Accounting Manager - St. Louis

About the role

Cobalt Service Partners (CSP) is building the nation's leading commercial access and security integration platform. Backed by Alpine Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm, we grow by acquiring businesses that install, maintain, and repair commercial gates, doors, loading docks, and integrated security systems.

Since launching in late 2023, Cobalt has successfully acquired 22 partner companies and established itself as one of the leading platforms in a highly attractive and fragmented industry. We have done this by partnering with founder-led companies that have spent decades earning trust in their local markets. Our mission is to honor those legacies, enhance operations through disciplined execution, and drive growth through high-frequency M&A.

The Role

Hybrid * St. Louis

As Accounting Manager, you'll own accounting for one of our newly acquired operating companies, covering the monthly close, reporting, controls, payroll oversight, and the annual audit. This is a hands-on role for someone who likes the details and wants real ownership, while working closely with our regional finance team. Our businesses are project-based, so revenue recognition, job costing, and cash management are at the center of the work. You'll also build the processes and lead the team through the changes that come with joining Cobalt.

What You'll Own

• Monthly close. Run a fast, accurate close and flash report. Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Project accounting. Own revenue recognition under ASC 606, job costing, and WIP (over/under billings) across active projects. Establish and manage cycle counts and inventory accounting.
• Financial reporting. Own the accuracy of the income statement and balance sheet, including deferred revenue, accruals, prepaids, and fixed assets. Prepare the monthly financial package and variance analysis, and explain notable swings to leadership.
• Intercompany accounting. Record, reconcile, and settle intercompany activity: record entries, reconcile balances, and coordinate settlements with the Cobalt platform finance team and sister companies.
• Cash forecasting. Build and maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Controls, audit, and compliance. Maintain and strengthen internal controls. Prepare PBC schedules and answer auditor questions for the annual audit. Keep tax and regulatory filings current with outside advisors.
• Budget and KPIs. Prepare the annual budget and track the KPIs that drive the business.
• Process and systems. Create, document, and maintain standard procedures for close, AP/AR, payroll, and reporting. Replace manual or risky workflows with standardized, automated ones, and support the regional team on ERP implementations and integrations.
• Team and change management. Lead and develop accounting staff, and make sure payroll, AR, and AP are accurate and on time. Guide the team through new systems, policies, and reporting requirements: explain what's changing and why, train people, and make sure new processes stick.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with hands-on ownership of the monthly close.
• Strong command of GAAP, including ASC 606, reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Experience with project-based accounting: job costing, WIP, and over/under billings.
• Experience running close and reporting across multiple entities, branches, or subsidiaries.
• Comfort in accounting systems (our operating companies run tools such as QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, and ServiceTitan) and the ability to learn new ones quickly.
• Strong Excel and modeling skills.
• Self-directed, and able to bring structure to ambiguity.

Preferred

CPA; public accounting background; construction or inventory-heavy experience (job costing, WIP, cycle counts); experience supervising a team.

Why Cobalt

• A high-growth, PE-backed platform where finance is close to the business and your work drives real operating decisions.
• The chance to build and strengthen finance processes as we scale across a growing set of companies.
• Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus, benchmarked to your market and the scope of the seat.
• Full health benefits, 401(k) with match, paid time off, paid holidays, life and disability coverage, and professional development support.