Who We Are:

Buffalo Promise Neighborhood (BPN) is a dynamic, integrated team of engaged professionals — an extension of M&T Bank’s longstanding dedication to strengthening our community — focused on revitalization through education. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and connections to empower our students and their families to succeed.  We are part of M&T Bank’s 30-year partnership with Westminster Community Charter School, proudly providing resources to ensure students receive a rigorous and holistic education and a safe and caring learning environment so that every child can grow to meet their full potential.

The Opportunity:

We’re seeking a detail-oriented and mission-driven Senior Grant Accountant to manage financial operations for Westminster Community Charter School and Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys solving complex financial challenges, and is passionate about education and community impact.

Overview:

Serves as accountant for Buffalo Promise Neighborhood and provide accounting & payroll support for Westminster Community Charter School.  Performs financial and accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, grant accounting and reporting, retirement plan reporting, budgeting, forecasting, tax and audit preparation, board and financial reporting and other ad hoc financial analysis. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responsible for tracking and reporting complex allocations across multiple programs, projects, and reporting periods. Perform daily, monthly, quarterly and annual fund accounting and reporting procedures.
• Work on the accounting team responsible for Westminster Community Charter School’s payroll administration.  This includes biweekly processing, maintaining personnel payroll records within payroll system, ensuring payroll system functionality for compliance with CBA's, governance and retirement reporting.
• Journal entries and cash reconciliations.
• Develops budgets, forecasts and cash-flow reports.  Monitors expenses related to the segregated funds within each entity supported. Tracks allocations for pledges and services provided in-kind to Buffalo Promise Neighborhood and Westminster Community Charter School.
• Responsible for problem resolution and data interpretation, perform variance analysis and ensures timely submission of reports.
• Prepare monthly financial statements for board meetings and management presentations.
• Alert Senior Management of potential shortfalls and other fiscal issues.
• Prepares, analyzes and reviews financial, tax and regulatory information. Supports outside audit and tax preparation work.
• Serve as a primary contact for grant administration financial reporting and any closeout functions.
• Creates and analyzes financial reports, monitors grant budgets and develops efficient accounting procedures in accordance with applicable law.
• Ensures adherence to guidelines and policies and that grant funds are expended in compliance with federal, state, and local grantor agency regulations.
• Performs technical research using multiple sources of information and suggests insightful conclusions.
• Provides information to Senior Management, auditors and other interested parties while ensuring the quality of data being requested.
• Adheres to financial controls.  
• Participates in special projects and cross-functional initiatives.  Interacts with school and BPN personnel to communicate results/changes.
• Ensures success through shared responsibility of team workload to achieve department/project objectives (volume, quality, timeliness and end results).
• Understand, adhere, and contribute to improvement/timeliness of deliverables and process efficiency.
• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite. Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that reflects the M&T Bank brand.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (preferred), or Business Management/Analytics/Administration, or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years’ related work experience
• Experience in Fund or Grant Accounting
• Must possess a detailed understanding of how to account for segregated/restricted funds and their aggregate impact on the organization’s cash flow and development activities

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Experience in preparing budgets and financial reports for Government compliance requests
• Experience with working with Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Has a demonstrated interest in education; especially issues surrounding poverty and urban school districts
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office and PC Competencies
• Detail oriented, with advanced problem-solving skills
• Creative and analytical with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task while prioritizing workload
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with a supporting history of accomplishing results
• Certified Public Accountant designation a plus
• Experience with a with a recognized non-profit organization a plus.

Working Model/Location:

• This is a hybrid position requiring four days in office per week
• Eligible candidates must live within commuting distance to our M&T Bank office, located at 465 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Location