Staff Accountant

Essential Functions

Factory Direct Enterprises LLC d/b/a Ashley (FDE) is seeking a hands‑on, forward‑thinking Staff Accountant to join our growing finance team. With 20+ retail locations across the tri‑state area and continued expansion ahead, this position plays a critical role in managing the financial backbone of our multi‑location retail operation.

• Month‑End Close & Financial Reporting: Coordinate and execute monthly and quarterly close activities in accordance with GAAP — including preparing and posting journal entries, reconciling and analyzing balance sheet accounts, and producing accurate internal financial statements and management reports.
• Variance & Budget Analysis: Analyze and explain budget‑to‑actual variances and period‑over‑period financial changes on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, providing clear actionable insights to leadership to support business decision‑making.
• Store Operations Accounting: Manage accounting activities related to new store openings, relocations, and monthly rent and occupancy cost analysis across all retail locations, ensuring accuracy and alignment with operational decisions.
• Lease & Fixed Asset Management: Oversee lease accounting under ASC 842, including evaluation of new and modified contracts, preparation of required schedules, and maintenance of accurate fixed asset records—additions, disposals, depreciation, and reconciliation.
• Sales & Use Tax Compliance: Prepare, file, and analyze multi‑jurisdictional sales and use tax returns to ensure compliance with state and local regulations; proactively identify discrepancies or risk areas.
• Audit & Compliance: Lead the annual audit process by coordinating directly with external auditors, preparing supporting schedules, and ensuring timely and accurate submission of all required documentation.
• System & Process Optimization: Identify, design, and implement improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, automation, and scalability within accounting processes, ERP systems, and reporting tools.
• Team Leadership & Development: Mentor, train, and support accounting team members to strengthen overall department capability and develop future bench strength for leadership roles — supporting the succession path toward Accounting Manager.
• Strategic Support: Partner with the Accounting Manager and VP of Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and ad‑hoc financial analyses that drive strategic initiatives, operational performance, and company growth.
• Full‑time Position – Minimum of 40 hours per week
• Hybrid
  
  Schedule:
  
  Mon/Tues/Thurs in office required

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required; strong foundational accounting knowledge is essential for success in this role.
• CPA credential or active progress toward CPA preferred, reflecting the technical depth required for GAAP compliance, lease accounting, audit leadership, and future managerial responsibilities.

• 4–7 years of progressive accounting experience, ideally within a retail, multi‑entity, or high‑volume operating environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in month‑end close, financial statement preparation, account reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP, including hands‑on experience with lease accounting under ASC 842 and fixed asset accounting.
• Experience utilizing and navigating multiple ERP systems, with the ability to troubleshoot issues, streamline workflows, and support system enhancements.
• Advanced proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling) to support analysis and reporting requirements.
• Proven experience supporting or leading audit preparation, including developing schedules, reconciling supporting documentation, and interacting with external auditors.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor or train team members, reflecting readiness for a succession track into Accounting Manager.

• Experience with Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot, or data warehouse reporting tools to support automation, dashboarding, and enhanced analytics.
• Background in sales and use of tax compliance or…