ACCOUNTANT

Description

The Accountant will support the organization's day-to-day accounting operations and help ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of financial records. This position will work closely with the Director of Finance and Bookkeeper and will play an important role in general ledger management, account reconciliations, grant accounting, financial reporting, audit preparation, and month-end and year-end close activities.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting professional with strong reconciliation skills, nonprofit or grant-funded accounting experience, and the ability to research and resolve financial discrepancies independently.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General Accounting

• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts.
• Prepare and post journal entries and supporting documentation.
• Perform monthly bank, credit card, payroll, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Review financial transactions for accuracy, proper coding, and supporting      documentation.
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Maintain schedules for prepaid expenses, accrued liabilities, fixed assets, receivables, deferred revenue, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and outstanding reconciling items.
• Assist in maintaining organized and complete electronic and financial records.

Grant Accounting and Financial Compliance

• Assist with accounting for government, foundation, and other restricted grants.
• Track grant expenditures against approved budgets.
• Review expenses for proper grant coding, allowability, and documentation.
• Assist with preparation of grant invoices, reimbursement requests, and financial reports.
• Maintain grant receivable schedules and assist with monitoring outstanding reimbursements.
• Support allocation of shared and indirect costs across programs and funding sources.
• Collaborate with program staff to resolve budget and expenditure questions.
• Assist in maintaining documentation required for grant monitoring and funder reviews.

Audit Preparation

• Assist with preparation for annual financial and compliance audits.
• Prepare reconciliations, schedules, supporting documents, and other audit materials.
• Respond to auditor requests under the direction of the Director of Finance.
• Assist with researching and resolving historical accounting discrepancies.
• Support preparation and organization of documentation for outstanding audit periods.
• Assist with recording approved audit adjustments and maintaining supporting documentation.
• Help establish systems that improve ongoing audit readiness.

Financial Reporting

• Assist with preparation of monthly financial statements and management reports.
• Prepare budget-to-actual reports and support schedules.
• Assist with analysis of account balances and significant financial variances.
• Provide financial information and reports to the Director of Finance as requested.
• Support development of reliable financial information for program and executive leadership.

Accounts Payable, Receivable, and Payroll Support

• Review accounts payable transactions for appropriate coding, documentation, and approvals.
• Assist with accounts receivable tracking and collection of outstanding grant and other receivables.
• Reconcile payroll and related benefit accounts to the general ledger.
• Assist with resolving discrepancies involving vendors, payroll, employee benefits, and other financial transactions.
• Provide backup support for accounting functions as needed.

Internal Controls and Finance Operations

• Follow and support organizational fiscal policies and internal control procedures.
• Identify inconsistencies, documentation gaps, and potential accounting issues and bring them to the attention of the Director of Finance.
• Assist with development and implementation of improved accounting processes and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality of financial, employee, vendor, and organizational information.
• Work collaboratively with Finance, Human Resources, Operations, and program staff.
• Perform other finance and accounting duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and significant relevant experience.

• Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible accounting experience.

• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting and account reconciliation.

• Experience preparing journal entries and supporting month-end close activities.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting software.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve financial discrepancies.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to financial accuracy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous accounting experience in a nonprofit organization.

• Experience with government grants, contracts, or restricted funding.

• Experience supporting annual financial audits.

• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and fund accounting.

• Experience with District of Columbia government-funded programs.

• Experience preparing grant reimbursement requests and financial reports.

• Experience working in an organization with multiple funding sources and cost centers.

The successful candidate will be someone who, (1) enjoys working directly with financial records and solving accounting issues. (2) can independently reconcile accounts and identify the source of discrepancies, (3) understands the importance of accurate documentation and audit readiness, (4) is comfortable working in a fast-paced nonprofit environment, (5) communicates effectively with both finance and non-finance staff, (6) is organized, dependable, and able to follow financial issues through resolution, (6) values accountability, accuracy, stewardship, and continuous improvement.