Senior Grant Accountant

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary:

The Senior Grant Accountant plays a critical role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely financial management and reporting for a complex portfolio of domestic and international grants. Currently reporting to the VP, Controller, Treasury & Financial Ops, this role serves as a subject-matter expert in grant accounting, supports audit readiness, and partners closely with program and finance teams.

This position is well-suited for a seasoned grant accounting professional who brings strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and a desire to deepen systems experience within a growing and evolving finance organization.  

This position is classified as hybrid, in accordance with Audubon’s “Where We Work” Policy. Hybrid employees are expected to work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday and an additional two days each month of the employee’s choosing. Candidates should be located within commuting distance of one of Audubon’s offices, which include locations in: 

Albuquerque, NM; Albany, NY; Anchorage, AK; Baltimore, MD; Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Columbia, SC; Fargo, ND; Fort Collins, CO; Lincoln, NE; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Palm Desert, CA; Roseville, MN; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Tallahassee, FL; and Washington, DC. 

Compensation:

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $73,000 - $82,000 / year = Albuquerque, NM; Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Fargo, ND; Fort Collins, CO; Lincoln, NE; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Salt Lake City, UT; Tallahassee, FL

• $82,000 - $92,000 / year = Albany, NY; Anchorage, AK; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Palm Desert, CA; Roseville, MN; Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC

• $91,000 - $103,000 / year = New York, NY; Oakland, CA

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Grant Support and Compliance

  • Monitor budgets for an assigned portfolio of grants, including preparation of monthly financial reports and quarterly variance analyses, and ongoing monitoring of spending levels against both grant term and fiscal year projections.

  • Coordinate with key stakeholders on grant-related financial issues to ensure compliance with applicable donor requirements and financial guidelines.

  • Work closely with finance, development and program teams to prepare funder required financial reports, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

  • Review expense coding with program managers, ensuring that direct expenses are allowable, properly documented and within approved grant budgets.

  • Assist program staff in fulfilling match requirements, including ensuring match expenses are correctly coded to grants and reviewing documentation for third party in-kind support.

  • Participate in grant meetings.

• Financial and Accounting

  • Create grant codes for new grant awards, and enter, maintain, and update grant budgets within Audubon's systems.

  • Monitor Government Grants inbox and work with the grant accounting team to research and process assigned requests.

  • Lead grant closeout reviews, working with grant specialists and accounting teams to resolve outstanding financial issues in order to fully reconcile closed grants.

  • Apply GAAP, Uniform Guidance, and special funding terms and conditions in day-to-day grant accounting to uphold internal fiscal controls and policies.

  • Participate in the organization's monthly, quarterly and fiscal year-end close process through timely and accurate grant-related reconciliations, schedules and analyses.

  • Maintain the grants receivables schedules, working with accounting, grant specialist and accounts receivables teams to reconcile receivable balances and help expedite clearing outstanding issues.

  • Provide Journal Entry training and technical guidance to other Finance staff to promote consistency and accuracy in grant-related accounting.

• Audits, Tax and Compliance

  • Serve as a key contributor to audits (financial statement, Uniform Guidance, donor audits), including preparation of schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries.

  • Serve as a key contributor to the preparation of schedules for the Tax Form 990, including schedules for grant payments and responses to tax advisor inquiries.

  • In partnership with the Manager, Grant Accounting, lead preparation and submission of the organization’s NICRA application, including development of supporting schedules, coordination across finance and program teams, and liaison with external consultant as needed.

  • Maintain strong internal controls over grant accounting and reporting, including documentation of processes and review procedures.

  • Support responses to donor, regulator, and internal compliance inquiries related to grant accounting and cost allocation.

  • Contribute to process and systems improvements, including system and workflow testing; collaborate with various finance and technology teams as needed.

  • In partnership with the Manager, Grant Accounting, support documentation and training related to grant accounting processes and Workday.

  • Maintain and foster culture of safety.

  • Other duties as assigned by manager.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting and/or finance required.

• 5 years relevant professional experience in a nonprofit or grant-funded organization. An equivalent combination of education and work experience will also be considered.

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and grant compliance standards, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). Thorough understanding of government grant accounting guidelines and donor-restricted funds preferred.

• Effective and persuasive written and verbal communications skills; ability to successfully recommend courses of action, present information to and work with program managers and staff.

• Experience supporting audits, cost allocation, and compliance activities, including preparation of schedules and supporting documentation.

• Strong Excel skills and experience working with financial systems, such as Workday, Financial Edge NXT, or equivalent preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgement in a compliance-driven environment.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

This position is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

National Audubon Society Competencies: This role will also be accountable to apply and develop the following competencies.

Fostering Relationships: Build trust, mutual respect, and understanding through regular and genuine interactions while promoting a positive and inclusive environment. 

Analytical Thinking: Recognize and value diverse perspectives and experiences in data analysis to foster a more comprehensive and equitable approach to problem-solving. 

Creativity and Innovation: Leverage creativity and imagination to generate new insights and solutions while embracing diverse ideas and approaches that foster innovation. 

Facilitating Change: Work with others to explore innovative approaches to problem-solving while promoting inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and belonging in the change process. 

Team Leadership: Communicate vision and engage others or the team to solve problems while valuing diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity. 

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.