Senior Accounting Manager

About the role

The Senior Accounting Manager will be a hands-on accounting leader reporting directly to the CFO. This person will support the day-to-day accounting function, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, help execute monthly close, manage payroll-related processes, and support financial reporting across EMAN and the schools it partners with. This is a Controller-track role for someone with strong accounting fundamentals who takes pride in being detail-oriented, and wants to grow with the company.

Responsibilities

• Accounting and Monthly Close Support and eventually own key parts of the monthly close process
• Prepare and review journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules
• Maintain accurate US GAAP-based financial records
• Reconcile AR, payroll-related accounts, intercompany activity, and other key balance sheet accounts
• Help prepare monthly financial statements and reporting packages for review by the CFO
• Payroll and Employee-Related Accounting
• Own and support biweekly payroll processes for a workforce of 250+ employees
• Reconcile payroll, benefits, deductions, contractor payments, stipends, and related accounts
• Partner with other functions to ensure employee changes and compensation updates
• Reporting, Budgeting, and Finance Support
• Support budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, and recurring reports for leadership
• Translate accounting data into clear, useful information for the CFO and senior leaders
• Provide accounting support for planning, forecasting, and financial decision-making
• Strengthen accounting checklists, controls, documentation, and recurring workflows
• Work closely with the CFO, President / COO, HR, operations, compliance, and school-level teams

What Success Looks Like

• First 6 months: Payroll runs accurately and on time, monthly close is executed flawlessly, reconciliations are current and reliable, and GAAP processes are followed consistently.
• Over time: Becoming the day-to-day accounting lead, owning the close process, managing 2–3 accounting team members, and growing into a Controller-level role as the company scales.

Why This Role Is Compelling

• A chance to join a growing mission-driven organization with a long operating history and ambitious plans for the future.
• The role reports directly to the CFO and will have exposure to senior leadership across the organization.
• This is more than an accounting role. It is a path to become the accounting leader inside a growing organization.
• You will help build stronger processes, take on more responsibility, and grow into a Controller-level seat as EMAN continues to expand.

Requirements

• Required: Bachelor’s degree, 5 - 12 years of accounting, finance, payroll, or related experience, strong accounting fundamentals and comfort with GAAP-based reporting, experience with payroll and benefits processing, experience supporting month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting, strong attention to detail and high standards for accuracy, clear written and verbal communication skills, comfort working primarily in person in Southfield, Michigan.
• PREFERRED: Experience in school accounting, school finance, charter schools, or school district finance, CPA or CPA-track background, experience with QuickBooks Online and ADP, experience in a people-oriented services-based business or multi-entity environment, experience building or improving accounting processes, controls, or systems.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation. Base salary plus performance bonus; we reward results and impact.
• Free Healthcare Coverage. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision.
• 401(k) Match. Build financial security starting day one.
• Generous PTO. Full pay for personal time and holidays.
• Professional Development. Direct coaching and training, and clear pathways to lead.