About Us:
Hardware Sales Inc is a fourth generation locally owned family business operating since 1962 and headquartered in Bellingham, WA. In addition to sales of hardware, tools, and all of the usual hardware store products, we are proud to provide our community with access to an extensive fleet of equipment rentals for both homeowners and contractors. Our Lawn Equipment Service Center is a certified repair center and offers a one-stop shop for purchasing, servicing and maintaining your lawn equipment.
Hardware Sales has worked hard to become one of the Pacific Northwest's premier hardware suppliers. Hardware Sales is an award-winning business that fills several city blocks in Bellingham and offers over 70,000 items for sale to everyone from do-it-yourself homeowners to major contractors. What started in 1962 with three people, now has over 140 employees and covers a total of 37,000 square feet of retail and 50,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse In Bellingham, a 32,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse in Ferndale, WA, and a 60,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse in Whiteland, IN.
We are extremely proud of the customer service priority that has won us Cascadia Daily News Best Customer Service, in addition to winning Best Hardware Store more than once. Our reputation for having courteous and knowledgeable employees, the hundreds of years of hardware experience that our employees represent, and the extensive selection of tools, materials and supplies we carry make us one of a kind.
About the Role:
The Accounting Manager leads Hardware Sales' day-to-day accounting operations and a team of office and administrative staff, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer. This is a hands-on, high-transaction-volume role: you will build and enforce the financial controls that keep a 140+ employee, multi-location retail and rental operation accurate, auditable, and closing on time every month, across our Bellingham and Ferndale, WA and Greenwood, IN locations.
This is fundamentally an accounting role first. The majority of your time will be spent on financial controls, reconciliations, close, and team leadership. A meaningful portion of the role involves administrative and regulatory oversight, including business licensing, vehicle licensing and registration, and company plan administration, work that keeps Hardware Sales operating legally and in good standing across two states.
You will lead a team of 5-6 direct reports, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, an Office Assistant, an Accounting Assistant, and the Cashier Manager. You will be expected to coach, train, and upskill this team as our financial function matures, and to build standard operating procedures where none currently exist. We are looking for someone who treats controls and documentation as a discipline, not a formality, and who can bring order to a fast-moving, high-volume environment without slowing it down.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Controls & Compliance
- Design, implement, and enforce internal financial controls across accounting operations to safeguard company assets and ensure the accuracy of financial data.
- Monitor compliance with GAAP and internal policy across AP, AR, and cash handling processes company-wide, including at retail and rental point-of-sale locations.
- Partner with the CFO on audit readiness and serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors on day-to-day inquiries.
- Identify control gaps or process breakdowns before they become financial or compliance problems, and escalate material issues to the CFO promptly.
Accounting Operations & Reconciliation
- Oversee monthly close, account reconciliations, and general ledger accuracy across a high-transaction-volume, multi-location environment.
- Review and approve AP and AR work product, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper documentation.
- Reconcile complex accounts, including banks, credit cards, inventory, internal transactions, and others.
- Support the CFO with financial reporting, budgeting support, and ad hoc financial analysis.
Team Leadership & Development
- Directly supervise and coach a team of 5-6, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Office Assistant, Accounting Assistant, and the Cashier Manager.
- Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular one-on-ones, and hold the team accountable to documented standard operating procedures.
- Identify skill gaps and build training plans to upskill office and accounting staff over time.
- Act as a working coach and escalation point for the Cashier Manager on cash handling and POS reconciliation issues.
Process Improvement & Standard Operating Procedures
- Build, document, and maintain SOPs for core accounting and office administrative functions, replacing informal or undocumented processes.
- Continuously evaluate existing workflows for efficiency, accuracy, and audit risk, and lead the implementation of improvements.
- Partner with the CFO and other department leaders to standardize processes across all company locations.
Business & Administrative Compliance
- Oversee business licensing, vehicle licensing and registration, and other recurring regulatory filings required to keep the company in good standing across Washington and Indiana.
- Track renewal deadlines for licenses, permits, and company plans to ensure nothing lapses.
- Manage or coordinate company business and liability insurance plan administration and related vendor relationships as assigned by the CFO.
- Serve as a secondary point of contact for general office administrative functions supporting the broader team.
Communication & Reporting
- Communicate clearly and proactively with the CFO on the status of close, control issues, and administrative compliance items.
- Translate accounting detail into plain language for non-accounting stakeholders across the business.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required. A combination of relevant education and progressive accounting experience will be considered.
- Progressive accounting experience in a high-transaction-volume environment (retail, multi-location, or similar preferred), including hands-on reconciliation and month-end close work.
- Prior supervisory or lead experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach, train, and hold a team accountable to written procedures.
- Strong working knowledge of GAAP and internal control principles.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable delivering both praise and difficult feedback directly.
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail; comfortable owning reconciliations end-to-end.
- Proficiency with accounting/ERP software and advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, reconciliation workbooks).
- Demonstrated ability to build and document standard operating procedures.
- Experience with business licensing, regulatory filings, or general office administration is a plus but not required.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements:
This is primarily an office-based, sedentary role requiring extended periods of computer work and regular use of accounting software and spreadsheets. Some walking between office, retail, and warehouse areas, and occasional travel between the Bellingham and Ferndale locations, may be required.
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
Benefits:
- 401(k) retirement plan (after 1 year of employment). We give you a 3% raise upon entry to the plan and give a 2% company matching contribution if you contribute at least 3%.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
- Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA (Flexible Spending Account).
- Paid time off, starting at three weeks per year.
- LegalShield and IDShield legal and identity theft protection services.
- Welcome Home program for assistance purchasing a home.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP); 6+ free therapy or life coaching sessions per year, plus additional benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Hardware Sales is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age (40 and older), race (including traits historically associated or perceived to be associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability (including obesity), genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Hardware Sales is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.