Lead Accounting Analyst

Lead Accounting Analyst – Manufacturing | Chattanooga, TN (Onsite)

Our client, a private equity-backed manufacturer with plants nationwide, is hiring a Lead Accounting Analyst for its Chattanooga facility. They are looking for someone with both analysis and accounting experience to build finance processes, controls, and cost visibility from the ground up.

What you'll do

• Lead plant accounting, including month-end close, GL, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial reporting - eventually transitioning accounting to their HQ for a shared services - would turn into more of a analysis and systems role under CFO
• Build and document financial processes, policies, and internal controls
• Own cost accounting, including standard cost updates and variance analysis
• Drive budgeting, forecasting, and monthly KPI reporting
• Partner with plant operations to challenge results, improve margins, manage inventory and working capital, and analyze freight costs
• Map how receiving, production, and shipping flow into the GL
• Support a planned ERP implementation, along with audit and local sales and use tax needs

What you bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting
• 5+ years of accounting and finance experience in manufacturing with exposure to both accounting and FP&A
• A strong grasp of how the numbers are built and the analytical ability to see where to drive the business
• A hands-on, curious approach and comfort with ambiguity, manual processes, and changing responsibilities