Staff Accountant; AZALEA WANG

Position: Staff Accountant (AZALEA WANG)
AZALEA WANG Staff Accountant

Azalea Wang is a dynamic wholesale footwear and fashion brand with distribution through major national retail accounts, including Urban Outfitters and Von Maur. We operate at the intersection of creative brand-building and disciplined wholesale operations, requiring finance leadership that can move between strategic oversight and hands-on execution.

Our finance team is a small, high-ownership group embedded in the business. We don't have layers of process handed down from a large corporate parent - we build what we need, own what we build, and move fast. The person in this role will be expected to bring the same energy.

The Position: Staff Accountant

Location: Chicago, IL - Onsite
Department: Finance & Accounting
Reports To: Controller

Position Summary:

Azalea Wang is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Staff Accountant to support the Controller across our accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger functions. This role is the engine of our transactional accounting - you will own day-to-day AP and AR operations, including high-volume invoice processing, vendor reconciliation, wholesale customer invoicing, cash application, and retailer account management, while also supporting month-end close.

The ideal candidate has hands-on AP and AR experience, is comfortable managing high transaction volumes with accuracy, and can work with wholesale retail partners on remittances, deductions, and account reconciliation. Experience in wholesale apparel, footwear, or retail is a plus but not required.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable

• Process a high volume of domestic and international vendor invoices accurately and on time
• Perform three-way matching of purchase orders, receipts, and invoices
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve invoice discrepancies
• Assist with payment runs and vendor communication on outstanding balances and discrepancies
• Maintain organized AP files and vendor records; support year-end audit documentation and 1099 preparation
• Code invoices to the correct GL accounts, cost centers, and entities

Accounts Receivable

• Generate and issue invoices to wholesale customers in the ERP and EDI systems accurately and on
  
  time
• Apply cash receipts and retailer remittances to open invoices; research and resolve unapplied cash and short payments
• Reconcile wholesale customer accounts, including retailer deduction tracking, short-pay identification, and dispute documentation
• Monitor and follow up on past-due balances, outstanding remittances, and unresolved deductions with retail partners
• Maintain accurate AR records, aging schedules, and customer account detail; provide regular AR aging updates to the Controller

General Ledger & Month-End Close

• Prepare and post standard journal entries including accruals and prepaid amortization
• Perform balance sheet account reconciliations on a monthly basis
• Assist with month-end close tasks under the direction of the Controller
• Maintain supporting work papers and reconciliation documentation
• Assist with intercompany transactions and eliminations as needed

Inventory & Cost Support

• Assist with inventory reconciliations and reserve calculations
• Support COGS and gross margin reporting by pulling and organizing data
• Help maintain accurate cost records across product categories

Systems & Process

• Work within Net Suite for daily transaction processing and reporting
• Maintain accurate and well-organized records in the ERP and supporting workbooks
• Identify and flag process gaps or recurring errors to the Controller
• Support documentation of accounting procedures and workflows

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required
• 1-3 years of accounting experience; experience in wholesale, apparel, footwear, or retail is a plus but not required
• Hands-on AP and AR experience with high transaction volumes
• Familiarity with ERP systems;
  Net Suite experience preferred
• Familiarity with EDI systems or retailer portals is a plus
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel - comfortable with vlookups, pivot tables, and reconciliation workbooks
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in a fast-paced environment
• Organized and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
• Clear communicator - able to work cross-functionally and follow up independently

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Thrives in a fast-paced, transactional environment and takes pride in accuracy
• Proactive - follows through on open items without needing constant reminders
• Comfortable asking questions and escalating issues when something doesn't look right
• Resilient under pressure - close weeks and high-volume periods don't rattle you
• Interested in developing a deeper understanding of wholesale and retail operations
• Approaches new processes with curiosity and a willingness to improve them
• Sees this role as a foundation to grow into a Senior Accountant or Assistant Controller over time

Specific title and compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience and skill set. We are open to evaluating candidates across a range of…