National Sales Manager

Industry: Lighting/electrical distributor

Compensation: $125K-$140K

Location: Onsite in: Schaumburg, IL area

Our client is a nationwide provider of lighting, electrical materials, recycling, and sustainability solutions supporting complex projects across the country.

The organization is seeking a dependable, detail-oriented accounting professional to strengthen the accounting team and support continued growth. This is a hands-on position with responsibility for general ledger accounting, monthly close preparation, account reconciliations, and financial reporting support.

The role works closely with the Comptroller and collaborates with accounts payable and accounts receivable team members. It is well suited to someone who enjoys improving processes, solving problems, and taking ownership of accurate and timely financial information.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare journal entries and supporting documentation for the monthly and year-end close.
• Maintain the general ledger and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and consistently.
• Prepare monthly balance-sheet account reconciliations.
• Review income-statement activity and investigate unusual P&L variances.
• Manage accounting for accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, inventory, commissions, and vendor rebates.
• Identify errors, research discrepancies, and prepare necessary corrections.
• Review AP and AR activity for proper classification, cutoffs, and general-ledger accuracy.
• Support the Comptroller in preparing monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow analysis, and financial reporting projects.
• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for external audits, tax filings, and insurance reviews.
• Assist with sales-tax reporting and other state and local compliance requirements.
• Help maintain effective accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting accuracy, and close timelines.
• Collaborate with sales, operations, purchasing, and other departments to resolve accounting questions.
• Provide guidance and accounting support to the AP and AR team.
• Perform other accounting and financial analysis projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Strong general-ledger, journal-entry, reconciliation, and month-end-close experience.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and accrual-basis accounting.
• Experience reviewing financial statements and researching P&L variances.
• Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and financial-data analysis.
• Experience working with an ERP or accounting system.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, judgment, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities in a growing business.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented approach.

Preferred Experience

• Accounting experience within distribution, wholesale, electrical, lighting, construction, or a project-based business.
• Experience with inventory, customer rebates, vendor rebates, commissions, and job-cost accounting.
• Familiarity with multi-state sales tax.
• Experience supporting external audits and tax preparation.
• Experience improving close procedures or implementing accounting processes.
• CPA or CMA certification, or progress toward certification.

What Success Looks Like

• The successful candidate will help the organization produce accurate, timely financial information while reducing the number of routine accounting items requiring the Comptroller’s direct involvement.
• Over time, this individual will become a trusted resource for general-ledger accounting, P&L analysis, close preparation, and AP/AR guidance.