Staff Accountant – Japanese Bilingual Accounting

Job Description

Entry Level Audit Staff – Japanese Bilingual | SingerLewak LLP

The Tone:
SingerLewak is a Top 100 accounting and consulting firm with a prominent presence in the western region, serving clients with expertise and excellence since 1959. This entry-level position as an Audit Staff – Japanese Bilingual is critical for upholding the firm’s reputation, delivering the comprehensive services of a large firm within a blended environment of practices and industry specializations. The role contributes directly to SingerLewak’s renowned industry leadership and commitment to client service, fostering a culture of learning and growth through programs like SL Forward and emphasizing professional and personal advancement, as well as community engagement via SL Cares. This position is vital for supporting financial operations and audit engagements, particularly for the firm’s Japanese clientele and their headquarters, ensuring continued client satisfaction and compliance.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Location: In-person Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $29–$32 hourly
• Mission: Support internal and external audit engagements and various financial processes for Japanese clients and headquarters.
• Tech Stack: accounting software

What You’ll Actually Do
• Financial Reporting: Record financial transactions, meticulously prepare trial balances, and generate comprehensive financial statements using accounting software, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Account Management: Reconcile various accounts and perform essential schedule computations, including accruals and depreciation, while diligently maintaining the general ledger and processing accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Compliance & Filings: Prepare diverse tax filings such as payroll, sales tax, business license, personal property tax, and 1099s, and provide assistance with SOX/JSOX compliance and reporting obligations to Japanese headquarters.
• Consolidation & Coordination: Prepare thorough group consolidation packages and effectively coordinate with external tax return preparers to facilitate timely and accurate tax submissions.
• Audit Support: Provide dedicated support for both internal and external audit engagements, which includes performing assigned audit and review procedures to contribute to the overall integrity and reliability of financial information.

The Must-Haves
• Background: This entry-level role requires a strong educational foundation, specifically a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or a closely related field, providing the essential theoretical knowledge for audit and financial functions.
• Experience: Candidates must demonstrate a clear readiness and willingness to actively engage in learning and professional development within the accounting and consulting industry.
• Skills: Possess strong proficiency in both written and verbal Japanese, enabling effective communication with Japanese clients (including expats and local employees) and internal colleagues. Additionally, candidates must either hold a CPA license or be actively pursuing CPA certification to meet professional standards.