Accounting Manager - Columbia, MD

Cedar Solutions Group is a Denver, Colorado-based holding company that acquires and operates government-services businesses across the United States. Cedar is driven by a people-first mission: invest in exceptional talent and technology to deliver effective government solutions. We are uniquely long-term oriented — we seek to hold and grow our businesses indefinitely, not flip them.

Cedar is backed by Evergreen and Alpine Investors, a leading private equity firm focused on services and software with $16B+ in AUM. Our portfolio companies benefit from proven playbooks, shared resources, and a culture built on accountability, continuous improvement, and genuine care for people.

Shield Consulting is a Maryland-based government contractor specializing in high-end technical support and subcontracting services. With a focused and skilled team operating in the Intelligence Community, this business has established itself as a trusted partner to prime contractors and government customers alike.

Cedar Solutions Group is seeking a highly skilled Accounting Manager to take ownership of our key accounting functions, financial reporting, and KPI dashboard management at one of our operating companies, Shield Consulting. This role will be based in Columbia, MD and will report to the VP Operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong financial acumen, mastery in Excel modeling, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. This individual will thrive in a dynamic environment, effectively balancing strategic responsibilities with day-to-day accounting tasks. Reporting to the founders, this role is crucial for driving accuracy, improving processes, and supporting company growth.

Financial Reporting & Close:

• →Manage accounting activities to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting including profit and loss reports, cash flow analyses, income statements, balance sheets, and supporting schedules.
• →Partner with finance team to manage month-end close processes, including financial reporting preparation.
• →Collaborate on variance analysis to drive insightful financial reporting.
• →Take responsibility for the KPI dashboard, ensuring over 95% accuracy in formulas and data across sheets.
• →Executes and oversees general ledger account entries and reconciliations for all areas and functions within Shield.

Payroll & Team Leadership:

• →Oversee payroll processing, ensuring accurate deductions, bonuses, and tax withholdings.
• →Support, mentor, train, and coordinate workflows for the accounting staff.
• →Handle quarterly 401(k) and profit-sharing deposits.

Government Contracting:

• →Actively participate in the proposal process for bidding on new government contracts.
• →Assist in billing the Government and establishing compliant workflows for billing prime contracts, including managing accounts receivable collections.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• →Develop and maintain the budget infrastructure, collaborating on high-level assumptions and reforecasts.
• →Oversee cash flow management, banking operations, and working capital to ensure financial stability.

Process Improvement & Audit:

• →Implement and refine internal controls to mitigate financial risks and enhance efficiency.
• →Support audit preparation and compliance, ensuring the team is ready for external reviews.

Ad-hoc Projects & Collaboration:

• →Monitor the financial system, track down errors, and resolve system issues to maintain data integrity.
• →Contribute to special projects such as system migrations, process enhancements, and compliance initiatives.
• →Collaborate cross-functionally to drive improvements and optimize accounting workflows.

Financial Acumen & Systems Understanding:

• Demonstrated experience in financial statement preparation, multi-entity consolidation, and compliance with ASC guidance.
• Ownership mindset with a commitment to reporting accurate financial data.

Effective Communication:

• Confident in presenting financial information to senior leadership with clarity and impact.
• Ability to connect day-to-day work with broader organizational goals.

Flexibility & Agility:

• Adaptable to shifting priorities with a proactive approach to taking on new responsibilities.
• A servant leader mindset, willing to roll up their sleeves to support the team.

Emotional Intelligence:

• Humility, accountability, and a people-first attitude.
• Growth mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and empowering others.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in accounting, with a strong understanding of financial statement preparation, multi-entity consolidation, and GAAP compliance.
• Experience in public accounting is highly preferred.
• Proficient in Excel, including advanced formulas (lookup, index/match) and model-building.
• Experience in ADP Workforce Now and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) is preferred.
• Proven ability to identify and address data anomalies, ensuring accuracy and consistency in financial reports.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present financial insights to finance leaders.
• Experience leading or supporting financial audits and meeting tax requirements.
• Prior experience with federal government contracting rules and DCAA compliance is preferred.
• CPA or CMA is preferred.