Senior Accountant, Accounts Receivable

Basic informationJob Name: Senior Accountant, Accounts Receivable Location: Washington, DC Line of Business: Finance Job Function: Investor Services Date: Friday, February 7, 2025 Position SummaryThe Senior Accountant is primarily responsible for supporting the Billing and Accounts Receivable Manager in leading and managing the Billing and Accounts Receivable function. Billing and Accounts Receivable transactions are primarily comprised of recoverable expenses and fees. The Senior Accountant must have a solid understanding of the underlying transactions and their impact on the firm and stakeholders, in order to apply professional judgement and deliver stellar customer service. The Senior Accountant also must be familiar with and enforce all relevant agreement terms, policies and controls. Primary responsibilities include (1) planning, delegating, monitoring and escalating team deliverables, (2) leading the billing and collection process, (3) leading the monthly closing processes, (4) preparing andor reviewing analysis and reports, (5) collaborating with auditors and managing audit requests, (6) identifying opportunities and executing on such initiatives to gain efficiencies through the use of technology and process improvement, (7) change management as the need arises, and (8) managing ad hoc requests and inquiries from internal and external stakeholders.Primary knowledge, skill and ability requirements include (1) adaptability in a fast-paced, challenging and changing environment, (2) strong conceptual understanding and analytical thinking to allow for problem solving and managing ambiguity around complex issues, (3) leading and motivating team members, (4) aptitude in interpreting complex agreements and proposing applicable treatment for underlying transactions, (5) understanding of accounting information systems, which includes identifying opportunities for incremental improvements in functionality, (6) solid organizational skills and attention to detail, (7) solid understanding of GAAP accounting concepts that directly impact this role, (8) solid communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with all levels within the firm (from staff to managing directors), and (8) ability to develop and build relationships across departments and levels. This position requires a strong aptitude in information systems and data processing as information must be processed quickly and accurately. Substantially all responsibilities will involve Excel and PeopleSoft, more specifically the project costing module.ResponsibilitiesDaily and Monthly Activities 80% of time 1. Planning, delegating, monitoring and escalating team deliverablesConduct planning sessions with staff accountants to establish upcoming deadlinesEnsure all tasks are delegated to the appropriate resources and resources are used to their fullest capabilities and capacityMonitor progress of activities against deadlines to ensure deadlines are metRegularly report on the status of deliverables and proactively escalate delays and bottlenecks to manager and AVP. Be prepared to propose a corrective solution to any bottlenecks that ariseMonitor team activities to ensure adherence to firm policies, SOX controls, partnership agreements, service agreements (i.e. monitoring agreements) and any other applicable controls or agreements.2. Leading the billing and collection processPrepare or review monthly and quarterly reports and ad-hoc requestsReview transactions prepared by staff which includes customer invoices, cash applications, journal entries, journal vouchers, project costing adjustments, vouchers and wires. Transactions typically relate to management fees, portfolio fees, transaction fees, funding fees and recoverable expenses. Enforce adherence to applicable policies and agreements. Ensure accuracy in honouring the legal entity structure and any necessary cost sharing arrangements.Perform analytical tasks, such as reviewing various reports and entries for possible miscoding and work with team to make necessary corrections.Ensure timely cash application and refund for AR payments made to firm Improve firm working capital and produce cash flow by effectively planning and prioritizing the billing cycle and enforcing policies around collectionLead the monthly collection efforts to ensure all material and aged balances are included in a direct and targeted collection effort 3. Leading the monthly closing processesPrepare certain balance sheet reconciliations and propose adjusting journal entriesEnsure all reconciliations are submitted timely by the team and assist in reviewing reconciliations prepared by staffEnsure documentations of SOX certifications are obtained and maintained on the networkEnsure all monthly processes are completed timely, such as finance charges, collections, and cash applicationsEnsure all reclasses and adjustments are completed, reviewed and posted by month end4. Preparing andor reviewing analysis and reportsReview monthly reports prepared by staff, such as the working capital, cash requirements, billing exception and AR aging reportsPrepare assigned reports, which may include Flash Reports and any ad hoc reports5. Collaborating with auditors and managing audit requestsEnsure all audit requests are fulfilled by the team in a timely and complete manner, delegating as necessary across the staffAct as liaison with the auditors to ensure all questions are answered, which may require discussions around the underlying accounting principles, systems and processes impacting the Billing and AR function6. Identifying opportunities and executing on such initiatives to gain efficiencies through the use of technology and process improvement Collaborate with the Peoplesoft IT team and ensure all enhancement requests are maintained on the backlog and assist in prioritization discussionsCollaborate with the Sharepoint team to build out workflows as necessary (i.e. check process) and to maintain the department site with useful, timely and relevant informationWork with the staff to identify inefficient processes, system issueserrors, and potential system enhancements. A clear understanding of information systems, processes, controls and the inter-relatedness of data is extremely helpful in coming up with creative solutions, and persistence and perseverance is necessary to see these ideas actualized. Communicate ideas to the Billing and AR manager and if approved, initiate the discussions with relevant teams7. Change management as the need arisesIn this fast-paced environment, needs are consistently changing. This role must help to execute and enforce such changes. Often this includes widely distributing communication, holding training andor informational sessions, responding to questions and enforcingManaging ad hoc requests and inquiries from internal and external stakeholdersRequires regular cross-functional communication and collaboration primarily with Corporate Accounting, Executive Assistants, Fund Management, Partnership Accounting and foreign offices Special Projects 10% of time Prepare or delegate and review ad hoc reporting requests, which generally come from Fund Management, Partnership Accounting, Corporate Accounting and external parties (i.e. investor requests)Support efforts to address and resolve issues that require significant research and collaboration with various teamsOther Functions 10% of time Participate in goal setting sessions with staff accountants, provide regular mentoring and feedbackDraft inter and intra departmental training materials and facilitate training of new and existing employees on policies and processesDraft processes, procedures and training materials to mentorcoach staff accountantsDevelop and build relationships across departments to facilitate information share and build trustQualificationsEducation & Certificates Bachelor's Degree in BusinessAccountingFinance or equivalent work experience, requiredGPA of 3.0 or above requiredProfessional ExperienceEducational background in accounting or a related field2+ years of accounting experience in accounting roles with a solid knowledge of GAAP impacting the Billing and AR functionKnowledge of private equity industry, preferredExperience with global operationsExperience leading others on routine activities, as well as coaching, mentoring and providing feedbackAbility to interpret agreements, including but not limited to service agreements and partnership agreementsSolid knowledge of Microsoft Excel, functional knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook, and solid understanding of accounting information systems (project costing a plus)Proficiency in accounting and other Carlyle systems (training available)Competencies & AttributesAbility to adapt to a fast-changing environment and to solve complex issuesPeopleSoft experience preferredStrong problem solving, analytical and communication skillsStrong team player with a positive attitude, detail-oriented, efficient and organizedAble to work under pressure and meet reporting deadlinesSolid computer and financial systems skillsCapable of working independently and in groupsCompany InformationThe Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with $447 billion of assets under management and more than half of the AUM managed by women, across 612 investment vehicles as of September 30, 2024. Founded in 1987 in Washington, DC, Carlyle has grown into one of the world's largest and most successful investment firms, with more than 2,300 professionals operating in 29 offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Carlyle places an emphasis on development, retention and inclusion as supported by our internal processes and seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, which range from public and private pension funds to wealthy individuals and families to sovereign wealth funds, unions and corporations. Carlyle invests across three segments - Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Investment Solutions - and has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation.At Carlyle, we believe that a wide spectrum of experiences and viewpoints drives performance and success. Our CEO, Harvey Schwartz, has stated that, "To build better businesses and create value for all of our stakeholders, we are focused on assembling leadership teams with the strongest insights from a range of perspectives." We strive to foster an environment where ideas are openly shared and valued. By bringing together teams with varied expertise and approaches, we enjoy a competitive advantage and create a stronger foundation for long-term success.

Created: 2025-02-19