Senior Accountant

Job Description

Company Overview

Ushio is a leading provider of innovative photonics solutions, dedicated to solving complex problems with light. Since 1967, the company has continually invested in employee development, technical capabilities, and manufacturing excellence to deliver cutting-edge lighting and imaging technologies across diverse industries worldwide.

1. Position Summary

The Senior Accountant is responsible for supporting the organization’s accounting and financial reporting functions, ensuring compliance with GAAP, company policies, and internal controls. This role plays a critical part in the monthly close process, account reconciliations, financial analysis, inventory accounting, and manufacturing cost accounting activities.

The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, manufacturing accounting experience, and the ability to work cross-functionally with operations, logistics, production, and leadership teams. This position will contribute to process improvements, financial reporting accuracy, and continuous enhancement of accounting procedures and controls.

2. Job Responsibilities

General Accounting

• Prepare monthly journal entries to close month end and reconcile accounts to ensure accuracy
• Prepare monthly journal entries for expense allocation to Business Units
• Perform month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities
• Reconcile general ledger accounts and investigate discrepancies
• Maintain fixed asset records, depreciation schedules, and capital expenditure tracking.
• Analyze balance sheet and income statement accounts to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with preparation of financial statements and management reports.
• Support external audits, tax filings, and regulatory reporting requirements.

Manufacturing and Cost Accounting

• Maintain and analyze standard costs for manufactured products.
• Monitor inventory transactions, adjustments, and valuation accuracy.
• Review material, labor, and overhead variances and provide explanations to management.
• Analyze production costs and identify opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Partner with Operations, Production, and Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate inventory reporting.
• Support annual physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Reconcile inventory subledgers to the general ledger.
• Assist in bill of material (BOM) reviews and cost roll updates.
• Monitor inventory reserves, excess and obsolete inventory, and manufacturing variances.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Prepare monthly management reports and variance analyses.
• Analyze trends in manufacturing costs, margins, and operating expenses.
• Assist with annual budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Provide financial support for strategic initiatives, capital projects, and operational improvements.
• Develop ad hoc financial analyses and reports for management.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Support J (SOX) compliance activities, if applicable.
• Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting and inventory processes.
• Assist with documentation and improvement of accounting procedures and workflows.
• Participate in internal and external audit requests.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to streamline accounting processes and improve efficiencies.
• Assist with ERP system enhancements, implementations, and testing.
• Recommend and implement best practices in accounting and financial reporting.
• Support automation initiatives and continuous improvement projects.

Accounts Payable

• Work closely with AP team and review AP month-end and AP reconciliation
• US Sales Tax and Canadian GST
• Accrue use tax on expenses and inventory samples
• Reconcile sales tax accrual balances and sales tax returns
• Work with AP team to apply sales tax payment and reconcile on bank statement
• Contact Cities/Counties/States tax professionals for sales tax-related due
• Register new state and cities to collect sales tax
• Reconcile & file Canadian GST

Fixed Assets

• Maintain Fixed Asset records from additions, disposals and deprecation
• Prepare Reconciliation with GL balances and roll-forward schedule
• Prepare fixed asset list and report on Property tax return
• Maintain fixed asset records for year-end audit and property tax audit
• Conduct and update annual fixed asset records with other departments
• Quarterly Consolidation Package Financial Report and Year-end Audit
• Prepare intercompany transactions for Parent Company
• Confirm Intercompany Balances and resolve discrepancies

Miscellaneous

• Prepare monthly cash flow forecast report for upcoming cash receipts and payments
• Prepare schedule and provide documentation to Company’s auditors - E&Y
• Drive efficiency improvement and automation in daily accounting operations
• Assist with other tasks assigned and projects

3. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 5–10 years of progressive accounting experience, with 3-5 years in a senior role
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting
• Experience with month-end close and general ledger accounting
• Proven experience with financial reporting, general ledger functions, and the month-end/year-end close process
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and Outlook, etc
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with a high degree of accuracy
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Self-driven and result-driven, continuously looking for process improvement
• Positive and proactive problem-solving skills and attention to detail

4. Preferred Qualifications

• CPA preferred or public accounting experience
• High proficiency in accounting ERP software (preferably JDE or Oracle)
• Advanced Excel skill level including pivot table, sumif, vlookup, etc
• · Experience with multi-currency in a global-based company and consolidation is a plus.

Benefits:

• Competitive Health, Dental, Medical, Vision, Life insurance plans
• Competitive 401(k) match
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 2 week shutdown during Christmas
• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid work environment (3 days on-site, 2 days remote)
• And more!

If you're ready to join a team where your work is valued and your contributions make an impact, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today—we're excited to meet our next great team member.

Note: This role follows a hybrid schedule with an expectation of three days per week in the office under normal circumstances. However, candidates must be available to work on-site up to five days per week during critical business periods, including month-end close, audits, system implementations, and other key projects.