General Ledger Manager

Overview

This role is a hands-on GL leadership position owning payroll accounting, preparing equity rollforwards, overseeing accounts payable (coding and payouts), and performing monthly flux/variance analysis (including COGS vs. SG&A classification review). The GL Manager also provides second-level review and sign-off on work performed by Senior GL Accountants and, by extension, GL Accountants who report to them.

The position manages a team of three to five people (two Senior GL Accountants, an AP Specialist, and GL Accountants) and is accountable for the accuracy, timeliness, and audit-readiness of the general ledger areas owned by the team.

Owned general ledger areas include, but are not limited to: bank transaction coding/uploading, cash reconciliations, prepaid expenses, fixed assets (including capitalized software) leases, accrued expenses, accounts payable, expense reports & corporate credit cards, payout expenses and returns, and intercompany clearing.

As the finance organization matures, specific accounts and processes may shift. The GL Manager is expected to flex into new areas (e.g., intercompany, cash/bank accounting, leases, or other balance sheet areas) as priorities evolve.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Directly manage and develop two Senior GL Accountants and the AP Specialist, including workload prioritization, coaching, and performance management.
• Provide second-level review and sign-off on work performed by GL Accountant(s) reporting to the Senior GL Accountants, ensuring consistency and quality across the team.
• Set daily and monthly priorities in line with the month-end close calendar established with the Assistant Controller and Controller.
• Identify staffing, training, and process gaps and recommend solutions to the Assistant Controller.
• Hold the team accountable for timely, accurate, and well-documented deliverables; proactively escalate risks or resourcing constraints.

Payroll Accounting

• Own execution of payroll-related journal entries, including regular payroll, subsidiary expense allocations, fringe benefits, and management fee allocations.
• Partner with People/HR and Payroll on GL mapping and coding of new departments/entities; resolve payroll data discrepancies.
• Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts (e.g., accrued payroll, payroll clearing, benefits) monthly.
• Maintain and continuously improve payroll accounting SOPs, including CSV upload templates for payroll, accruals, and subsidiary expense allocations.

Accounts Payable Oversight (Coding & Payouts)

• Oversee AP coding accuracy across vendors, departments, and entities, including review of the AP Specialist’s day-to-day coding.
• Provide guidance and approver training so vendor coding is applied consistently and correctly at the point of entry.
• Oversee payout-related AP activity in partnership with the Senior GL Accountants, including bill creation, payout returns, and related AP reconciliations.
• Review and approve AP aging prepared by the Senior GL Accountant on a recurring basis; ensure aging ties to the trial balance and drive resolution of long-outstanding items.

Monthly Flux / Variance Analysis

• Perform monthly period-over-period (and budget-to-actual, as applicable) flux analysis for accounts owned by the team, including payroll, AP-driven expense accounts, and COGS/SG&A lines.
• Investigate and document explanations for significant fluctuations; distinguish true business drivers from coding or classification issues.
• Review COGS vs. SG&A classification across the chart of accounts to ensure new vendors, expense types, and cost-sharing arrangements are mapped and coded appropriately.
• Summarize flux commentary for the Assistant Controller and Controller ahead of monthly and quarterly reporting deadlines.

Equity Accounting

• Prepare and maintain monthly equity rollforward schedules for Topstep LLC and applicable subsidiaries, capturing contributions, distributions, in-kind transfers, and net income allocations.
• Ensure equity rollforwards tie to the trial balance each month and are supported by underlying agreements, board/member approvals, and intercompany documentation.
• Partner with Legal, Tax, and outside advisors on the treatment of in-kind contributions, intercompany transfers, and entity restructurings impacting equity.
• Provide a quarterly summary of equity activity to the Assistant Controller and Controller for review.

Review of GL Team’s Work & Balance Sheet Ownership

• Review and approve balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules prepared by Senior GL Accountants prior to Assistant Controller review.
• This may include review of bank transaction coding/uploading, cash reconciliations, prepaid expenses, fixed assets (including capitalized software) leases, accrued expenses, accounts payable, expense reports & corporate credit cards, payout expenses and returns, and intercompany clearing.
• Ensure every account owned by the team has a clearly identified preparer/reviewer, a documented process, and audit-ready support.
• Resolve or escalate aged and complex reconciling items surfaced by the team.

Audit & Compliance

• Prepare and/or review audit schedules and support requests related to owned general ledger areas, as requested by the Assistant Controller and Controller.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation standards across owned areas.
• Adhere to internal controls and company accounting policies; identify and flag control gaps to management.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency across owned close areas and the broader team’s workflow.
• Leverage NetSuite and related tools (e.g., CSV import templates, reconciliation tools) effectively; support system improvements as directed by the Assistant Controller and Controller.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (People/HR, FP&A, Treasury, Product/Engineering) to ensure payroll, AP, and other data flows accurately into the general ledger.

Additional Responsibilities

• As the finance team continues to grow and evolve, responsibilities may expand or shift based on business needs.
• The role may include ad hoc projects or other duties assigned by the Assistant Controller or Controller.

Required Qualifications and Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 6–8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including:
  • Hands-on experience with month-end close across multiple GL areas.
  • Experience with payroll accounting, accounts payable, and expense classification (COGS vs. SG&A).
  • 2+ years directly managing or supervising accounting staff.
  • Experience reviewing the work of others and providing constructive feedback.
• Experience capitalizing internally developed software required.
• Experience with NetSuite or a similar ERP system required.
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, etc.).
• Experience with high-volume, multi-entity, or multi-processor environments required.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple close deadlines and direct reports simultaneously.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communicator who can coach staff and work cross-functionally.
• Demonstrated ability to bring structure and process discipline to evolving or ambiguous areas of ownership.
• CPA or active pursuit of CPA preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or active pursuit of CPA.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $140,000 - $160,000 annually.
• Performance-based bonus eligibility as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
• Seven company-paid holidays.
• Generous Family Leave.
• Paid time off is front-loaded.
• Competitive 401(k) matching for full time employees.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Bonus for taking 5 consecutive days.
• Employee referrals are bonused.
• Food and groceries budget and a contribution towards health and wellness.

Location

• Remote to hybrid work arrangement (as available).