What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Accountant position at Briefly?
Description
Briefly is seeking a Staff Accountant to own day to day transactional accounting activities, with a strong emphasis on accounts payable processes, cash and credit card transactions, payroll related entries, and monthly balance sheet maintenance. This role serves as the primary execution layer beneath the Accounting Manager, ensuring accurate financial records while helping evolve and improve accounting processes in a fast paced, growing environment.
The Staff Accountant will play a key role in downshifting transactional and operational accounting work from the Accounting Manager, while maintaining high standards of accuracy, documentation, and internal controls. This role requires someone who deeply understands AP workflows, can take ownership quickly, and is comfortable operating amid ongoing system and process changes, including new system implementations.
Core Responsibilities
Briefly is seeking a Staff Accountant to own day to day transactional accounting activities, with a strong emphasis on accounts payable processes, cash and credit card transactions, payroll related entries, and monthly balance sheet maintenance. This role serves as the primary execution layer beneath the Accounting Manager, ensuring accurate financial records while helping evolve and improve accounting processes in a fast paced, growing environment.
The Staff Accountant will play a key role in downshifting transactional and operational accounting work from the Accounting Manager, while maintaining high standards of accuracy, documentation, and internal controls. This role requires someone who deeply understands AP workflows, can take ownership quickly, and is comfortable operating amid ongoing system and process changes, including new system implementations.
Core Responsibilities
- Transaction Level Accounting Ownership
- Own day to day transactional accounting activities across:
- Vendor bills and invoice processing
- Cash transactions
- Corporate credit card transactions
- Ensure accurate coding, posting, and classification of transactions in accordance with internal policies and GAAP.
- Review transaction activity for accuracy and completeness prior to close.
- Serve as the primary accounting owner for transaction level detail, escalating issues as appropriate.
- Accounts Payable Operations & Vendor Management
- Own the AP accounting process end to end.
- Manage vendor onboarding, setup, and maintenance, ensuring proper documentation, approvals, and compliance with internal controls.
- Act as the primary accounting point of contact for vendors and internal department leaders regarding invoices, coding, and payment timing.
- Support ongoing AP process improvements with department leaders
- Payroll, Benefits & HR Coordination
- Prepare and post payroll journal entries, ensuring accurate recording of wages, taxes, and benefits.
- Review and process benefit related vendor invoices in coordination with HR (medical, dental, vision, retirement, and other benefit providers).
- Assist with payroll and benefits reconciliations as needed.
- Partner with HR to ensure consistency between payroll reports, benefit invoices, and accounting records.
- Balance Sheet & Monthly Close Support
- Prepare and maintain monthly journal entries for:
- Prepaid expenses and amortization
- Capitalized assets and fixed asset activity
- Accruals and other recurring journals
- Lease related entries (experience a plus)
- Maintain supporting schedules and documentation for balance sheet accounts.
- Assist with monthly close activities, ensuring deadlines are met and balances are accurate.
- Proactively identify and resolve reconciling items and process breakdowns.
- Cash Management & Payment Scheduling
- Coordinate payment timing with the Accounting Manager and FP&A team in support of cash forecasting.
- Monitor upcoming disbursements and flag large or unusual payments.
- Ensure payments are executed accurately and in accordance with approved schedules and cash availability.
- Process Improvement & Cross Functional Collaboration
- Partner with the Accounting Manager to improve, document, and standardize accounting and AP processes.
- Adapt quickly to system changes, new tools, and evolving workflows.
- Collaborate with FP&A and other stakeholders to ensure alignment between transactional activity, forecasts, and reporting.
- Support audit requests and provide documentation as needed.
- 2 years of experience in accounting, accounts payable, or related finance roles
- Strong understanding of accounts payable processes and transaction level accounting
- Experience preparing journal entries and supporting monthly close activities
- Working knowledge of balance sheet accounts, including prepaids, accruals, and cash
- Experience working in a fast paced, growing environment with changing processes
- High attention to detail with strong organizational and follow through skills
- Experience in professional services, legal, or multi entity environments (BPO or MSO models a plus)
- Hands on experience with the following tools:
- BILL (Bill.com)
- Ramp
- Paylocity
- FloQast
- Familiarity with Sage Intacct or similar ERP accounting systems
- Experience with lease transactions and lease accounting
- Experience coordinating with centralized or shared services AP teams