Full-Time

Accountant 2

Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

1,001-5,000 employees

High-speed automotive stamping, welding, and assembly

No salary listed

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

In Person

Category
Accounting (1)
Required Skills
Forecasting
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance
  • 2–4 years of progressive accounting experience
  • CPA designation or progress toward certification preferred
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office with advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, basic macros)
  • Working knowledge of GAAP, financial statements, and tax regulations
  • Experience with ERP systems preferred
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently
  • Effective communication skills to interact across departments and with external parties
  • Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and ownership of tasks
  • Team-oriented with a collaborative mindset and willingness to mentor junior staff
  • Adaptability to change and a continuous improvement mindset
  • Experience with budgeting, forecasting, or cost accounting
  • Exposure to inventory or manufacturing environments
  • Previous involvement in internal or external audits
Responsibilities
  • Prepare and post recurring journal entries with moderate complexity; assist with non-recurring entries as needed
  • Support monthly close process by preparing and reviewing account reconciliations and roll-forwards
  • Assist with the preparation of monthly financial reporting packages and variance analysis
  • Perform intermediate-level analysis comparing actual results to forecast and budget
  • Assist with development and tracking of department-level budgets and forecasts
  • Review and validate fixed asset additions and disposals; support depreciation schedules
  • Support standard cost updates and inventory reconciliations in collaboration with operations
  • Participate in physical inventory counts and cycle count reviews
  • Assist with quarterly and annual tax filings (including 1099s, Sales/Use Tax, and corporate tax packages)
  • Coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors during audits and tax reviews
  • Assist with documentation and testing of internal controls and compliance initiatives
  • Participate in process improvement initiatives and support system enhancements (ERP updates)
  • Provide guidance and training to junior accounting staff
  • Liaise with departments (AP, AR, Procurement, Operations) to resolve issues and ensure accuracy
  • Compile supporting schedules for leadership, external reporting, or compliance requirements
Desired Qualifications
  • CPA designation or progress toward certification preferred
  • Experience with ERP systems preferred
Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

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Challenge Manufacturing specializes in high-speed progressive stamping, high-tonnage transfer, automated assembly, and multiple welding methods (resistance, projection, MIG, drawn arc stud welding) to produce automotive structures for Tier 1 suppliers. Its processes turn raw metal into precise, high-quality assemblies through automated lines with about 1,500 industrial robots across 12 locations, enabling fast production and high consistency. The company differentiates itself by its large, employee-owned ESOP model that aligns worker incentives with company success, a global footprint, and a culture built on Safety, Ownership, and Teamwork, alongside its scale and focus on automotive structures. The goal is to be the best global supplier of automotive structures while delivering value to its employee-owners.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$100M

Headquarters

Walker, Michigan

Founded

1981

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • EV production reaching 35% of global sales by 2030 drives lightweight assembly demand.
  • Nearshoring trends increase North American OEM capacity 15-20% through 2027, favoring Challenge.
  • Tier 1 supplier consolidation creates M&A opportunities for employee-owned companies to scale.

What critics are saying

  • EV transition reduces stamped metal component demand; integrated battery housings favor composites.
  • Chinese suppliers undercut pricing; Challenge's Michigan cost structure cannot compete.
  • Top 3 OEM customers represent 60-75% revenue; 20% production drop loses 15-25% revenue.

What makes Challenge Manufacturing unique

  • 1,500+ industrial robots with AI-driven predictive maintenance reduce downtime 25-30%.
  • Employee-owned ESOP structure aligns workforce incentives with long-term operational excellence.
  • Specialized welding expertise positions Challenge for emerging EV battery enclosure demand.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term Disability

Basic Life

Voluntary Life

LTD

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Challenge Incentive Program

Paid Time Off

ESOP shares

Company News

Business Wire
Oct 17th, 2023
WhiteHawk Capital Partners Provides Senior Term Loan Facility to Challenge Manufacturing

WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP announced it has entered into an agreement with Challenge Mfg. Company, LLC to provide a senior term loan facility.