Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Financial Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a dynamic and detail-oriented Financial Supervisor to lead our accounting and finance team. In this pivotal role, you will be the backbone of our financial operations, responsible for overseeing daily accounting activities, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our financial records, and guiding a team of talented finance professionals. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a strong foundation in accounting principles (GAAP), exceptional analytical skills, and a passion for mentoring others. You will not only manage the numbers but also drive process improvements, support strategic decision-making, and ensure compliance in a fast-paced environment. If you are a proactive problem-solver looking to make a significant impact and advance your career in financial leadership, we encourage you to apply.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Accountant
Senior Financial Analyst
Public Accountant (with 3-5 years of experience)

Advancement To:

Finance Manager
Assistant Controller
Controller

Lateral Moves:

Senior Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst
Accounting Manager
Internal Audit Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and manage the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes, ensuring all financial transactions are recorded accurately, timely, and in accordance with GAAP.
Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of staff accountants and financial clerks, including managing workflows, conducting performance reviews, and providing ongoing training and support.
Oversee and review the preparation of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and supporting schedules to ensure the integrity of the general ledger.
Manage all aspects of accounting operations, including Accounts Payable (A/P), Accounts Receivable (A/R), general ledger, payroll, and fixed assets.
Prepare and analyze detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports, providing insightful commentary on variances and trends.
Drive the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes in collaboration with department heads and senior leadership.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings, including sales tax and property tax.
Develop, implement, and maintain robust internal controls and financial policies to safeguard company assets and ensure SOX compliance.
Act as a primary point of contact for external auditors, managing the audit process by preparing schedules, providing documentation, and responding to inquiries.
Analyze complex financial information and reports to provide accurate and timely financial recommendations to management for decision-making purposes.
Oversee cash management and treasury functions, including monitoring cash flow, projecting cash needs, and managing banking relationships.
Review and approve vendor payments, employee expense reports, and payroll processing to ensure accuracy and adherence to company policy.
Investigate and resolve accounting discrepancies and irregularities, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Lead the implementation and optimization of financial systems (ERP) and software to enhance efficiency and reporting capabilities.
Coordinate and manage the physical inventory count process and ensure the accurate valuation of inventory.
Assist in the development of complex financial models to support strategic initiatives, capital expenditure decisions, and new business opportunities.
Manage the allocation of costs and expenses across various departments and projects, ensuring proper cost accounting.
Prepare and present financial performance reports and dashboards to the executive team, highlighting key financial metrics and performance indicators.
Foster a collaborative and high-performance team environment that promotes professional growth and operational excellence.
Stay current with changes in accounting regulations and industry trends, assessing their impact on the organization and adapting policies accordingly.
Champion continuous process improvement initiatives within the finance department to streamline workflows, increase automation, and enhance accuracy.

Secondary Functions

Support senior finance leadership with special projects, strategic financial modeling, and ad-hoc analysis as required.
Act as a key business partner to other departments, providing financial guidance and support to non-finance managers.
Contribute to the development and execution of the organization's long-term financial strategy and roadmap.
Participate in cross-functional teams to represent the finance department on corporate initiatives and system implementations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

GAAP & Financial Reporting: Deep, comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and experience preparing full financial statement packages.
ERP Systems Proficiency: Hands-on experience with major ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, or a similar platform.
Advanced Microsoft Excel: Mastery of Excel, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas, and financial modeling.
Budgeting & Forecasting: Proven ability to lead budgeting and forecasting cycles, including variance analysis and reporting.
Internal Controls (SOX): Strong understanding and practical experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring internal controls, preferably in a SOX environment.
Account Reconciliation: Expertise in performing and reviewing complex balance sheet and general ledger reconciliations.
Financial Analysis: Skill in analyzing financial data to identify trends, create insights, and support business decisions.
Month-End Close Management: Demonstrable experience leading and accelerating the month-end close process.
Tax Compliance: Familiarity with corporate, sales, and use tax regulations and filing requirements.
Cost Accounting: Experience with cost accounting principles, including inventory valuation and standard costing.
Data Visualization: Ability to use tools like Tableau or Power BI to create insightful financial dashboards is a plus.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Mentorship: Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team of finance professionals.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous and highly accurate, with a commitment to producing high-quality work.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify issues, analyze root causes, and implement effective solutions.
Time Management & Organization: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Interpersonal Skills: Builds strong relationships and collaborates effectively with team members, senior management, and external partners.
Integrity & Ethics: Unquestionable professional integrity and a commitment to ethical financial practices.
Adaptability: Flexible and able to thrive in an environment of change and continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree (MBA or Master's in Accounting/Finance).
Active professional certification (CPA, CMA).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Accounting
Finance
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-7 years of progressive experience in accounting or finance, with at least 1-2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.

Preferred:

Experience in a "Big 4" or national public accounting firm is highly desirable.
A combination of public accounting and private industry experience.
Experience within the specific industry of the hiring company (e.g., manufacturing, technology, retail).