Lead Accountant- Inventory and Operations

Job Purpose

We are seeking a Senior Accountant as the primary finance and accounting partner for our North American warehouses. This role provides end-to-end ownership of inventory and operations accounting and serves as the key financial liaison between distribution center leadership and the broader finance organization.

This is a high-autonomy position designed for a self-driven, ownership-oriented accountant who can operate independently, apply judgment, and partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Warehouse Leadership-in an environment with no on-site finance supervision. The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting skills with a hands-on operational mindset and the ability to clearly explain financial results to non-finance stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Accounting

• Own all inventory-related accounting for the warehouse, ensuring accurate valuation, completeness, and proper GAAP treatment.
• Review and analyze inventory transactions.
• Maintain and assess inventory reserves (excess, obsolete, slow-moving, damaged).
• Ensure inventory cut-off accuracy and completeness during month-end close.
• Partner with Operations to investigate inventory discrepancies, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions.
• Support and participate in physical inventory and cycle counts, including variance analysis and control improvements.
• Proactively identify inventory-related risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

General Accounting & Close

• Prepare, review, and post journal entries in accordance with company policies and GAAP.
• Own and reconcile assigned balance sheet accounts; investigate and resolve reconciling items timely.
• Lead inventory-related activities within the monthly close process, meeting deadlines with minimal oversight.
• Analyze and explain period-over-period variances to Finance leadership and Operations stakeholders.
• Prepare audit-ready documentation to support internal and external audits.

Business Partnership & Site Support

• Act as the primary finance contact for warehouse leadership and operations teams.
• Provide financial insight and guidance to support operational decisions.
• Translate accounting/financial concepts into clear, actionable insights for non-finance partners.
• Build strong relationships across Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Corporate Finance.
• Improve financial discipline and awareness at the site through partnership and influence.

Controls, Process Improvement & Ownership

• Assess and strengthen inventory controls and accounting processes.
• Identify process inefficiencies and lead improvements to enhance accuracy, controls, and scalability.
• Take full ownership of assigned processes and outcomes from identification through resolution.
• Serve as a trusted, dependable financial presence at the site, operating independently with sound judgment.

Additional COGS Responsibilities

• Own and analyze non-inventory COGS.
• Prepare and review COGS accruals and estimates, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and GAAP compliance.
• Analyze and explain purchase price variances (price, volume, and timing drivers).
• Ensure appropriate accounting treatment of tariffs and duties in COGS and product cost.
• Support the establishment and ongoing assessment of warranty and returns reserves, including assumption validation.
• Provide audit-ready support and clear explanations for COGS estimates, reserves, and variances.

Minimum Knowledge, Education, and Skill Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or related field
• 8+ years of relevant accounting experience with significant inventory exposure
• Strong understanding of GAAP, particularly inventory and COGS
• Experience owning balance sheet accounts end-to-end
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis)
• Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced, operational environment
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in distribution, manufacturing, logistics, or warehouse-intensive environments
• Prior experience as the primary/sole accounting or finance resource at a site
• ERP experience (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
• Experience supporting physical inventories and audits
• CPA or progress toward certification

Work Model: Hybrid - 3 days per week in office

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