Staff Accountant
2 days ago
New York
Job Description Staff Accountant The Opportunity We are hiring a detail-oriented, proactive Staff Accountant to strengthen core accounting operations and provide meaningful support across accounts payable and payment-related workflows. This is a team-based role that flexes across priorities, including close support, reconciliations, AP processing coordination, payment preparation, issue resolution, documentation, and process standardization. This role is intended to provide additional coverage and process consistency across the finance team, particularly during peak periods, and will be staffed and prioritized based on business needs. You will report to the Finance & Treasury Manager and the Controller to keep day-to-day finance execution accurate, timely, and well-controlled. The right candidate is calm under pressure, precise with details, and motivated by building a clean, repeatable process in a high-tempo, client-facing business. Key Responsibilities Accounting operations and close support • Support the Controller with month-end close tasks, including reconciliations, schedule maintenance, basic journal entry support, and balance sheet hygiene (cash, clearing accounts, payables-related accounts, and other areas as assigned)., • Maintain organized supporting documentation so work is traceable and audit-ready., • Help improve data integrity across systems so reporting is reliable and issues are caught early.Accounts payable and payment workflow support, • Support the Finance & Treasury Manager with AP processing across the cycle, from invoice intake through documentation completeness checks, coding support, approval routing, and maintaining clear status visibility so items move through the agreed workflow., • Help assemble payment-ready packages for vendor and talent payments (supporting documentation, coding support, and approvals confirmation), and assist with batching and file preparation where applicable., • Enter, code, and route vendor invoices in the AP and bill pay system, ensuring proper documentation and timely approvals., • Support maintenance of vendor and payee master data (W-9 collection status, addresses, payment method details, tax classifications), and help resolve set-up issues before they delay processing., • Help track and resolve AP and payment exceptions (missing support, disputed items, duplicates, returns, voids/reissues), maintaining a clear log and communicating status updates to internal stakeholders., • Confirm that approvals and release controls are followed; payment release and final authorization remain with Finance and treasury., • Partner with AR and internal stakeholders on invoice corrections and discrepancy resolution (duplicates, commission splits, deal memo alignment), ensuring fixes are specific, documented, and auditable., • Help standardize and document workflows (simple SOPs, checklists, trackers) so the team relies less on “tribal knowledge” and more on repeatable process., • Support adoption and consistent use of company tools (expense and bill pay platform, banking tools, accounting system), with a bias toward standardization and automation., • AP has clearer visibility and fewer bottlenecks because invoices are complete, coded consistently, routed cleanly, and tracked., • Payment preparation is orderly and well-documented, with fewer avoidable exceptions and less last-minute urgency.., • Close support is consistent and predictable; reconciliations and schedules are completed on time with audit-ready support. Experience • 3+ years of accounting operations experience in a fast-paced environment (professional services, agency, media/entertainment, or similar is a plus)., • Practical month-end exposure (reconciliations and close support) and strong attention to detail., • Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills (lookups, pivots, filters, structured trackers)., • Process-oriented and accountable; you follow the workflow, document the work, and make it easier for others to support., • Clear, professional communicator who handles urgency calmly and constructively., • Team-first, collaborative, comfortable shifting priorities, and quick to escalate issues with specifics and options. Reports to: Finance & Treasury Manager and Controller Status: Temp-to-hire (3-month initial contract) About The Only Agency The Only Agency is a creative management agency, we represent wardrobe stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, manicurists, photographers, creative directors, and more. With hubs in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and London, we are at the heart of the industries we serve. We champion creative leaders who persistently redefine trends and push the limits in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment industries. We are masters at establishing connections and pairing creatives to meet the needs of our celebrity, brand, and editorial partners. Powered by JazzHR UKCRHMnzx6