We are looking for an experienced Accounting Manager to lead a short-term Contract engagement based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. This role will focus on strengthening layaway-related accounting by reviewing historical activity, resolving discrepancies, and helping create a more reliable reconciliation process. The person in this position will partner closely with accounting leadership to assess vendor transactions, improve supporting documentation, and deliver a stable, accurate approach for future reporting. This assignment is expected to run for approximately 3-4 weeks.
Responsibilities:
- Examine historical accounting activity over a multi-year period, with concentrated attention on the most recent year, to identify issues affecting layaway-related balances.
- Reconcile invoice activity and supporting records across a group of 15-20 vendors to confirm accuracy and completeness.
- Follow transactions through the full layaway cycle, from customer activity to vendor billing and payment application, to verify end-to-end accounting treatment.
- Investigate variances caused by manual postings and fixed adjustments, then determine and execute appropriate corrections.
- Partner with the Controller and Staff Accountant to unwind unsupported entries and restore proper account support.
- Recommend practical improvements that reduce manual effort, including batch updates, uploads, or more efficient system-based methods.
- Help define a dependable go-forward reconciliation process that supports accurate balances through year-end.
- Prepare clear documentation of findings, corrective actions, and process recommendations for accounting leadership.
- Support work within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, including review of the accrued layaway liability memo process when assessing account accuracy.
- 7+ years of accounting experience, including responsibility for complex reconciliations and balance sheet account analysis.
- Strong background in account reconciliation, general ledger activity, journal entry review, and month-end close processes.
- Demonstrated ability to research and resolve accounting discrepancies with a focus on root-cause analysis.
- Experience working with high-volume transactional data using Excel for reconciliation, validation, and reporting purposes.
- Hands-on familiarity with ERP systems, with preference for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Controllers, Accountants, and cross-functional stakeholders while managing work independently.
- Prior exposure to audit support or financial statement audit environments is preferred.
- Availability to work onsite in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with some flexibility for a hybrid schedule.