Senior Accountant in Johnstown, Colorado at High Country Beverage Corp

HC Family Companies

$80,000- $100,000 Salary (depending on experience)

Full-Time, Monday-Friday

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant is the functional lead of the accounting department operating under the HC Family Companies umbrella. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing all accounting functions — including financial reporting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoicing, and collections — while ensuring each area is staffed, trained, and executing accurately and on time.

This person reports directly to the CFO and ownership group and is expected to bring structure, accountability, and financial clarity to a fast-growing operation. The role requires both the technical depth to own the books and the leadership capability to build and manage a small, efficient accounting team.

The right candidate is a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic environment, communicates financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, and takes personal ownership of the accuracy and timeliness of all accounting outputs.

1. Team Leadership & Department Management

This role is responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day accounting team. Leadership is not optional — it is a core expectation of the position.

• Directly oversee team members responsible for purchasing, vendor payments, AR/AP, invoicing, and collections.
• Evaluate current team members — assess skill level, accuracy, and reliability across each function.
• Train, coach, and develop team members to ensure every accounting function is executed correctly and on time.
• Delegate tasks appropriately based on individual capability; maintain clear ownership for each function.
• Establish and enforce standard operating procedures for all accounting workflows.
• Hold team members accountable to deadlines, accuracy standards, and communication expectations.
• Identify gaps in staffing or capability and escalate hiring needs to leadership.
• Create a culture of precision — details matter, deadlines are non-negotiable, and errors are addressed and learned from.

2. Purchasing & Vendor Payments

• Oversee the purchasing function — ensure purchases are authorized, coded correctly, and within approved budgets.
• Manage vendor payment workflows — all payments processed accurately, on time, and within agreed terms.
• Monitor vendor balances and credit limits; flag issues before they become production constraints.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships; support negotiation of terms where appropriate.
• Implement approval workflows and controls around purchase orders and payment authorization.
• Ensure vendor statements are reconciled regularly and discrepancies resolved promptly.
• Work with operations to align purchasing activity with production schedules and cash flow needs.

3. Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable

• Own the full AR and AP cycle — from invoice creation through payment receipt or payment remittance.
• Ensure invoices are issued accurately and promptly after goods or services are delivered.
• Manage the AR aging schedule — monitor outstanding balances and escalate delinquent accounts for collections action.
• Lead collections efforts — proactive outreach to customers with overdue balances; professional but persistent.
• Ensure AP is processed on time, matched to purchase orders, and coded to the correct accounts.
• Maintain accurate aging reports for both AR and AP; present to leadership on a regular cadence.
• Evaluate and improve current invoicing accuracy — identify billing gaps, zero-dollar invoices, or unbilled work.
• Coordinate with sales and operations to ensure all completed work is invoiced fully and accurately.

4. Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Lead the monthly close process — on time, every month, without exception.
• Prepare and post all journal entries: accruals, prepaids, deferrals, and reclassifications.
• Produce accurate monthly financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) for CFO and ownership review.
• Own all balance sheet reconciliations — every account, every month.
• Review and validate accruals, prepaid expenses, and reserves for accuracy.
• Identify and resolve out-of-balance accounts and unexplained variances.
• Provide clear written commentary on financial results — explain what changed and why in plain language.

5. Cash Management & Working Capital

• Prepare and maintain weekly cash reporting — CFO and ownership expect visibility into cash position at all times.
• Build and maintain short-term cash flow forecasts (next 18 months).
• Monitor working capital trends: AR aging, AP terms, inventory levels, and vendor credit availability.
• Flag liquidity risks proactively
• Partner with operations and sales to improve the cash conversion cycle. Onsite visits/work is required.
• Support decisions around timing of payments, collections prioritization, and credit line utilization.

6. Technical Accounting & Internal Controls

• Maintain the general ledger with accuracy and discipline — the books are the source of truth.
• Establish and document accounting policies in compliance with GAAP.
• Evaluate and document complex transactions: revenue recognition, lease accounting, cost allocation, and accruals.
• Design and maintain internal controls — segregation of duties, approval workflows, and audit trails.
• Identify and communicate financial reporting risks to the CFO and ownership group.
• Monitor for control gaps or anomalies; address them proactively.

7. Budgeting, Forecasting & Variance Analysis

• Support annual budget development with accounting-driven inputs and historical analysis.
• Prepare and distribute actual vs. budget variance reports with clear explanations of drivers.
• Assist in updating rolling forecasts with current-period data.
• Flag budget risks to the CFO and ownership group on a timely basis — no surprises.

8. Audit, Compliance & Investor Readiness

• Serve as the primary internal contact for external audits and lender reviews.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and workpapers.
• Maintain audit-ready records year-round — not just at year end.
• Support investor and ownership reporting requirements with accurate, timely financial packages.
• Ensure tax and compliance filings are coordinated with external CPA partners on time.

9. Systems & Process Improvement

• Own the integrity and structure of the accounting system — chart of accounts, coding structure, and reporting hierarchy.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement improvements that reduce manual effort and improve accuracy.
• Drive a shorter, cleaner monthly close cycle over time.
• Document all accounting procedures; maintain a living procedures manual for the team.
• Evaluate current tools and recommend improvements where the current tech stack creates friction.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 4–7 years of accounting experience, including at least 2 years in a role with direct team or function oversight.
• CPA license or active CPA candidate strongly preferred.
• Solid working knowledge of GAAP and its practical application in a manufacturing, distribution, or service environment.
• Experience owning a full monthly close cycle independently.
• Hands-on experience with AR, AP, collections, and vendor management — not just oversight.
• Proficiency and understanding of ERP/accounting systems.
• Strong Excel skills — comfortable building reconciliation models, aging schedules, and cash flow projections.
• Clear, direct communicator — able to present financial information to non-finance stakeholders including CFO and ownership.

Preferred

• Familiarity with cost accounting, inventory valuation, or production cost structures.
• Track record of building or improving accounting teams and processes.
• Experience working directly with ownership or executive leadership in a small-to-mid-size business.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift and self-direction is required.

What Success Looks Like — First 90 Days

• Month-end close completed accurately and on time each period — no exceptions.
• All balance sheet accounts reconciled and documented within 30 days of start.
• AR aging reviewed and collections outreach initiated on all overdue accounts within 2 weeks.
• Team evaluated — clear picture of who is performing, who needs development, and what gaps exist.
• Vendor balances and payment workflows audited; any discrepancies or missing controls addressed.
• Weekly cash reporting cadence established and running.
• Invoice error or issues identified and resolved in coordination with sales and ops.
• Internal controls assessment complete; gaps documented and improvement plan in place.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include health insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off. Final compensation is determined based on skills, experience, and fit.

Please note selected candidates will be subject to an MVR & criminal background check.

While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.