Director of Accounting at HAPPIER PEOPLE MANAGEMENT LLC – New York, New York

Director of Accounting

(Remote: 5 days/week)
Department: Finance & Accounting

Salary: $120,000 - $150,000

About Happier Grocery
At Happier Grocery, we’re passionate about bringing thoughtfully sourced, high-quality food to our community in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Our team is made up of individuals who care deeply about what they do—and we’re looking for a dedicated Director of Accounting to join our growing company.

Position Summary
The Director of Accounting will be responsible for managing all accounting operations, including general ledger maintenance, expense allocation, inventory accounting, and tax compliance. This individual will lead the bookkeeping team for Our grocery stores & Production Facilit. The ideal candidate will implement robust financial controls, and provide accurate and timely financial reporting to support strategic business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage Cash Flow daily, by working with store operations and production facility operations on daily cash spend allocation.
• Work with Director of operations and Director of buying on weekly spend budgets.
• Ensure vendors are paid on a timely basis.
• Work with store bookkeeper to ensure that proper recording & reconciliation of Merchant deposits on a daily/weekly basis by checking POS & merchant accounts.
• Oversee monthly and annual financial close processes, ensuring all accounts are fully reconciled and in compliance with GAAP.
• Ensure accurate and timely allocation of expenses across all departments and projects.
• Manage inventory accounting, including cost of goods sold, inventory valuation, and coordination with physical inventory audits.
• Lead, develop, and manage the bookkeeping team, overseeing day-to-day transactions, account maintenance, and documentation standards.
• Oversee preparation and filing of sales tax returns across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Maintain internal controls to ensure data integrity, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning initiatives. Partner with Director of Operations to create Annual P&L budgets by month.
• Provide Ownership & Director of Operations with Monthly P&L’s
• Work directly with external auditors and tax advisors to support annual audits and tax filings.
• Identify and implement process improvements, technology upgrades, and accounting best practices to support scalable growth.
• Prepare and present financial analyses and insights to senior leadership, offering strategic guidance and recommendations.
• Work closely with Director of Operations & Store bookkeepers on any data clean up that may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience, including 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in general ledger management, financial reporting, and expense allocation.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting within a retail or consumer goods environment.
• Proven experience managing sales tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Advanced proficiency with accounting systems (e.g., QuickBooks) and Excel.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a hands-on approach and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to present financial information clearly and concisely.