Home RECRUITMENT Accounting Manager – Downers Grove, IL

RECRUITMENT

Accounting Manager – Downers Grove, IL

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:  Accounting Manager
Division:  Hirose Electric, Americas
Department:  Accounting 
Location:  HQ, Downers Grove, IL
Status:  Full-time 
Reports to:  Mark Kojak 
Revised:  October 8th 2024

ABOUT HIROSE

This is an exciting opportunity to join Hirose, an organization that for almost a hundred years has been pioneering thousands of new connectors and defining industry standards in consumer electronics, industrial automation, high speed backbone computer infrastructure, automotive, and medical applications. A compact company of smart people, Hirose uses the talents of every employee to bring innovation to put big technology in small packages.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Core duties and responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

Accounting
1. Process accounting transactions with the overall direction of Accounting Team reporting into Japan.
2. Process all monthly/ quarterly/ semi-annual/ annual GL Journal Entries including accruals and deferrals.
3. Ensure complete/accurate GAAP financial statements are prepared each month for corporate consolidation.
4.

Manage internal financial controls regarding cash, accounts receivables, inventory, fixed assets, accounts payable and inter-company accounts.

5. Reconcile Bank Statement balance to Book balance monthly.
6. Maintain spreadsheet worksheet to reconcile general ledger accounts and make any necessary journal entries when required. 
7. Prepare GL monthly entries for all payroll transactions. Review and approve bi-weekly payroll register.
8. Manage bonus and incentive programs.  Calculate and present for approval by President/COO.
9. Review cash position of Bank accounts and initiates fund transfer between accounts.
10. Communicates with Federal or State Tax agency or Accounting firm to resolve any tax issues.
11. Communicates with Federal or State Tax agency or Accounting firm to resolve any tax issues.
12. Work with insurance broker for general liability insurance.
13. Prepare various government surveys.
14. Support budget and forecasting activities.
15. Issue reports such as monthly operating reports, or any reports required by Management.
16. Prepare sales/use tax, business tax, property tax, and various other returns for different state.
17. Process commission payable to reps each month.
18. Conduct research projects such as market share analysis and trending as necessary.
19. Manage the apartment leases and auto leases for the ex-pat employees.  Engage other employees as necessary to ensure compliance and disposal in the case of the automobiles.
20. Make and implement recommendations to improve accounting processes and procedures.
21. Train new employees about the company’s travel policy and expense submission system.
Leadership and Teamwork
1. Be a mentor and a coach to direct reports, to help them grow.  Create a positive culture within the department.
2. Continually demonstrates Hirose’s philosophy of “connecting wisdom” and “always taking the lead, pursuing the cutting edge, achieving differentiation, and being the first to obtain customer’s approval”.
3. Determine staffing requirements needed to support company business plans.
4. Interview, hire, train, coach, and provide support to as needed. 
5. Create a collaborative team environment within the HRS support groups.
6. Set performance standards, monitor performance, and make recommendations for improvement as needed. 
7. Implement employee performance improvement plan(s) and/or corrective action when appropriate.
8. Develop and maintain cooperative and constructive working relationships with:
a. Customers
b. HRUSA Executive team
c. Counterparts at Japan Corporate Office (IBD) and other subsidiaries
d. Distributors, Manufacturing Representatives, and other business partners.
e. Management at all levels.
9. Create and support a Continuous Improvement environment within the department to find innovative ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency in all processes, operations and tasks.
10. Effective application of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, leadership techniques, and coordination of people.
Administration
1. Be able to understand and perform all processes and tasks within the department in order to provide guidance and support to department staff.
2. Create and/or review accounting reports and other performance data to measure goal/target achievement and identify areas that need improvement.
3. Create, review, and/or update reports and other data, such as commission, booking and shipment reports, for management review and/or approval.
4. Manage and maintain the integrity of the accounting module within the ERP system.
5. Review Internal Control system and make improvements whenever required.
6. Complete tasks per ISO9001-2008 requirements, when applicable.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. BA or BS Degree in Accounting concentration: Three to five years’ experience in the financial reporting/ general ledger area. CPA preferred but not required.
2. Significant experience managing month-end closing, timely preparation of GAAP financial statements, management reports, reconciliation of balance sheet and bank accounts.
3. Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, standards, laws, and regulations.
4. Advance experience with Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, Pivot Tables and Macros).  Excellent level of knowledge with MS Access to include multi-table queries, report generation, macros and forms.
5. Ability to make recommendations, gain agreement and implement solutions on behalf of a diverse organization.
6. Be a person of high ethical character with humility and able to conclusively make decisions based on facts, aimed at a long term vision.
7. Ability to take a moderate leadership role with peers, lower-level analysts, and on committees.
8. Exhibits characteristics such as tenacity, courtesy, perseverance and detail-orientation.
9. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
10. Organizational skills must be above average.  Ability to manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines and quality standards.
11. Must be a self-starter and do what is necessary to provide a desired outcome.
12. Possess excellent communication skills (oral and written) to work with both external and internal customers.  Able to clearly and concisely communicate across different cultures.
13. Knowledge of payroll a plus.
14. Ability to communicate in English. Bi-lingual Japanese is highly preferred.
15. Basic understanding of the electronic component industry a plus.

SUPERVISION

Accounts Payable Associate and Accounts Receivable Associate.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

Normal office environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee will also need to travel to tradeshows and company events.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Hirose Electric Americas, Inc. may need to revise or change the essential and supplemental responsibilities of the position as the need arises.  This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Hirose Electric USA, Inc. may need to revise or change the essential
and supplemental responsibilities of the position as the need arises.

This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Resumes received will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be contacted to arrange for an interview.