Senior Lead Accountant

Avli is looking for a highly capable Senior Accounting Lead to support our growing restaurant group!

Avli Restaurants are creative Greek, where tradition meets contemporary elegance and guests experience our core philosophies of Philoxenia (hospitality), Kefi (joy), and Meraki (passion).

We welcome you in to live and enjoy life through our classic and contemporary Greek dishes, lively beverage program, and an ambiance that reflects life in Greece. As Avli continues to grow — opening new locations and expanding into retail and corporate partnerships — we're building out our finance team to match, and this role sits at the heart of that effort.

This position is remote, but occasional on-site presence is required for team meetings, leadership seminars, working sessions, or policy audits.

The Senior Accounting Lead reports to the VP of Finance and owns key accounting processes across the Company, including accounts payable oversight, account reconciliations, month-end close support, inventory and fixed asset accounting, sales tax support, financial reporting support, and audit/tax documentation.

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills

• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data validation, formulas, large-volume data analysis)
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and GAAP proficiency
• Sound judgment and process improvement mindset
• Sage Intacct, MarginEdge, restaurant accounting, multi-entity, or multi-location experience preferred
• Professional communication across all levels of leadership and operations

Job Duties

Accounting Operations

• Prepare and present monthly and YTD financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, cash-flow reports, and variance analysis
• Lead and review general ledger (G/L) activity to ensure transactions are accurately recorded and classified
• Perform and review complex account reconciliations, investigating and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner
• Manage inventory accounting, including monthly deltas, G/L reconciliation, and variance analysis
• Oversee the fixed asset lifecycle: capitalization, disposals/transfers, depreciation, and reconciliation
• Lead key components of month-end and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations
• Review AP transactions to ensure invoices and staff reimbursements are recorded and paid accurately
• Oversee cash receipts processing and revenue recording alongside the operations team
• Review company credit card expense reports and administer the corporate card program

Reporting & Compliance

• Support preparation of annual tax documents and external audits with schedules, reconciliations, and documentation
• Prepare and file state and local sales tax returns, maintaining supporting documentation for compliance
• Prepare and analyze monthly budget and forecast-to-actual variance reports, communicating findings to leadership
• Prepare recurring commission reports and schedules to support payroll processing
• Assist with creating and maintaining store-level and corporate bank accounts

Team & Process Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day, monthly, and year-end operations of the Accounting Department
• Provide guidance and support to accounting team members as a resource for complex questions
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, internal controls, and operational efficiency
• Partner with operations and other departments to research financial issues and support business decisions

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required
• Minimum of 5 years' progressive accounting experience, including month-end close, financial reporting, and reconciliations
• CPA or other relevant professional certification preferred

General

• Ability to work seated for several hours per day with frequent data entry
• Ability/stamina to work a minimum of 40+ hours a week

Compensation

$85,000 – $95,000/year, based on experience

Note: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the role.

Pay: $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60607