Director of Accounting

Director of Accounting 

About Safeware 

Safeware, Inc. is a full-line safety products distributor and service provider. Founded in 1979, Safeware has been providing public safety products to our nation’s heroes for over 40 years. Our company is built upon a foundation of dedicated professionals whose expertise and passion focus on protecting our nation and serving those who serve others. 

Safeware is headquartered in Lanham, MD, just outside of Washington, DC, with branch locations throughout the United States. 

Position Summary 

The Director of Accounting reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and is responsible for leading Safeware’s accounting operations and ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timely reporting of financial information. This role oversees general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit, audits, and internal controls across Safeware’s multi-location distribution operation. 

The Director directly manages the Accounts Payable Manager and Accounts Receivable Manager and provides leadership and oversight to their respective teams. The Director also directly owns the Accounting Support Team and Safeware’s customer credit function, including credit policies, credit decisions, credit limits, payment terms, and overall credit risk. 

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical accounting expertise, sound business judgment, and the ability to develop people, improve processes, and drive accountability. The Director partners closely with the CFO and leaders across Safeware to support the company’s continued growth. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable 

• Provide leadership and oversight to the Accounts Receivable Manager, Accounts Payable Manager, and their respective teams. 

• Monitor accounts receivable aging, collection activity, cash application, and past-due customer balances. 

• Partner with the AR Manager to address significant collection issues and improve overall receivables performance. 

• Ensure accounts payable processes support accurate and timely invoice processing, vendor payments, and appropriate financial controls. 

• Partner with the AP Manager to resolve significant vendor, invoice, and payment issues. 

• Establish and monitor key performance measures for AP and AR and hold managers accountable for department performance. 

• Work collaboratively with Sales, Purchasing, and other departments to resolve customer and vendor account issues. 

Credit Management 

• Own Safeware’s customer credit function, including credit policies, credit limits, payment terms, and overall credit risk management. 

• Review customer credit applications and establish appropriate credit limits and terms based on creditworthiness and financial risk. 

• Evaluate customer financial information, payment history, credit reports, and other relevant information to make sound credit decisions. 

• Make decisions regarding new credit, credit limit increases, account holds, and other credit-related matters within established authority levels. 

• Monitor customer credit exposure and proactively identify accounts with increasing financial or collection risk. 

• Partner with Sales leadership to balance customer relationships and revenue opportunities with appropriate financial risk. 

• Escalate significant credit exposures to the CFO and recommend appropriate action. 

• Maintain consistent credit policies, approval levels, controls, and documentation. 

Audit, Compliance & Internal Controls 

• Remain hands-on and provide direct accounting support during close, audits, and complex accounting matters as needed. 

• Prepare and review schedules, documentation, and supporting information required for audits. 

• Maintain effective internal controls across accounting functions and identify opportunities to reduce financial and operational risk. 

• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and compliance with accounting policies and procedures. 

• Identify control gaps and implement corrective actions as appropriate. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Directly manage, coach, and develop the Accounts Payable Manager, Accounts Receivable Manager, and Accounting Support Team. 

• Establish clear expectations, priorities, goals, and performance measures for the accounting department. 

• Hold managers accountable for the accuracy, productivity, performance, and development of their teams. 

• Provide ongoing coaching and feedback and support the professional development of accounting team members. 

• Build cross-training and bench strength to ensure continuity within the accounting function. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and strong internal customer service. 

Process Improvement & Business Partnership 

• Evaluate accounting processes and implement improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and internal controls. 

• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve the use of Safeware’s ERP and other financial systems. 

• Develop and monitor accounting metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement. 

• Partner closely with the CFO on accounting priorities, risks, and department initiatives. 

• Collaborate with Sales, Purchasing, Operations, Human Resources, and other departments to resolve accounting issues and improve cross-functional processes. 

• Ensure consistent accounting practices across Safeware’s locations and operations. 

• Support Safeware’s continued growth by developing scalable accounting processes, systems, and team capabilities. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required. 

• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience with increasing levels of responsibility. 

• 3+ years of accounting leadership or management experience required; experience leading managers or multiple accounting functions strongly preferred. 

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, general ledger accounting, and internal controls. 

• Experience overseeing accounts payable and accounts receivable functions. 

• Demonstrated experience with commercial credit management, including evaluating customer creditworthiness, establishing credit limits, and managing credit risk. 

• Experience within distribution, wholesale, or another high-volume, transaction-intensive environment strongly preferred. 

• Experience working within a multi-location organization preferred. 

• Experience with ERP-based accounting systems required; Epicor Prophet 21 or similar distribution ERP experience is a plus. 

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and ability to analyze large amounts of financial data. 

• Demonstrated experience improving accounting processes and implementing automation or technology solutions. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Strong technical accounting knowledge combined with a hands-on leadership style. 

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills. 

• Sound business judgment and ability to make timely, well-informed decisions. 

• Ability to lead and develop managers while maintaining accountability for overall department performance. 

• High level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail. 

• Strong communication skills and ability to explain accounting and financial matters to non-financial stakeholders. 

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

• Strong sense of ownership and accountability. 

• Collaborative approach with the ability to build effective relationships across departments and locations. 

• Strong focus on process improvement, efficiency, and scalability. 

• Ability to balance strong financial controls with the operational and customer needs of a growing distribution business.