Franchise Account Manager

Role Overview :
The Account Manager is a bookkeeping specialist responsible for managing the financial records and monthly reporting for a portfolio of franchisee clients within a specific franchise system. This role is client-facing and ensures that each assigned franchisee’s day-to-day accounting is handled accurately and promptly. The Account Manager will typically handle ~40 franchisee accounts (within one franchise brand or network) and serve as the primary point of contact for those clients on bookkeeping matters.

They are expected to maintain a cadence of closing all accounts by the 5th of each month (to provide timely financial statements to clients) and to conduct monthly financial review meetings with each franchisee. This position requires not only technical accounting skills and Quick Books expertise, but also strong communication and follow-up abilities to build trusted relationships with small business owners.

Key Responsibilities:

Daily Bookkeeping & Data Entry:
Record all financial transactions for each franchisee client in Quick Books Online, including sales, expenses, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll entries. Ensure accuracy and proper categorization of entries in line with the franchisor’s standardized chart of accounts.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting:
Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, and other balance sheet accounts for each client; prepare month-end journal entries as needed; and close the books by the 5th of each month for all assigned clients. Generate monthly financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow) and any franchise-specific reports for review by the franchisee. (Timely month-end closing is a critical performance metric, as it aligns with industry best practices for efficient financial reporting.)Monthly

Financial Reviews:
Schedule and lead a monthly review call or meeting with each franchisee client to go over their financial statements. Explain key results and trends, answer any questions, and provide guidance on areas like cash flow, expenses, or budgeting. Act as a trusted advisor to help franchisees understand their numbers and make informed decisions.

Client Communication & Support:
Serve as the day-to-day contact for franchisee clients regarding any bookkeeping or Quick Books questions. Respond promptly to client inquiries (via email, phone, etc.) and follow up on outstanding information (e.g. missing receipts, transaction clarifications) to keep accounts up to date. Provide excellent customer service and “high-touch” support,understanding that many franchisee owners are not financial experts.

Maintain Compliance with Franchisor Standards:
Ensure that all bookkeeping practices and financial reports for the franchisees adhere to the franchisor’s requirements and standards. This includes using the proper account codes, including royalty fee tracking, and any required financial formats or software integrations specific to the franchise system (for example, integration with franchisor reporting tools if applicable).Collaboration and Escalation:
Work closely with the Network Manager assigned to that franchise system for guidance and to escalate any complex issues. For instance, if a franchisee has an unusual transaction or if there’s a discrepancy that might involve franchisor policy (like how to record a specific fee), the Account Manager will consult with the Network Manager. They will also participate in team meetings and training sessions led by the Network Manager to continuously improve their knowledge of the franchise system’s processes.

Efficiency and Organization:
Manage workload effectively to handle roughly 40 clients without sacrificing quality of work or client satisfaction. Use tools (like Quick Books Online Accountant interface) to organize tasks and client workflows, leveraging automation where possible to streamline recurring tasks. Maintain detailed work papers and documentation for each client to facilitate reviews and audits.

Quality Control:
Review one’s own work thoroughly to minimize errors. Cross- check figures and ensure that reconciliation differences are investigated and resolved. An Account Manager…