Accounting Manager

Position Summary:

The Accounting Manager is responsible for leading the cooperative’s accounting function and ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, efficient business processes, and a high-performing team. Reporting to the CFO, the Accounting Manager will oversee monthly/quarterly/year-end close, financial statement preparation, budgeting, continuing property records, work order close, payroll for multiple entities, accounts payable, tax filings, regulatory filings, and data analytics/reporting. The Accounting Manager will also lead accounting technology initiatives including accounting system conversions and responsible AI implementation to improve productivity, accuracy, and insight.

This role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented leader who is committed to continuous improvement and who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven cooperative environment serving rural broadband members.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

1)      Financial Accounting, Close, and Reporting

• Lead and manage the monthly close process, ensuring timely, accurate, and well-supported financial results.
• Prepare/oversee the preparation of financial statements, budget to actual schedules, and management reporting packages for leadership and the Board.
• Maintain oversight of general ledger integrity, including accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and financial statement analytics.
• Ensure accurate accounting for key areas such as: revenue, grant/loan activity, capital projects, fixed assets, payroll for multiple entities, accounts payable, tax filings, regulatory filings, inventory/materials, and member/customer billing interfaces.
• Coordinate external audit activities, including audit schedules, PBC requests, and remediation of findings.
• Partner with CFO to deliver meaningful variance analysis, trend analysis, and KPIs aligned to cooperative goals (subscriber growth, margin, capex, cash, etc.).

2)      Budgeting and Forecasting

• Responsible for the annual budget process and rolling forecasts by providing accurate historical data, cost drivers, and departmental guidance.
• Develop budgeting tools and templates that improve usability and accountability for department leaders.

3)      Continuing Property Records (CPR) / Fixed Assets

• Maintain the cooperative’s continuing property records, ensuring accurate capitalization, retirements, depreciation, and asset tagging/reconciliation practices.
• Collaborate with engineering/operations on work order maintenance and project closeout.
• Strengthen processes for tracking and documenting assets placed in service, construction-in-progress, and retirements.

4)      Internal Controls, Policies, and Procedure Documentation

• Design, implement, and improve internal control frameworks (segregation of duties, approval matrices, reconciliations, access controls, documentation standards).
• Create and maintain a structured accounting policies & procedures manual, ensuring processes are documented, standardized, and cross-trained.
• Lead efforts to reduce operational risk, improve compliance, and enhance audit readiness.

5)      Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency

• Identify inefficiencies and redesign accounting workflows to reduce manual entry, improve cycle times, and increase reliability.
• Standardize recurring processes (AP, AR, payroll accounting, close, reporting) using checklists, controls, and performance metrics.

6)      Accounting Technology, Conversions, and AI Implementation

• Lead or co-lead accounting software initiatives including ERP/accounting system conversions, integrations, and reporting tools.
• Implement responsible AI-enabled workflows for the accounting team, ensuring:
  • Proper controls and approvals remain in place
  • Data privacy and access controls are maintained
  • Outputs are reviewed/validated and documented
• Develop training and adoption plans to ensure technology improves team effectiveness without sacrificing accuracy.

7)      Data Analysis, Reporting, and Security

• Improve data accuracy and consistency across systems (billing, payroll, AP, inventory, project tracking, etc.).
• Manage access to sensitive data, including employee and board ERP user access/privileges.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing accounting team; set clear expectations and drive consistent execution.
• Build strong partnerships with operations, engineering, customer service, and IT to align financial processes to field realities.
• Present financial results and key insights clearly and confidently to the CFO, leadership team, and CEO.

• Model cooperative values: integrity, service, stewardship, accountability, and respect.

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by management. *

*These tasks do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act definition of essential job functions and are usually less than 5% of time spent. However, these tasks still constitute important performance aspects of the job.

Education and Experience:

• Five (5) or more years of people management experience (accounting and/or finance teams preferred).
• Bachelor degree in Accounting/Finance required. Master’s degree in Accounting/Finance or CPA is a plus.
  
• Experience in telecommunications, broadband, utilities, cooperatives, or other capital-intensive/infrastructure environments.
• Hands-on experience with continuing property records (CPR), fixed asset accounting, capitalization policies, and construction/project accounting.
• Experience leading or supporting accounting software/ERP conversions, system integrations, and process automation initiatives.
• Demonstrated proficiency in financial modeling and advanced use of Microsoft Excel, with strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint for professional documentation, analysis, and executive level presentations.