Job Title: Sr. Staff Accountant

Department: Accounting

Location: Remote

Reports To: Assistant Controller

Position Type: Full-time

Company Overview

Gulf Winds International, Inc. is a leading provider of drayage, transloading, and storage, serving importers and exporters globally. The Company prides itself on innovation, people, and purpose, redefining expectations for intermodal trucking. With a robust presence at major ports, including Houston, Dallas, Mobile, Memphis, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and Chicago, Gulf Winds is dedicated to delivering top-notch services through continuous investment in technology and infrastructure. Ownership: The company is backed by The Sterling Group, a Houston-based private equity firm. Since 1982, The Sterling Group has partnered with management teams to grow and build winning businesses in the industrial sector. Over 75% of Sterling’s past partnerships have been with family businesses and corporate carve-outs. Sterling excels as a partner bringing its operational focus and expertise to support company objectives. Today, Sterling has over $5.7 billion in assets under management.

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Sr. Staff Accountant to play a key role in managing asset accounting, overseeing the lease purchase program, and ensuring accurate financial reporting. This role is critical for maintaining financial integrity, supporting month-end close processes, and ensuring compliance with accounting standards. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, possesses strong technical accounting skills, and has excellent attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

General Ledger & Financial Reporting

• Prepare and post journal entries related to assets, lease agreements, and general accounting functions.
• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with GAAP.
• Assist in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closings, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Perform account reconciliations for fixed assets, lease accounts, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Support financial statement preparation and provide variance analysis on key accounts.

Lease Purchase Program Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all Lease Purchase Program communications with drivers, banks, and internal departments.
• Manage existing lease purchase agreements, payments, and refinance requests, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
• Track balances, repairs, contracts, payment schedules, and amortization schedules for lease purchase participants.
• Develop and maintain dashboards to provide management with updates on program performance.
• Facilitate mileage reporting for trucks.
• Provide Fair Market Value (FMV) assessments for lease purchase vehicles as required.

Fixed Assets & Depreciation

• Record and maintain fixed asset acquisitions, disposals, and depreciation schedules.
• Manage the fixed asset register, ensuring accuracy and compliance with GAAP.
• Assist in capital expenditure tracking and reporting for company assets.

Compliance & Audit Support

• Ensure compliance with company policies, GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide documentation and support for internal and external audits.
• Maintain accounting policies and procedures, recommending improvements where needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with finance, operations, and leadership teams to support accurate financial decision-making.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting related to assets and lease purchase programs.
• Participate in special projects and process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial operations.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• 2+ years of accounting experience, preferably in general ledger, fixed assets, or lease accounting.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and advanced Excel skills.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and accounting best practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.