Accounting Operations Manager

Summary

Applied Optoelectronics is seeking an Accounting Operations Manager to provide senior‑level accounting oversight within the Controller's organization. This role reviews and supports accounting activity across accounts payable, accounts receivable, the general ledger, month‑end close, and manufacturing cost accounting, and serves as a key escalation point for recurring accounting operations and general ledger matters. Working in close partnership with the Accounting Supervisor, who manages the accounting operations team day‑to‑day, the Accounting Operations Manager provides senior technical review, guidance, and support for the Controller.

Beyond ensuring accounting work is accurate, well‑documented, and completed on schedule, this role helps strengthen close processes, reconciliation quality, and controls as AOI's U.S. operations scale.

• Support month‑end and quarter‑end close across accounts payable, accounts receivable, accruals, cash, and intercompany activity, including intercompany AR/AP confirmations.
• Review journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules prepared by the accounting team.
• Serve as an escalation point for general ledger and accounting operations questions and issues.
• Prepare and support close‑related reconciliations, schedules, and work papers for Controller review, and coordinate with the Controller on cash and close items as needed.
• Support manufacturing‑related accounting, including inventory reconciliations, fixed assets, depreciation, accruals, cost center activity, and COGS‑related close support.
• Review payroll‑related accounting, including payroll entries from the payroll register, employee insurance/benefit expense recognition, and payroll cost‑center allocations, and reconcile payroll‑related GL accounts in coordination with HR.

• Provide oversight and review of accounts payable and accounts receivable operations, which are run day‑to‑day by the Accounting Supervisor and team.
• Review AP aging, vendor and payment discrepancies, AR aging, and collections issues, and support timely resolution.
• Assess and promote consistency, documentation discipline, and timely issue resolution across AP and AR processes.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Receiving, Operations, Sales Operations, and Customer Service to resolve invoice, PO, receipt, billing, and payment discrepancies.

• Lead accounts payable automation and related process‑improvement initiatives, partnering with IT and Procurement to reduce manual processing and improve efficiency and controls.
• Develop and maintain accounting operations SOPs, close checklists, reconciliation templates, and documentation standards.
• Identify recurring accounting issues, manual workarounds, and process gaps, and recommend and implement practical improvements.
• Work to improve close timelines, reconciliation quality, and reporting consistency across accounting operations.

• Support internal and external audit requests related to AP, AR, accruals, reconciliations, and close.
• Operate within existing SOX and internal control requirements, and support control and process‑improvement efforts as needed.
• Provide review, coaching, and escalation support to accounting operations team members, when needed and as assigned.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Controller / AVP of Finance.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Active CPA license required; candidates without an active CPA license will not be considered.
• 4+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, with hands‑on involvement in month‑end close, reconciliations, and journal entry review.
• Experience supporting accounting in manufacturing, semiconductor, technology, or a similarly complex operating environment, gained through corporate accounting or relevant public accounting audit client work.
• Proven working knowledge of GAAP, general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, and financial statement support.
• Experience supporting…