Position Overview
Top Notch Products, Inc. (TNP), a closeout wholesale supplier to major national off-price retailers, is seeking an experienced Interim Accounting Manager to provide temporary coverage during a maternity leave. This is a hands-on, full-cycle accounting role responsible for maintaining day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and inventory accounting, while ensuring a smooth year-end close and financial reporting cycle. This role directly supervises the AP Clerk and AR Clerk, coordinates with an outside bookkeeping firm, and reports directly to the CFO. The CFO/Owner is semi-retired and available on-site for oversight on Tuesdays and Thursdays; this person must be comfortable working independently and managing the department's daily operations without close, day-to-day supervision.
Engagement Dates: Mid Septemeber to early October 2026 through the first week of February 2027 (approximately 18-20 weeks), inclusive of overlap/transition time before and after the leave for handoff.
Time Off: The weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's are unpaid weeks off.
Schedule: Approximately 32 hours per week. Wednesdays off preferred; specific weekly schedule to be finalized with the CFO.
Key Responsibilities
- Directly supervise and support the AP Clerk and AR Clerk, including day-to-day task oversight, review of work, and coverage for their responsibilities as needed.
- Manage the full accounts payable cycle: vendor invoice processing, coding, approvals, payment runs, and vendor account reconciliations.
- Manage the full accounts receivable cycle: customer invoicing, cash application, collections follow-up, and AR aging review.
- Maintain and reconcile inventory accounting records, including cost layers, receipts, adjustments, and coordination with warehouse/operations teams on inventory counts and variances.
- Own the month-end close process: journal entries, account reconciliations, and preparation of internal financial statements.
- Lead or support the year-end close, including accruals, cutoff procedures, reconciliations, and preparation of schedules for the company's outside CPA firm.
- Maintain the general ledger and ensure accuracy of financial data across all departments.
- Process bi-weekly payroll and support related reporting (benefits deductions, PFML, etc.) in coordination with HR/ownership.
- Coordinate and communicate regularly with the company's outside bookkeeping firm to ensure alignment on transaction coding, reconciliations, and reporting.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day accounting questions from Sales, Buying, and Operations staff.
- Provide clear handoff documentation and status updates to the returning Accounting Manager and to the CFO throughout the engagement.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including prior experience in an accounting manager, controller, or senior accountant capacity.
- Prior experience directly supervising accounting staff (e.g., AP/AR clerks or similar roles).
- Strong working knowledge of both accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, from transaction entry through reconciliation.
- Direct experience with inventory accounting, ideally within a wholesale, distribution, or retail environment (cost of goods sold, inventory valuation, and reconciliation to the general ledger).
- Experience managing or directly supporting a year-end financial close, including working with outside accountants/CPAs.
- Proficiency with ERP/accounting software (Blue Link ERP experience strongly preferred; general familiarity with mid-market ERP systems required at minimum).
- Exceptional Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, complex formulas, large dataset management) and comfort working with high transaction volumes in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Hands-on proficiency with QuickBooks; able to work within QuickBooks independently for day-to-day accounting tasks.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently with minimal ramp-up time, including making sound day-to-day decisions with limited direct oversight.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in closeout, off-price, or wholesale distribution accounting.
- Experience processing payroll and familiarity with Massachusetts benefits/leave programs (e.g., PFML).
- Prior interim, temp-to-perm, or contract accounting management experience, with references demonstrating a smooth transition in and out of similar coverage roles.
Engagement Details
- Location: On-site at 5 Federal Street, Danvers, MA.
- Schedule: Approximately 32 hours per week, with Wednesdays off preferred.
- Duration: Early October 2026 – first week of February 2027, including overlap time for training/handoff.
- Time off: Weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's off (unpaid).
- Reports to: CFO / Co-Owner (direct report); CFO is semi-retired and on-site Tuesdays and Thursdays for oversight.
- Direct reports: AP Clerk and AR Clerk.
- Works closely with the company's outside bookkeeping firm.
- Compensation: Commensurate with experience; to be discussed based on candidate background and engagement structure (W-2 temporary or contract/1099, as applicable).
Pay: $73,068.06 - $80,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
