Senior Accounting Manager — Greater Los Angeles, California | Pacific Executive Search

Senior Accounting Manager

(Job ID: 2018)

Greater Los Angeles, California

Hybrid

Direct Hire

Retail

$130,000 – $160,000 base

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Overview

Stepping into this senior accounting manager position means overseeing the full spectrum of general ledger and revenue accounting functions within a multi-channel retail environment. This role offers direct leadership of a focused team and the chance to refine scalable processes amid evolving business models, all within a well-established consumer products company with a global footprint. Expertise in GAAP financial reporting and month-end close procedures will be essential to support accurate, timely insights that influence cross-functional decision-making.

Title: Senior Accounting Manager
Industry: Unknown
Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Manage and execute the month-end close cycle, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analyses to ensure financial accuracy and completeness.
Prepare and validate balance sheet reconciliations and management reports aligned with US GAAP standards.
Oversee revenue accounting activities across direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and e-commerce channels, ensuring compliance with ASC 606 revenue recognition guidelines.
Design and enhance internal controls and accounting processes to support audit readiness and operational efficiency.
Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors during general ledger and revenue-related testing phases.
Lead and mentor a small accounting team, fostering accountability and continuous process improvement.
Collaborate closely with finance, planning, customer service, technology, and wholesale teams to support financial reporting and ad hoc analyses.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
- 5 to 7 years of progressive accounting experience with a strong foundation in general ledger and revenue accounting.
- CPA certification or active pursuit of CPA designation.
- Proven leadership experience managing accounting teams.
- Deep understanding of month-end close processes, account reconciliations, and financial reporting under US GAAP.
- Hands-on experience with ASC 606 revenue recognition in a retail or consumer products setting.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, preferably NetSuite, and advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs.
- Clear and effective communication skills, capable of translating complex accounting details into actionable insights.
Nice-to-Have:
- Exposure to public company reporting environments.
- Experience supporting audit procedures and controls design.
- Background in apparel, e-commerce, or multi-channel retail accounting.

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.
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.
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 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.