Senior Accountant

Overview

Job Title: Senior Accountant 

Department: Finance 

Reports To: Senior Director, Finance

Job Band: 6

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Washington, DC | Hybrid

Schedule: Full-Time

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Accountant serves as the operational right hand to the Director, Finance and as the team’s senior technical accounting resource. This position oversees the full accounting cycle, including daily transaction review, reconciliations, month- and year-end close, financial reporting, audit preparation, payroll accounting, and federal grant compliance.

The Senior Accountant is responsible for ensuring that transactions are accurately recorded, properly classified, supported, and reported in accordance with GAAP, applicable GASB requirements, federal grant regulations, and organizational policies. The position serves as the primary quality-control layer between staff-level accounting work and the Director, Finance, and provides leadership and coverage for the Finance function in the Director’s absence.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with sound judgment, attention to detail, independent problem-solving skills, and a commitment to developing the knowledge and capabilities of other Finance team members.

Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Financial Close

• Review and approve daily accounting transactions, journal entries, adjustments, and cost allocations to ensure accuracy, proper classification, supporting documentation, and appropriate accounting periods.
• Review and approve GL account reconciliations and resolve discrepancies involving cash, AP, AR, payroll, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Manage month-end and year-end close activities, including accruals, adjusting entries, financial statement preparation, and validation of asset, liability, and equity balances.
• Review closing entries prepared by Finance staff and serve as the primary quality-control reviewer before Director approval.
• Monitor cash requirements and approve wire transfers within delegated authority.
• Ensure costs are appropriately allocated among departments, grants, and projects in accordance with organizational methodology and federal award requirements.

Financial Reporting & Federal Compliance

• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including reports such as SF-425, statements of obligations and expenses, unfunded liabilities, and exchange-rate gains and losses.
• Ensure financial reporting complies with GAAP, applicable GASB standards, 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance), and organizational requirements.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to obtain information required for financial and federal reporting.
• Liaise with auditors, banks, regulators, and other external parties as directed by the Director, Finance.

Tax, Audit & Benefits Reporting

• Support federal and state tax filings, including Form 990, and prepare supporting schedules for senior management and the Board.
• Review quarterly Forms 941 and applicable state filings; ensure W-2 and 1099 requirements are met and reconcile filed returns to payroll records and the GL.
• Monitor changes in federal and state tax requirements affecting tax-exempt organizations and communicate significant impacts to the Director.
• Serve as the primary preparer for external financial, compliance, pension, workers’ compensation, ERISA, and other regulatory audits.
• Prepare audit schedules, reconcile supporting documentation to the GL, coordinate auditor requests, and assist with resolution of audit findings.
• Manage the VEBA reporting cycle, including census submissions, actuarial report review, and related financial statement entries.

Leadership, Oversight & Coverage

• Serve as the Director, Finance’s primary backup and provide day-to-day leadership and decision-making within delegated authority during the Director’s absence.
• Maintain accountability for the accuracy and completeness of reconciliations prepared by Finance staff.
• Mentor and develop junior accounting staff by explaining the rationale behind accounting processes and controls.
• Identify problems proactively, analyze the underlying issue, and bring the Director a clear assessment, supporting data, and recommended solution.
• Promote strong internal controls, process improvements, and consistent accounting practices across the Finance function.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in nonprofit, government-funded, or international organizations, including at least 4 years of government accounting experience.
• Hands-on experience applying GASB standards to accounting transactions and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing external audits from preparation through resolution of findings.
• Federal grant reporting experience, including preparation of SF-425 and working knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200.
• Strong full-cycle accounting experience, including GL, AP, AR, reconciliations, payroll accounting, and financial reporting.
• Experience with ADP or a comparable payroll system and demonstrated ability to reconcile payroll activity to the GL.
• Direct Costpoint experience is required.
• Demonstrated ability to identify accounting misclassifications and evaluate transactions based on their impact on the complete financial statements.
• Strong understanding of accounting controls, financial statement presentation, and period-end close processes.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• CPA certification or active progress toward CPA licensure.
• Experience with Costpoint or a comparable ERP system.
• At least five years of experience supervising, mentoring, or developing accounting staff.
• Experience with Form 990 preparation and review.
• Familiarity with IFRS in a dual-reporting environment.
• Experience with international development, media, or USAGM-funded organizations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Technical Accounting & Judgment — Demonstrates strong technical accounting knowledge, understands where transactions belong and why, and can identify classification and reporting issues before they become problems.
• Systems Thinking & Process Improvement — Looks beyond existing processes to identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve efficiency, eliminate duplicate work, and enhance the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting.
• Independent Problem Solving — Investigates issues thoroughly before escalating them and brings forward the relevant facts, analysis, and a proposed solution.
• Leadership & Teaching — Develops staff through clear explanations and practical guidance, emphasizing understanding of the underlying accounting principles rather than simply following procedures.
• Reliability & Accountability — Maintains accuracy and consistency under tight deadlines and high-volume periods. Provides direct, timely communication and raises concerns when necessary rather than assuming silence represents agreement.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, DC. This position is hybrid, with three days in-office and two days remote weekly. Work is sedentary, performed at a desk using standard office equipment, with occasional lifting up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Salary Range: 88,500-116,200/Year. Final salary is commensurate with experiences and skills that are compatible with the requirements of the role. 

This position is ineligible for sponsorship by the company for any work authorization, applicant must possess existing work authorization to be considered for the position.