Assistant Controller / Accounting Manager

District Partners is partnering with a well-established, mission-driven trade association to identify an experienced Assistant Controller / Accounting Manager to take ownership of its core accounting and financial reporting function.

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, this highly visible role will serve as the organization’s technical accounting and financial reporting lead, overseeing the month-end close while remaining hands-on in day-to-day accounting operations. The Assistant Controller / Accounting Manager will play an important role in ensuring accurate financial reporting, strengthening internal processes, and supporting the continued effectiveness of the Finance function.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a strong foundation in public accounting, particularly nonprofit audit experience, who is ready to transition into an operational accounting role with greater ownership and impact. The ideal candidate combines strong GAAP and financial reporting knowledge with a hands-on approach and is comfortable digging into reconciliations, reviewing journal entries, resolving accounting issues, and identifying opportunities to improve and streamline the close process.

What You'll be Owning:

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting

• Own the preparation and accuracy of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP
• Serve as the organization's primary resource for technical accounting matters, researching and documenting accounting conclusions as needed
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure financial activity is appropriately classified, supported, and reported
• Review balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, account activity, and supporting schedules for accuracy and completeness
• Partner with the Director of Finance to provide management with clear, timely, and actionable financial reporting
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis through accurate accounting data and variance analysis

Month-End Close & Accounting Operations

• Direct and own the month-end and year-end close processes, establishing timelines, coordinating responsibilities, and ensuring deadlines are consistently met
• Provide hands-on oversight of general ledger accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, banking, cash activity, and other operational accounting functions
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other recurring or complex accounting activity
• Identify opportunities to streamline the close, reduce manual processes, and improve the quality and efficiency of the accounting function
• Serve as a hands-on resource and backup for critical accounting activities when needed

Audit, Tax & Internal Controls

• Lead the day-to-day coordination of the annual financial statement audit, including preparation of schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor requests
• Support preparation of the organization's annual Form 990 and other required tax and regulatory filings
• Maintain and strengthen accounting policies, procedures, documentation, and internal controls
• Ensure accounting practices remain compliant with GAAP and applicable nonprofit accounting and reporting requirements
• Proactively identify accounting, reporting, and control issues and partner with the Director of Finance to develop practical solutions

Finance Partnership & Process Improvement

• Work closely with the Director of Finance on financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and other strategic finance initiatives
• Translate accounting results into useful information for organizational leadership
• Evaluate existing accounting workflows and recommend opportunities for automation, standardization, and improved controls
• Help build a scalable accounting infrastructure that supports the organization's continued growth and evolving needs

What You'll Bring to the Table:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; Accounting degree strongly preferred.
• Approximately 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, although candidates with slightly less experience and a strong public accounting foundation will be considered.
• CPA strongly preferred.
• Public accounting experience strongly preferred, particularly experience performing financial statement audits of nonprofit organizations, associations, foundations, or similar tax-exempt entities.
• Strong working knowledge of GAAP and financial statement preparation.
• Understanding of nonprofit accounting and reporting requirements.
• Experience managing or playing a significant role in the month-end and year-end close process.
• Strong general ledger and account reconciliation skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and comfort learning and optimizing accounting and financial systems.
• Ability to move comfortably between higher-level technical accounting questions and hands-on accounting work.
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Clear communicator who can explain accounting and financial matters to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Organized, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of deadlines and deliverables.

Why This Opportunity?:

• This role offers an unusual combination of technical accounting ownership, operational responsibility, and visibility to leadership within a manageable-sized organization
• Rather than owning one narrow piece of a much larger accounting department, the Assistant Controller / Accounting Manager will have exposure across the full accounting cycle and the opportunity to directly influence how the finance function operates
• For a public accounting professional, this can be an especially attractive opportunity to move from auditing nonprofit financial statements to owning them—while continuing to use the technical accounting foundation developed in public accounting
• The position also provides a natural path for someone looking to develop toward a future Controller or senior finance leadership role

Location: Old Town Alexandria, VA

Schedule: Hybrid – 4 days per week onsite

Travel: Minimal travel, generally limited to approximately two organizational conferences per year

Reports to: Director of Finance

Organization: ~$10M Trade Association

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive compensation will be offered based on experience and qualifications.

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid federal holidays
• Subsidized medical and dental coverage
• Medical expense reimbursement plan
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
• Additional employer-sponsored benefits