Job Description

About Blain Hydraulics

Founded in Heilbronn, Germany, in 1971, Blain Hydraulics is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of hydraulic elevator flow control valves, with more than one million units operating globally (blain.de, blainhydraulics.com). To serve North American customers more directly, Blain Hydraulics Inc. established its U.S. base in Battle Creek’s Fort Custer Industrial Park, from where we distribute, and support our advanced flow control valves, safety components and accessories. Our culture prizes precision, engineering rigor, and proactive service - values carried through every Blain employee.

Purpose of the Role

Our company is continuously growing, and we are now focused on establishing and expanding our presence in the United States. In this role, you will serve as the accounting and back-office backbone of our U.S. operations, ensuring that day-to-day transactions, month-end closings, and compliance activities are executed with accuracy, transparency, and timeliness. This position is ideal for a hands-on professional who seeks meaningful responsibility and impact, but without the requirement of a full-time commitment.

Key Responsibilities

·

Transaction Processing

– Code and post accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), cash receipts, and employee expense reports in

Zoho

within 24 hours of receipt.

·

Bookkeeping Oversight

– Maintain accurate daily ledgers, monitor data consistency, and ensure all financial records are well-organised and audit-ready.

·

Vendor & Billing Control

– Review incoming bills for accuracy, validate against purchase orders and receipts, flag discrepancies, and initiate corrections as needed.

·

Reconciliations

– Perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet account reconciliations by the 5th business day of each month.

·

Payment Coordination

– Monitor payment due dates, follow up on overdue receivables, issue customer reminders, and liaise with vendors to resolve AP queries.

·

General-Ledger Integrity

– Prepare recurring and ad-hoc journal entries; maintain depreciation and fixed-asset schedules in accordance with internal policy and GAAP.

·

ERP Database Maintenance

– Ensure master data integrity for suppliers, customers, and GL accounts within the ERP system; assist with data clean-up and mapping.

·

Month-End Close

– Compile trial balance, perform variance analysis, and deliver supporting documentation to the Finance Manager for review.

·

Compliance Support

– Assist with payroll journal entries (payroll processed externally); prepare PBC (Prepared By Client) lists and schedules for external auditors.

·

Sales Operations Support

– Assist the customer-service or inside-sales team by entering or verifying basic sales orders in the ERP system as needed.

·

Process Improvement

– Identify inefficiencies in recurring tasks; recommend and help implement automation or SOP documentation to improve speed and reliability.

·

Strategic Growth Support

– Provide accounting and administrative assistance in diversification initiatives, including new manufacturing capabilities, product line expansions, or the formation of new business verticals.

Preferred Qualifications

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting / Finance or a closely related field. Minimum two years’ bookkeeping or staff-accountant experience under U.S. GAAP. Working knowledge of a mainstream ERP/GL platform (Sage, Zoho, NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, etc.) and Excel (look-ups, pivots). Proven record of accuracy, deadline discipline and independent follow-through. Authorisation to work in Germany without present or future sponsorship.

Preferred Assets

Exposure to manufacturing, distribution, or industrial components environments. Familiarity with inventory or multi-entity intercompany accounting. Experience building dashboards in Power BI or similar BI tools.

What We Offer

Predictable part-time hours that integrate with family, study or consulting commitments. Competitive hourly pay, paid holidays prorated to hours worked. At Blain, we provide a supportive environment with ample opportunities for personal development. Modern workspace with dedicated accounting tools, free parking, and direct access to engineering/operations teams. A culture where meticulous work and continuous improvement are recognised and acted upon quickly.

Application Process

Submit your résumé and brief cover note at hr@blainhydraulics.com

Equal Opportunity

Blain Hydraulics is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

If you bring an eye for detail, a passion for process integrity, and the desire to keep global engineering operations running smoothly - on a schedule that respects your life outside work - we would like to meet you.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 19.000,00€ - 25.000,00€ per year

Expected hours: 15 – 20 per week

Work Location: In person

Expected Start Date: 01/11/2025