Senior Accountant (Commercial Financial Shared Services)

Accountant / Senior Accountant (Commercial Financial Shared Services)
Location: North Chicago, IL or Florham Park, NJ (Hybrid)
Schedule: Hybrid (Monday & Friday Remote | Tuesday–Thursday Onsite – Non-Negotiable)
Contract Duration: 9 months with potential for extension based on performance and business needs
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Pay Rate:

• Illinois or New Jersey: $30-$35/hr based on benefit selection

 

Orion Group is seeking an Accountant / Senior Accountant to join the Financial Shared Services (FSS) organization supporting our pharmaceutical client. This position provides dedicated accounting support to Commercial business partners while ensuring accurate financial reporting, compliance with internal controls, and successful execution of month-end close activities.

This role is ideal for an accounting professional who enjoys collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, improving accounting processes, and driving operational efficiencies within a shared services environment.

The successful candidate will partner with Commercial Finance teams across Therapeutics, Aesthetics, and PCYC while supporting accounting operations and identifying opportunities to transition and streamline processes into the FSS organization.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and post journal entries supporting month-end close activities, including accruals, prepaids, allocations, reclassifications, and adjustments.
• Support monthly financial close activities while ensuring deadlines are met accurately and efficiently.
• Collaborate with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) partners on month-end account reconciliations.
• Review journal entry support documentation to ensure compliance with SOX controls, internal accounting policies, and financial reporting requirements.
• Partner with Commercial Finance stakeholders to understand business needs and identify accounting activities that can be transitioned into the Financial Shared Services organization.
• Lead and support process transition initiatives that improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability across accounting operations.
• Build strong working relationships with Commercial Finance teams, Controllers, and cross-functional business partners.
• Maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) and accounting process documentation.
• Monitor outstanding accounting items during month-end close, proactively communicating risks and resolving issues.
• Utilize SAP and BlackLine to support accounting workflows, reconciliations, and audit documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance reporting accuracy.
• Support ad hoc financial reporting, analysis, and special projects as assigned.

 
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 1–3 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and general accounting principles.
• Experience preparing journal entries and supporting month-end close.
• Experience working with general ledger accounts, assets, and liabilities.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to produce accurate financial reporting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple business functions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, and data reconciliation.

 
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP ERP.
• Experience using BlackLine or similar account reconciliation software.
• Experience supporting Shared Services or Financial Shared Services organizations.
• Knowledge of SOX controls and internal accounting compliance.
• Experience documenting and improving accounting processes.

 
Top Skills

• Accounting Policies & Procedures (GAAP)
• General Ledger, Assets & Liabilities
• Journal Entries & Month-End Close
• Attention to Detail
• Stakeholder Communication & Relationship Management
• Process Improvement
• SAP & BlackLine (Preferred)

 
Success Factors

The successful candidate will:

• Thrive in a collaborative, deadline-driven accounting environment.
• Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and financial accuracy.
• Build strong relationships with finance and business stakeholders.
• Take ownership of accounting processes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively across multiple levels of the organization.
• Maintain a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset while supporting month-end close activities.

People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.