What are the responsibilities and job description for the Staff Accountant position at Preston Refrigeration?
Certified Industrial Partners (CIP) is a growing network of specialized industrial companies delivering refrigeration, controls, automation, and technology solutions across North America. Our partner companies-including Preston Refrigeration, Panatrol Automation, Highland Refrigeration, North American Refrigeration, and FieldTech-work collaboratively to deliver high-quality engineering, construction, service, and technology solutions.
Our businesses operate in project-driven environments spanning construction, service, and SaaS, requiring strong financial discipline, accurate job costing, and scalable systems to support growth.
Position Summary
The Staff Accountant plays a critical role within CIP's shared services finance team, supporting accounting operations across multiple entities. This role is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, supporting project/job costing, preparing journal entries, and ensuring balance sheet integrity across a multi-entity structure.
This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, systems-driven environment and enjoys working across construction, service, and technology business models.
Key Responsibilities
Core Accounting & Close
- Prepare and post journal entries across multiple entities
- Maintain and reconcile balance sheet accounts, including intercompany accounts
- Assist with month-end and year-end close processes
- Ensure financial accuracy and consistency across all entities
Job Costing & Project Accounting
- Code transactions to the correct job/project/property within the chart of accounts
- Support WIP (Work-in-Progress) tracking and entries (construction/service projects)
- Analyze project/job financials for accuracy and completeness
- Partner with operations to ensure proper cost capture
Multi-Entity & Intercompany Management
- Manage accounting across 6 entities within a shared services structure
- Record and reconcile intercompany transactions
- Support consolidated financial reporting processes
Accounts & Transaction Support
- Assist with AP/AR-related accounting entries and reconciliations
- Review transaction coding for accuracy and completeness
- Support high-volume transactional environments tied to construction and service operations
Sales Tax & Compliance
- Prepare and file sales tax returns (multi-state exposure preferred)
- Maintain compliance with applicable tax and regulatory requirements
Systems & Process Improvement
- Operate within QuickBooks Online (QBO) and other financial systems
- Support data integrity, clean-up efforts, and process improvements
- Assist with system integrations, automation, and reporting enhancements
- Contribute to building scalable accounting processes across entities
Qualifications
Required
- 2 years of accounting experience with cost accounting or job costing exposure
- Experience coding transactions to jobs/projects/properties within a chart of accounts
- 2 years of QuickBooks Online (QBO) experience
- Experience working in multi-entity environments
- Strong understanding of:
- Journal entries
- Balance sheet reconciliations
- Intercompany accounting
- Highly tech-forward with strong systems aptitude
Preferred
- Construction or industrial services accounting experience
- Familiarity with WIP schedules and WIP journal entries
- Sales tax filing experience (multi-state)
- Experience supporting shared services or centralized accounting teams