Smart Growth America is searching for a new Staff Accountant to add to its leadership, administration, and communications team. This person will support general accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls and compliance.
About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is a leading national non-profit organization advocating for equitable, sustainable land use, development, housing, and transportation, in short Smart Growth. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize this vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity. Programmatic priorities for SGA include advancing racial equity, addressing the climate crisis, and improving the health of communities.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Vice President of Finance and Administration, the Staff Accountant is responsible for day-to-day accounting support, managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, and monthly general ledger reconciliations, including bank statements. The staff accountant also prepares monthly cash flow statements and other ad hoc financial reports for end users and facilitates annual organizational audits. This role will also help develop, review, enforce, and improve policies, systems, and procedures.
Responsibilities
General Accounting
- Ensures the integrity of accounting information by recording, verifying, consolidating, and entering transactions.
- Prepares and records asset, liability, revenue, and expense entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
- Maintains and balances sub-ledger accounts by verifying, allocating, posting, and reconciling transactions and resolving discrepancies.
- Manage and oversee general accounting activities and operations of SGA (A/P, A/R, GL, etc.)
- Assist with month-end and year-end close process.
Financial Reporting
- Monitor and analyze accounting data and produce financial reports and statements as required.
- Assist in financial analysis on an ad hoc basis.
- Recommend ways to reduce costs and enhance revenue.
- Assist with annual audits and assist the VP in running audits.
- Reconcile accounts monthly to ensure accurate reporting and ledger maintenance.
- Assist and support the finance team on an ad hoc basis.
Thought Leadership
- Provide recommendations, improve systems and procedures, and initiate corrective actions as appropriate.
- Establish and enforce accounting policies and principles.
- Develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.
- Ensure compliance with GAAP principles.
- Establish and enforce accounting policies and principles.
- Investigate and resolve audit findings, account discrepancies, and issues of non-compliance.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and skills
Required
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant not-for-profit accounting experience
- Experience using Sage Intacct, Bill.com, and Concur expense reporting financial systems.
- Must have in-depth Excel and general ledger computer application knowledge, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to exercise sound and logical judgment in various situations.
- Visible and recognized expertise in financial systems, including general ledger, GAAP, financial statement presentation, budgeting, payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
- Expertise in the use of spreadsheets and other software programs available to maximize efficiency. Advanced MS Excel skills, including vlookups and pivot tables.
- Must possess the ability to interact with all staff levels in a fast-paced environment, with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Thorough knowledge of basic accounting procedures.
- Ability to write policy manuals.
- Highly organized, efficient, and process-oriented.
- Proficient computer skills, including Google and MS Office.
Preferred
- Flexible and creative self-starter who can work both independently and within a team.
- Service-oriented, excellent team member and able to juggle multiple priorities with shifting agendas.
- Entrepreneurial spirit with a high degree of initiative and motivation.
- Experience using software to identify and analyze quality indicators and data, measure variables and highlight trends.
- Resourceful, independent thinker, self-sufficient and self-motivated.
- Knowledgeable and organized with a proactive attitude and strong coordination/collaboration skills.
Compensation
Salary commensurate with applicable experience ranges from $62,920 to $72,358. To be considered for a salary at the top of the range, the successful candidate would need to have at least three (3) years of relevant not-for-profit accounting experience, the required qualifications, some of the preferred skills, and mission alignment.
SGA offers a generous employee benefits package featuring a fully paid medical plan, optional dental and vision coverage, 401k with a strong company contribution, company-paid life and disability insurance, transportation stipend, three weeks’ vacation in the first year and 12 paid holidays.
Office Schedule & COVID Protocols
This position is based in Washington, DC. SGA staff work in the office at 1350 Eye St. NW, Tuesdays-Thursdays. No relocation assistance is offered at this time. SGA requires employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and boosted.
How to apply
Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with “Staff Accountant” in the subject line. Selected applicants will be contacted via email. Please indicate how/where you learned of this job opportunity in your cover letter. Applications will be accepted immediately on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.