Accounting Manager

COMPANY SUMMARY

At Holiday Vacations, our mission is to enrich lives with valued travel experiences. We offer inclusive guided tours led by professional Tour Directors to more than 80 destinations on six continents. We travel by air, motor coach, trains, and cruises on itineraries that bring the destination alive for our guests. We are headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and are a subsidiary of Xanterra Travel Collection, the largest national park concessionaire in the U.S. Xanterra also owns other tour operator and cruise line brands including VBT Bicycling Vacations, Country Walkers, and Windstar Cruises.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Accounting Manager plays a critical leadership role at Holiday Vacations, overseeing all accounting functions to ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and strategic decision-making. This role emphasizes driving process improvements, developing and managing a high-performing team, and collaborating across departments to align financial strategies with organizational goals. The Accounting Manager ensures compliance with accounting standards, optimizes financial processes, and supports the company’s growth objectives.

At Holiday Vacations, how we work is just as important as what we deliver, welcome to The HV Way!

• Honesty & Integrity: We act with honesty and accountability, building trust with every guest, partner, and teammate. We keep our promises.
• Create Community: We create community by treating each other and our guests like extended family, fostering belonging, celebrating, and supporting one another.
• Surprise & Delight: We go beyond expectations to create meaningful experiences. We make every effort to exceed expectations.
• Grow Together: We embrace curiosity, feedback, and continuous learning – always striving to be better and do better.
• Innovate Boldly: We seek fresh ideas, adapt to change, and look for ways to stay ahead in a dynamic travel landscape.
• Protect What Matters: We prioritize safety and sustainability for our people, our guests, and the places we explore.
• Celebrate the Team: We succeed together, value each person’s gifts and contributions, and take time to enjoy the journey along the way.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing priorities, challenges, and environments, maintaining productivity and focus under shifting circumstances. Leverages strong problem-solving skills to navigate ambiguity and lead the team through change with clarity and direction.
• Coaching & Mentoring: Provides guidance, feedback, and support to develop team members’ skills and performance, fostering professional growth and building a high-performing team. Exhibits strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to effectively manage and mentor staff, fostering collaboration and success across the team.
• Data Analysis: Extracts, interprets, and presents meaningful insights from data through effective tools and techniques, driving informed decisions and operational improvements. Capable of guiding and supporting team members to foster a cohesive and informed approach to data-driven decision-making.
• Ethical: Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and transparency in all financial and operational practices, fostering a culture of trust and fairness while ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and company policies. Able to problem solve in ambiguous situations to arrive at sound, ethical business decisions.
• Financial Acumen and Reporting: Analyzes and interprets financial data to prepare accurate, timely reports that guide decision-making and support organizational goals. Demonstrates the ability to define and drive strategies for future growth and development by leveraging financial insights.
• Standards of Accounting: Ensures adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), regulatory requirements, and company policies, maintaining accuracy, consistency, and compliance in financial practices. Able to collaborate effectively with all staff members to uphold and enhance account standards across the team.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Develop ad hoc financial models and reports to support management decision-making.
• Responsible for completion of month-end and year-end general ledger closing processes.
• Own the payroll processing function, including processing and reviewing company payroll, reviewing miscellaneous journal entries, and completing general ledger reconciliations and monthly reviews.
• Safeguard company assets by implementing and monitoring internal control policies and procedures as defined in the Internal Control Minimum Standards.
• Ensure compliance with corporate record retention policies and the security of all confidential accounting records.
• Continuously analyze accounting operations for efficient and effective utilization of accounting staff.
• Maintain and update accounting policies and procedures.
• Assist the Controller with strategic planning objectives and departmental goals.
• Collaborate with Controller to develop and implement financial strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Provide financial analysis and present recommendations to Controller on short- and long-term financial objectives and policies.
• Assist in maintaining the guest reservation system for reporting and data analysis.
• Evaluate and recommend financial process enhancements to improve efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Lead or participate in system implementation projects related to accounting and finance.
• Establish and monitor financial KPIs to track and improve organizational performance.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Ensure timely completion and review of all Holiday Vacation’s monthly balance sheet account reconciliations and cash-to-revenue reconciliations. Ensure reconciling items are promptly investigated and any correcting journal entries are promptly recorded.

SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise, direct, and support direct reports, by providing regular feedback and performance evaluations to support growth and accountability.
• Set clear expectations, delegate tasks effectively, and monitor progress to maintain high performance standards.
• Address performance issues promptly, offering guidance and corrective action as needed to improve results.
• Support the professional development of your direct reports by identifying opportunities for skills enhancement and career growth. Ensure employees receive the coaching, training, and development needed for success.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages open communication and continuous learning.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or equivalent combination of work experience and education
• 6+ years of finance and accounting experience with advanced mathematical and financial skills
• 3+ years of management experience
• 3+ years of experience with payroll administration
• Advanced proficiency in Excel is required with the ability to perform advanced data analysis using functions like VLOOKUP, advanced logical formulas, pivot tables, macros, and the ability to manage and manipulate data across multiple worksheets and workbooks
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, and Teams) and Web Conferencing Software (Teams, Ring Central)
• Experience with Infor CloudSuite, Lawson accounting software preferred
• Proven experience in reviewing processes and procedures, applying strong problem-solving skills, and successfully completing process transformation
• Strong strategic influencing skills with a demonstrated ability to ensure alignment across functions, departments, and stakeholders, including navigating complex relationships
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment where project priorities and task deadlines frequently change
• Strong analytical and accuracy skills, with a thorough understanding of financial concepts and the ability to resolve problems and draw sound, logical conclusions
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the capability to direct and prioritize workflow for staff to ensure timely task completion
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively, tailor messages to diverse audiences, and facilitate productive discussions across all levels of the organization
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively and demonstrate strong teamwork skills with both local and corporate management teams

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS

Work Location: The location for work is the Holiday Vacations corporate headquarters in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The office environment may have moderate noise levels from office equipment and verbal interaction.

Schedule: Work hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST with a one-hour lunch break. There may be schedule variations due to the time of year and department demands.

Physical Requirements: The job requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, as well as the ability to frequently walk and lift or carry up to 35 lbs. May require bending, twisting, stooping, grasping, and reaching outward or above shoulders, lift/carry and push or pull up to 50 lbs.

BENEFITS: For full-time employees, Holiday Vacations offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental & Vision; HSA & FSA; Life & Disability; Accident, Hospital & Critical Illness; Pet Insurance; Paid Time Off and Holiday Paid Time Off; 401(k) with Company Match; Employee Assistance Plan; Education Assistance; and a variety of Employee Travel Discounts and Travel Deals.

Only applications who apply through the Holiday Vacations Career website will be considered. View the official job description here: https://www.holidayvacations.com/