Accounting Operations Manager

Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Accounting Operations Manager to lead and strengthen our day-to-day accounting operations. This is a hands-on role responsible for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and integrity of the company's accounting processes and financial records — and for building the disciplined, scalable processes a growing organization needs. This role manages both the work and the people doing it: the Accounting Operations Manager owns core accounting activities while leading, developing, and holding accountable a team of accounting professionals. The ideal candidate takes ownership, identifies discrepancies proactively, drives issues through resolution, and is comfortable operating both strategically and in the weeds. This role will require an onsite presence in Rockville, MD or Tysons, VA. 

Role Overview

The Accounting Operations Manager will oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable and customer billing, payroll and labor reconciliation, general ledger activities, month-end close, project and contract accounting, and internal controls — while managing and developing the team responsible for executing this work. A core part of the role is identifying manual, repetitive, or error-prone processes and implementing automation to eliminate them, building disciplined and scalable operations rather than relying on ad hoc fixes.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Close

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations — AP, payroll, and general ledger — and manage the monthly/year-end close process on a disciplined calendar

• Prepare and/or review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger

• Maintain vendor records, employee expense/credit-card reconciliation, and payment authorization controls

Billing, Receivables & Contract Accounting

• Manage customer billing, validating billable labor, rates, and invoice components against contractual requirements

• Maintain accurate AR records and aging, monitoring collections and resolving billing adjustments

• Maintain accurate project and contract financial records, reconciling contract billing and supporting closeout and billing-rate adjustments

Internal Controls & Audit

• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and approval workflows; identify and correct control weaknesses

• Support external accountants, auditors, and customer or government reviews, maintaining an audit-ready environment

Team Leadership & Process Improvement

• Lead and develop a high-performing accounting team, including staffing, workload balancing, and performance reviews — this role manages both the work and the people doing it

• Set KPIs, deliver regular coaching, and support retention and succession planning

• Identify opportunities to automate and standardize accounting processes, and build new processes or reporting from scratch where none currently exist

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on responsibility for accounting operations

• At least 3 years in a direct management or supervisory role

• Strong understanding of GAAP and demonstrated experience across GL, AP, AR, billing, payroll, and month-end close

• Proven track record of implementing automation to streamline accounting processes

• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while staying hands-on in day-to-day details

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in government contracting, including FAR/DCAA accounting requirements and indirect rate structures

• CPA, CMA, or similar certification

What Success Looks Like

• Monthly closes and customer invoicing are accurate and completed on schedule

• Accounting discrepancies are identified and resolved proactively, with controls consistently audit-ready

• Accounting processes become increasingly standardized, automated, and scalable

• The team is well-managed, developing, and delivering consistently

Ready to help shape the future of financial operations? Apply now to join a collaborative, mission-driven team that values growth, accountability, and innovation.