experience in a corporate environment.
Must-Have: 1–2 years of management experience, supervising staff or leading projects.
Must-Have: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
Must-Have: Proven experience with advanced ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and proficiency in automation tools (e.g., Alteryx) and advanced Excel (VBA, Power Query).
Nice-to-Have: Experience with reporting software and BI tools (e.g., Snowflake, Looker, Power BI).
Nice-to-Have: Strong analytical thinking skills and the ability to communicate complex financial data effectively to non-finance stakeholders.

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 are SaaS accounting and finance roles different from general corporate roles?
Because recurring revenue models create different pressure points around revenue recognition, deferred revenue, forecasting, metrics, and scale. Even strong general accounting or finance candidates can struggle if they have not operated in an environment where recurring revenue and growth-stage process discipline matter.
Is direct NetSuite experience actually necessary?
Not always. What matters more is whether the candidate has handled a similar level of system complexity and can adapt quickly. That said, in lean environments, cleanups, or fragile closes, direct NetSuite familiarity can materially reduce ramp risk.
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.
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.

Accounting Manager

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

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Frequently Asked Questions

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