Bookkeeper

Job Description

Job Description

Senior / Lead Bookkeeper (Full-Time)

Reports To: Fatima H. Callahan, Managing Partner

Annual Salary: $60,000 to $70,000 based on knowledge and experience

Position Summary

The Senior / Lead Bookkeeper is a hands-on accounting leader responsible for overseeing the full bookkeeping cycle and serving as the right-hand to company leadership. This role ensures financial accuracy, manages compliance and reporting obligations, coaches junior bookkeepers, and acts as the primary liaison to the external CPA firm and banking partners. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment in a growing company and brings deep expertise in bookkeeping, accounting systems, and financial compliance. We are a growing company, and as such, there is an opportunity for advancement and career development.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts & Reconciliations

• Collaborate and assist Junior Bookkeepers to:

  • Manage and resolve Accounts Receivable (A/R) and Accounts Payable (A/P)

  • Reconcile operating accounts and payroll accounts monthly

• Book Credit Card transactions and perform audits on credit card activity

• Handle petty cash and general ledger (GL) vs. reconciliation spreadsheets

• Investigate and correct uncleared checks, deposits, and any discrepancies

Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare monthly financial statements, activity reports, and reports for leadership

• Complete borrowing base reports and answer bank inquiries

• Respond to tax notices and other agency communications

• Ensure correct period reporting; make adjustments for bad debt, credits, and accruals

• Create detailed pro-forma financial statements and projections

• Budget and expense reports

Payroll

• Review payroll records from ADP, monitor tax withholdings and compliance in ADP, and enter payroll data into QuickBooks

• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing in coordination with external systems

• Prepare and send 1099s at year-end (if needed)

Leadership & Oversight

• Supervise and coach junior bookkeepers; review and verify their work

• Serve as a primary contact for the CPA firm and bank; ensure timely and complete reporting and tax filings

• Keep books up to date, clean, and audit-ready

Systems & Optimization

• Maintain QuickBooks Desktop and lead upgrade to QuickBooks Online or Enterprise Suite

• Streamline workflows and ensure compliance with evolving bookkeeping regulations

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of full-charge bookkeeping or accounting experience

• Proficiency with QuickBooks Desktop (required); experience with QuickBooks Online/Enterprise preferred

• Familiarity with payroll platforms; ADP WFN proficiency strongly preferred

• Solid understanding of GAAP and financial statement preparation

• Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills (including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables)

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly with leadership, CPAs, banks, and federal/state agencies

• Preferred prior experience overseeing or mentoring junior bookkeeping staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

• Experience in service-based businesses, particularly in regulated industries

• Prior responsibility for compliance reporting to financial institutions

Key Traits

• Accuracy & attention to detail

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Problem-solving mindset

• Integrity and professionalism when handling confidential financial data

• Willingness to stay current on bookkeeping best practices and tax regulations

Work Environment

• Full-time, Monday–Friday schedule

• On-site in Harvey, IL and Mokena, IL (2 office locations)

• Occasional coordination with external partners (bank, CPA firm, etc.)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance through MetLife

• Employee Discounts from 1,000+ companies from Dental services, to cell phone plans to car rentals.

• Starting June 1, 2024, access to Perspectives EAP program offering a range of free services from concierge to counselors in order to help our employees in their day-to-day life and the challenges life brings.