Senior Accountant for Global Accounting Processes and Reporting

Grainger is a business-to-business distributor of products used to maintain, repair or operate facilities. Millions of businesses and institutions worldwide rely on Grainger for pumps, motors, hand tools, janitorial supplies, fasteners and much more. These customers represent a broad collection of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, government and hospitality.

As a member of Grainger’s Global Controllership team, the Senior Accountant, Global Accounting Processes and Reporting will report to the Manager of Financial Reporting, and will be primarily responsible for driving best practices in global accounting and reporting processes, including, but not limited to, company-wide inter and intracompany processes, analysis, and overall management.

**Intra/Inter Company Process Management** * Design, maintain and update Grainger’s global intra/inter company policy. * Actively work with business unit intercompany liaisons (world-wide) to ensure strict application of global intra/inter company policy requirements, including minimum internal control and documentation requirements to ensure prudent accounting for global intercompany transactions worldwide: billings, settlements, eliminations, payment/applications, others. * Regularly monitor world-wide intercompany charges for completeness and integrity of the process. * Review intercompany transactions and related intercompany activity to facilitate issue resolution and prepare adjustments and correction entries as needed. * Prepare and distribute intercompany AR/AP reporting to business partners monthly. * Investigate and resolve reconciling inter-company differences and serve as lead arbitrator for business unit intercompany disputes and resolutions. * Work closely with business partners and provide support and respond to requests and accounting-related inquires for intercompany processes. * Support account reconciliations across the enterprise to streamline processes, achieve productivity, and improve group-wide controls over intra/inter-company processes. * Develop and maintain documentation and training materials on intercompany accounting procedures and systems and provide training when needed. * Develop and distribute communications/updates impacting intra/inter-company processes. **Global Process / System Support** * Proactively highlight opportunities for process improvements, automation and standardization across business units. * Serve as the key contributor in the implementation of Blackline across the enterprise and help with enhancement features to existing systems, SAP and BPC. * Identify and develop reporting and analytics to support Global Controllership analysis and monitoring utilizing Blackline, SAP and BPC functionality. * Manage user access for both Blackline and BPC systems. * Develop and maintain documentation and training materials on global controllership systems (i.e. Blackline, BPC, Workiva) and provide user training when needed. **Other Responsibilities** * Assist in the preparation of financial statements and external reporting to the SEC, census and other government reporting. * Support the quarterly reviews and annual financial audit by external auditors. * Provide support in process documentation, internal controls testing in support of Grainger’s SOX compliance and special projects, as needed. * Provide support to other team members in the review and validation of reports and ad hoc reporting and analysis requests within the Global Controllership team. * Participate in special projects and ad hoc requests, as necessary.

**Preferred Education & Experience** * Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, CPA a plus. * 5-7 years of experience. * Public accounting or related large public company experience. * Knowledge of US GAAP and financial statements required. * Experience with foreign currency translation, intercompany transactions and consolidations, a plus. * Experience in project management, including continuous improvement efforts related to financial processes, systems and tools to optimize productivity and internal controls. * Demonstrated ability to think “outside of the box” and identify process improvement opportunities. * Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel is required and proficiency in computer applications such as SAP, BPC and Blackline is a distinct plus. * Understanding of financial internal controls and risks and experience with SOX 404 programs is a plus. * Strong analytical skills and problem solving skills. * Able to multi-task, self-starter and able to independently execute projects cross-functionally. * Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships and work with others to accomplish objectives and results. * Strong inter-personal skills are critical as this position requires extensive interaction with individuals at various business units and levels across the organization and outside consultants. * Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written. **Work Environment** * Located in Lake Forest, Illinois. * Office environment. * May require travel for special projects or training **Impact** * This position is expected to work with all global accounting functions, business units’ accounting teams, Finance, Enterprise Systems, outside consultants and external auditors. * Achieve results by improving accounting processes across the enterprise. * The position contributes to efficient closing and reporting processes across the enterprise and the accuracy of the Company’s Financial Statements.