Accounting Manager

Finance | Hybrid Role | Reports to Chief Finance Officer | Supervises Accountant and Accounts Payable 

The Accounting Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of the organization’s accounting operations. Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer, this role works closely with and oversees the Accountant and Accounts Payable team members while remaining actively engaged in daily accounting activities, month-end close, financial reporting, reconciliations, grants, audits, and process improvement. The successful candidate combines strong nonprofit accounting knowledge with analytical thinking, technological fluency, curiosity, and the ability to move comfortably between detailed transactions and high-level financial insights.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations and Financial Reporting

• Lead and actively participate in day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger activity, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash activity, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, accruals, and revenue recognition.

• Manage the monthly and year-end close processes, establish clear deadlines, review supporting workpapers, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accurate and timely financial statements.

• Prepare and review financial reports, dashboards, forecasts, and budget-to-actual analyses; identify trends, risks, and opportunities and translate findings into practical recommendations.

• Maintain the chart of accounts, accounting dimensions, reporting structures, and system data to support reliable organizational, departmental, program, grant, and fund reporting.

• Support annual budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, financial planning, and other analyses requested by leadership.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, accountability, and technical support to the Accountant and Accounts Payable team member.

• Review work for accuracy, completeness, proper approval, appropriate coding, and compliance with policies and deadlines.

• Build a collaborative, service-oriented team culture while maintaining clear ownership, effective segregation of duties, and strong internal controls.

• Partner effectively with program, development, human resources, operations, and leadership teams to resolve issues, explain financial information, and support sound decision-making.

• Develop cross-training, procedures, and backup coverage to strengthen continuity and reduce reliance on any one individual.

Nonprofit Compliance, Controls, and Audit

• Ensure transactions and financial reports comply with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable nonprofit, donor, grant, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee the accounting and reporting of restricted and unrestricted contributions, grants, and other funding sources, including releases from restriction and supporting documentation. 

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls that safeguard cash and other organizational assets, promote accurate reporting, and support responsible stewardship.

• Coordinate schedules and documentation for the annual financial statement audit, Single Audit when applicable, Form 990 preparation, funder reviews, and other compliance activities.

• Maintain current accounting policies, procedures, desktop instructions, and audit-ready records.

Technology, Automation, and Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a highly capable user of Microsoft 365 platforms, including advanced Excel, Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. 

• Use approved AI and automation tools responsibly to improve analysis, documentation, reporting, workflow efficiency, and quality control while protecting confidential financial and employee information. 

• Leverage Sage Intacct and connected systems to improve workflows, dashboards, approvals, reporting, and data integrity; troubleshoot issues and support user adoption.

• Question existing practices, identify root causes, and recommend creative, scalable solutions that improve accuracy, efficiency, control, and service. 

• Remain current on nonprofit accounting developments, technology capabilities, and emerging best practices.

Core Competencies

• Hands-on leadership: Willingly works in the details while setting priorities, reviewing work, and developing others. 

• Analytical perspective: Connects transaction-level detail to financial trends, operational implications, risk, and organizational strategy.

• Initiative and accountability: Operates as a self-starter, works independently, follows through, and meets deadlines without sacrificing quality.

• Team orientation: Collaborates respectfully, shares knowledge, communicates clearly, and supports organizational goals beyond the finance function.

• Curiosity and innovation: Asks thoughtful questions, challenges assumptions, thinks outside the box, and seeks better ways to work.

• Judgment and integrity: Handles confidential information appropriately and demonstrates sound judgment, accuracy, and a strong commitment to stewardship

• Adaptability: Manages competing priorities effectively and remains composed and solution-focused in a changing environment.

Required Qualification

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

• At least five years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including experience leading, reviewing, or supervising the work of others.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience with general ledger accounting, month-end close, reconciliations, financial statement preparation, budgeting, variance analysis, and audit support.

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting; experience with grants, restricted funding, and compliance requirements strongly preferred.

• Advanced proficiency in Excel and strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications and collaboration platforms. 

• Demonstrated ability to use technology, automation, and AI-enabled tools thoughtfully, securely, and effectively.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent hands-on experience with Sage Intacct, including general ledger, accounts payable, purchasing, dashboards, dimensions, and financial reporting.

• Experience in a nonprofit organization with multiple programs, funding sources, grants, or government awards.

• Experience improving finance processes, implementing systems, developing dashboards, or creating automated workflow