Manager, Accounting

Ensure Accuracy. Strengthen Accountability. Advance Mission. 

About Aspire:

Since 1960, Aspire has been creating boundless opportunities for people with disabilities. We believe in working together to pursue greater possibilities, foster meaningful connections, and build communities where everyone belongs. Every member of our team plays a role in advancing this mission!

The Role:

The Manager, Accounting plays a critical role in managing the organization’s day-to-day financial operations, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial records. Reporting directly to the Controller, this position leads month-end and year-end close activities, prepares and analyzes financial reports, coordinates audit and compliance efforts, and ensures adherence to GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.

Working closely with accounting and finance colleagues, the Manager, Accounting helps strengthen financial controls, support informed decision-making, and advance the organization’s mission.

This role is ideal for an accounting professional who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and takes pride in accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys taking ownership of financial processes, leading complex accounting activities, and collaborating across teams while upholding integrity, teamwork, and operational excellence.

What You’ll Do:

Manage General Accounting & Financial Operations

• Partner with the Controller to execute monthly reconciliations of general ledger accounts in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards. 
• Prepare, review, and post monthly journal entries, including accruals, allocations, and adjusting entries. 
• Lead execution of monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes. 
• Independently perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet reconciliations. 
• Produce and analyze internal financial statements and management reports.

Support Budgeting & Financial Analysis

• Collaborate with the Controller on budget development, forecasting, and variance analysis. 
• Monitor and analyze departmental spending, identifying variances, trends, and risks. 
• Implement and maintain cost allocation methodologies across programs and funding sources.

Coordinate Audit & Compliance Efforts

• Coordinate annual financial audit preparation and serve as a primary liaison for auditor requests. 
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of restricted funds in collaboration with the Finance team. 
• Prepare and review grant reporting, including expenditure support and reconciliations, in compliance with funder, state, and federal requirements. 
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls and financial documentation to ensure compliance with organizational policies. 
• Drive process improvements to enhance financial controls, accuracy, and operational efficiency.

Provide Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support

• Work closely with the Accounts Payable & Payroll colleagues to ensure accurate expense coding and payroll allocations. 
• Coordinate with the Entitlement team members to reconcile client-related revenue and benefits. 
• Provide accounting support and guidance to program and administrative staff as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of accounting work experience required.
• Knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles required.
• Experience with general ledger accounting and reconciliations required.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, and especially Excel required.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license and consistently good driving record required.
• Associate’s Degree in Accounting preferred.
• Experience working with grants, restricted funds, or government contracts preferred.
• Familiarity with nonprofit financial statements (Statement of Financial Position, Activities, Functional Expenses) preferred. 
• Experience with accounting systems such as MIP, Intacct, NetSuite, or similar preferred.

Who You Are:

• An effective communicator who can clearly communicate at all levels of the organization through oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Exceptionally attentive to detail and accuracy, with the ability to record information accurately and effectively. 
• Customer-oriented, with a passion for providing superior customer service and follow-up.
• Collaborative and able to work effectively with others toward shared goals.
• Highly organized, with the ability to establish and manage priorities, multitask, and execute against multiple competing priorities in an environment with frequent interruptions and distractions.
• Skilled in project management, including setting clear goals, creating structured plans, maintaining detailed schedules, and adhering to deadlines.
• Committed to continuous improvement and identifying opportunities to strengthen processes. 
• Interpersonally engaging, courteous, and tactful when working with team members, families, and outside organizations.

Why Join Us? 

Our organization is deeply committed to creating positive change in the communities we serve. We value collaboration, accountability, and innovation, and we believe strong financial stewardship and operational excellence are essential to advancing our mission.

Full-Time Benefits (for employees regularly scheduled to work 37.5+ hours per week):

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Options
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time)
• 13 Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're driven to use your accounting expertise to support strong financial stewardship, accuracy, and mission-focused work, we want to hear from you!

Apply today and use your accounting expertise to support financial stewardship, advance our mission, and strengthen the communities we serve!