Staff Accountant (Hybrid)

Location: Metuchen, NJ Area
Schedule: Hybrid (In Office Monday, Tuesday & Thursday)

About the Opportunity

A growing, multi-location organization in Central New Jersey is seeking a motivated Staff Accountant to join its accounting team. This position offers strong visibility across the organization and a clear path for professional growth, including future leadership opportunities.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented accounting professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, partnering with cross-functional teams, and contributing to process improvements that support organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Close & Reporting

• Support and execute monthly and quarterly close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Analyze balance sheet and income statement accounts to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Assist in preparing management reports and financial analyses.

Financial Analysis

• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial results.
• Investigate and explain budget-to-actual and period-over-period variances.
• Provide meaningful financial insights to support business operations and decision-making.

Operational Accounting

• Support accounting activities related to new locations, facility changes, and occupancy-related expenses.
• Monitor recurring operational costs and ensure proper accounting treatment.
• Collaborate with business partners to ensure financial accuracy and consistency.

Lease & Fixed Asset Accounting

• Maintain lease accounting schedules and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards.
• Track fixed asset additions, disposals, transfers, and depreciation activity.
• Reconcile fixed asset records and support related reporting requirements.

Tax & Compliance

• Prepare and file sales and use tax returns across multiple jurisdictions.
• Monitor compliance requirements and identify potential areas of risk.
• Assist with maintaining accurate supporting documentation.

Audit Support

• Coordinate audit requests and prepare supporting schedules.
• Serve as a key contributor during annual financial audits.
• Ensure timely and accurate responses to auditor inquiries.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to improve accounting workflows, reporting processes, and system utilization.
• Participate in ERP enhancements, automation initiatives, and process optimization projects.
• Support efforts to increase efficiency and scalability within the accounting function.

Leadership & Development

• Provide guidance and training to junior team members when needed.
• Share best practices and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
• Develop skills and competencies aligned with future leadership opportunities.

Strategic Projects

• Partner with Accounting and Finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and special projects.
• Assist with financial analyses that support operational and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Working knowledge of lease accounting and fixed asset accounting.
• Experience with ERP systems and financial reporting tools.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and complex formulas.
• Experience supporting audit activities and preparing audit documentation.

Preferred

• CPA or active pursuit of CPA certification.
• Experience within retail, consumer products, distribution, or other multi-location environments.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives and accounting system enhancements.
• Prior mentoring or training experience with junior staff members.

What You'll Gain

• Hybrid work environment with strong work-life balance.
• Exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional business operations.
• Opportunity to participate in process improvement and strategic initiatives.
• Clear career progression path into future accounting leadership opportunities.
• Collaborative and growth-oriented team culture.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious accounting professional looking to broaden their experience, make a meaningful impact, and advance their career within a growing organization.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.