Corporate Controller in Chicago, Illinois at Pure Lithium Corporation

About Pure Lithium

Pure Lithium is a disruptive lithium metal battery technology company led by inventor and lithium expert, CEO Emilie Bodoin. The Company's novel Brine to Battery™ technology combines metal extraction and anode production, unlocking unconventional sources of lithium. The resulting pure lithium metal anode is the core component of our lithium metal battery, a step change improvement over today’s lithium-ion technology in cell performance, cost, and safety. The battery is free of graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.

How to Apply

If you are a driven and organized professional ready to take on a challenging role in a fast-paced startup environment, we want to hear from you. Please submit your resume, along with a brief cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and explaining why you are the ideal candidate for this position.

Pure Lithium is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to unlocking innovation and achieving its mission with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Pure Lithium does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training or promoting, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, age, U.S. military or protected veteran status, union membership, or political affiliation. We maintain a drug-free workplace. Please see our website, www.pureithium.io, for more information

Benefits

Position: Accounting Administrator

Department: Finance

Location: Chicago HQ | 400 N Aberdeen Chicago, IL

Reports To: Controller

Direct Reports: None

About Pure Lithium:

Pure Lithium is a disruptive lithium metal battery technology company led by inventor and lithium expert, CEO Emilie Bodoin. The Company's novel Brine to Battery™ technology combines metal extraction and anode production, unlocking unconventional sources of lithium. The resulting pure lithium metal anode is the core component of our lithium metal battery, a step change improvement over today’s lithium-ion technology in cell performance, cost, and safety. The battery is free of graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.

Position Summary:

The Accounting Administrator is responsible for administering the Company's day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, payroll administration, banking activities, expense management, month-end accounting support, vendor management, financial recordkeeping, and audit preparation.

This position plays a critical role in maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring timely payment of vendors and employees, supporting regulatory compliance, and providing operational accounting support to the Controller. The Accounting Administrator exercises a high degree of accuracy, organization, and confidentiality while supporting the financial operations of Pure Lithium.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable Administration

• Review all vendor invoices received through designated company accounts to verify accuracy, completeness, appropriate approvals, and required supporting documentation prior to processing.

• Communicate with internal departments and vendors to obtain missing information, departmental coding, or invoice clarification when necessary.

• Process approved vendor invoices within QuickBooks Online by accurately recording invoice details, assigning departmental allocations, attaching supporting documentation, and maintaining complete electronic records.

• Maintain the Company's Bills to Pay schedule by tracking payment due dates, recurring vendor obligations, and outstanding liabilities.

• Upload all invoices and supporting documentation into the Company's electronic document management system in accordance with record retention requirements.

• Monitor recurring contractual vendor payments that may not require invoices and ensure timely processing in accordance with contractual obligations.

Vendor Payment Administration

• Review the weekly Bills to Pay schedule and identify invoices requiring payment based upon vendor terms and payment due dates.

• Prepare weekly payment recommendations for executive approval and coordinate all required approvals prior to releasing payments.

• Process vendor payments through ACH, check, wire transfer, and other approved payment methods using the Company's banking platforms.

• Maintain complete payment documentation by saving executive approvals and payment confirmations for audit purposes.

• Update payment schedules by recording payment dates, payment methods, and invoice status while maintaining accurate payment histories.

• Communicate payment confirmations to designated vendors as required.

Banking & Cash Management

• Process daily banking transactions from all corporate banking platforms and ensure transactions are accurately recorded within QuickBooks Online.

• Review and manually process transactions from banking platforms that do not automatically synchronize with the accounting system.

• Record investment account activity upon receipt of monthly financial statements.

• Maintain accurate cash records by reviewing bank activity, reconciling transactions, and identifying discrepancies requiring investigation.

• Monitor corporate bank balances and assist the Controller with cash management reporting.

Corporate Credit Card & Expense Administration

• Review corporate credit card transactions to verify supporting receipts, business purpose, and appropriate expense coding.

• Communicate with employees regarding missing receipts or incomplete expense documentation and ensure all required information is obtained prior to month-end close.

• Process approved corporate card transactions within QuickBooks Online while maintaining accurate accounting records.

• Coordinate monthly receipt collection from designated cardholders to ensure timely completion of financial close activities.

Payroll Administration

• Administer payroll processing through Rippling by maintaining employee payroll recordsincluding salary adjustments, reimbursements, and contractor payments.

• Review payroll registers prior to processing to ensure employee compensation, deductions, tax withholdings, paid time off adjustments, and benefit deductions are accurate.

• Process payroll manually when required to accommodate employee changes or payroll adjustments.

• Maintain payroll tax rates including unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave updates.

• Record payroll journal entries and maintain supporting payroll documentation for financial reporting purposes.

Month-End Close & General Ledger Support

• Complete all transactional accounting activities necessary to support timely monthly financial close.

• Reconcile all corporate bank accounts, credit card accounts, and general ledger accounts while maintaining supporting reconciliation schedules.

• Prepare recurring journal entries for prepaid expenses, depreciation, amortization, accrued expenses, lease accounting, employee advances, security deposits, and other recurring accounting activities.

• Maintain monthly accounting workpapers and supporting schedules required for financial reporting.

• Coordinate with operational departments regarding fixed asset additions, disposals, and capital expenditures requiring accounting adjustments.

• Complete benefit reconciliations, PTO reconciliations, and other supporting schedules required during the monthly close process.

Tax, Audit & Compliance Support

• Prepare documentation and schedules supporting federal, state, and local tax filings.

• Coordinate required financial information for annual tax preparation and regulatory reporting.

• Prepare documentation supporting 1099 reporting, 3921 filings, Delaware Franchise Tax filings, and other annual compliance requirements.

• Compile financial schedules and supporting documentation requested by external auditors and tax advisors.

• Maintain organized accounting records to support audit readiness throughout the year.

Financial Records & Administrative Support

• Respond to internal inquiries regarding invoices, payments, payroll, vendor accounts, and financial transactions in a timely and professional manner.

• Maintain accurate accounting records and electronic financial documentation in accordance with Company policies.

• Support special accounting projects and process improvement initiatives assigned by the Controller.

• Collaborate with Human Resources, Operations, and executive leadership on accounting-related activities that support organizational objectives.

Competencies:

• Attention to Detail

• Organization

• Accuracy

• Confidentiality

• Time Management

• Communication

• Accountability

• Problem Solving

• Customer Service

• Adaptability

Work Setting:

• This position is performed primarily in a professional office environment at Pure Lithium's headquarters and requires regular onsite attendance to support accounting operations, payroll administration, financial recordkeeping, and coordination with internal departments.

• Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, with occasional additional hours required during payroll processing, month-end close, annual audits, tax filing periods, and other financial reporting deadlines.

• The role requires exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high degree of accuracy within a fast-paced, growing organization.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Experience:

• 3–5 years of accounting or bookkeeping experience.

• Payroll administration experience required.

• Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable experience.

• QuickBooks Online experience required.

• Experience using Rippling preferred.

• Startup experience preferred.