Senior Project Accountant

Organization Description

Beyond Impact (formerly Tides Advocacy) supports fearless leaders and organizations to build power and advance progressive policies that center equity and justice in our democracy and daily lives. Founded in 1992 as a California-based 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, we leverage transformational fiscal sponsorship, impactful grantmaking, and strategic convening to strengthen organizations advancing racial and social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and systemic transformation.

Our fiscally sponsored partners include projects, funds, and collaboratives led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), other historically marginalized people, and allies, with a deliberate focus on social welfare and advocacy in Black communities as a strategy to strengthen multi-racial democracy and challenge systemic inequities. Our partners work across program focus areas including voting rights and democracy, climate and environmental justice, economic justice, health equity, civic engagement, and community-led policy innovation, leveraging Beyond Impact’s support to organize communities, build political power, and advance meaningful policy change. Guided by our core values—Joy, Equity, Integrity, Sustainability, and Solidarity—we give our partners the space to pursue bold, transformative work.

Beyond Impact  has grown substantially in recent years, managing a dynamic network of approximately 85 fiscally sponsored partners. Our collective workforce includes around 150 employees, supported by a home office team of 33 staff, alongside consultants, outside counsel, and temporary personnel. In FY 2024, Beyond Impact’s consolidated revenues were approximately $93 million, with home office operating expenses of approximately $8.5 million.

For more information, please visit beyondimpact.org. 

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Project Finance, the Senior Project Accountant serves as the primary financial liaison and fiduciary  advisor for assigned 501(c)(4) partners, ensuring accurate accounting, fiscal management, and rigorous compliance with GAAP and nonprofit regulations. This comprehensive role encompasses preparing financial reports, performing Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) including forecasting and leading periodic budget development. This role is responsible for managing the full revenue and expense cycle from reviewing and approving disbursements, monitoring cash-oh-hand and, tracking financial commitments, . A key function is acting as the primary accounting contact, providing hands-on training to  support financial systems engagement and workflow optimization.This role also supports audit preparation, grant management and, contract review This will be a stakeholder in the development and implementation of policies and controls to improve financial operations and will complete cross training with fellow colleagues within the Finance department as needed. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Accounting & Financial Management 

• Serve as the primary financial liaison for assigned 501(c)(4) partners, ensuring accurate accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting. 

• Maintain compliance with GAAP and nonprofit regulations while managing project-specific financial records. 

• Review and approve cash disbursements, invoices, contracts, and AP bills to confirm alignment with budgets and available funding. 

• Monitor cash flow and expenditures, and deliver insights to support strong fiscal management. 

• Prepare financial reports, grant reports, and budget variance analyses for both internal and external stakeholders. 

• Handle reclassifications, journal entries, and financial adjustments as needed for assigned partners. 

• Provide hands-on training for partners on budgeting, forecasting, and NetSuite financial reporting. 

• Support partner understanding of AP processes and assist with vendor threshold monitoring and payment inquiries. 

• Collaborate with service teams to proactively address payment holds, contract compliance, and deficit-related AP concerns. 

• Participate in service team meetings to reinforce financial best practices and help improve operational workflows. 

• Oversee financial components of partner transitions, including balance assessments during spin-offs or closures. 

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) 

• Conduct financial analysis and forecasting to inform strategic decision-making for partners. 

• Support the development, monitoring, and management of partner budgets to promote sustainability. 

• Deliver financial presentations and reporting packages for leadership and external stakeholders. 

• Analyze financial trends, performance variances, and KPIs to improve planning accuracy. 

• Assist with scenario planning, revenue modeling, and risk assessments to strengthen financial oversight. 

• Lead periodic budget reviews and variance analyses, highlighting risks and opportunities within cash management frameworks. 

• Contribute to long-range forecasting and planning for fiscally sponsored projects. 

Partner, Staff & Internal Collaboration 

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor, offering strategic guidance on compliance, budgeting, and financial management. 

• Act as the primary accounting contact, supporting partners through budgeting, forecasting, cash flow analysis, and report interpretation. 

• Meet regularly with partners—especially high-complexity projects—to review financials and address any balance, deficit, or cash concerns. 

• Provide monthly financial reports, including burn rate updates and balance reviews. For partners without NetSuite access, generate one-off reports as needed. 

• Verify and update NetSuite user emails to ensure proper delivery of monthly close communications and financial alerts. 

• Offer detailed training on NetSuite and other financial systems to strengthen partner and staff capacity in generating and understanding financial data. 

• Educate partners on the roles and responsibilities of other finance functions (e.g., AP, AR) to streamline service interactions. 

• Lead orientations and trainings in partnership with Advising, Legal, HR, and Operations to ensure partners understand financial systems, expectations, and procedures. 

• Support staff in interpreting financial data and reports to improve financial literacy across the organization. 

• Provide the Sample Time & CSA Expense Tracker and work with partner to create initial estimates, ensure accurate tracking of staff time and PAC-related expenses.

• Manage the full PAC Advance cycle: help ongoing estimate needs, process requests, track expenditures, and coordinate replenishments.

• Monitor Advance balances monthly and proactively alert the Project when funds are running low

• Maintain close communication with the Project and TA Advisor to support proper CSA. implementation, documentation, and year-end reconciliation.

Grants Management 

• Conduct formal reviews of all grants entered in Salesforce to ensure accuracy and compliance. 

• Communicate directly with partners (copying Advisors) to resolve grant-related inquiries. 

• Maintain grant tracking systems and approve grant invoices. 

• Generate invoices and financial coding for incoming grants. 

• Support financial reporting for grants and applications, including quarterly fund rebilling. 

Outgoing Grants Oversight & Planning 

• Review and approve grant disbursements in Salesforce, verifying correct RID and PID. 

• Resolve discrepancies in coordination with partners, Advisors, and Program Associates. 

• Participate in grant docket planning and scheduling with partners and Advisors. 

Contract Review & Compliance Coordination 

• Ensure accuracy and compliance of all contracts entered in Salesforce. 

• Assist partners in meeting compliance standards in collaboration with LRC. 

• Contribute to the development of policies for vendor disputes, financial conflicts, deficits, and overpayments. 

Partner Engagement & HR Support 

• Oversee HR workflows in Salesforce including hires, terminations, and employee changes. 

• Co-deliver financial systems training (NetSuite) with Program Associates to strengthen partner knowledge. 

• Foster strong onboarding experiences with new partners and cross-functional teams. 

• Guide partners in the correct use of financial tracking and reporting tools. 

• Manage financial elements of partner transitions, including final balances during spin-offs or closures. 

Revenue Oversight & Receivables Management 

• Administer invoicing and collections for project-related income with precision and timeliness. 

• Partner with teams to resolve outstanding receivables and allocate funds accurately. 

• Reconcile cost-sharing transactions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities. 

• Maintain clear, up-to-date records of all revenue sources, donor contributions, and grant disbursements. 

• Track and reclassify partner expenses related to Lobbying and Political activities as needed. 

• Review and approve outgoing grants in Salesforce, ensuring correct RID and PID. 

• Address discrepancies by coordinating with partners, Advisors, and Program Associates. 

• Assist in overall grants docket planning with partners and Advisors. 

General Ledger & Month-End and Annual Close 

• Prepare and post journal entries, ensuring accurate recording of project-related transactions. 

• Conduct monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations of project accounts. 

• Support the monthly financial close process, ensuring completeness and accuracy of financial data. 

• Ensure compliance with Tides Advocacy’s accounting policies and internal controls. 

Compliance, Audit & 990 Support 

• Ensure project financials adhere to nonprofit regulations and compliance requirements for lobbying and political activity. 

• Support the preparation of IRS Form 990 and assist with financial data requests from external auditors. 

• Coordinate with home office accountants to ensure audit preparedness and compliance with internal controls. 

• Monitor grant compliance, ensuring proper documentation and reporting for restricted and unrestricted funds. 

• Assist in implementing recommendations from audit findings to strengthen financial controls. 

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement 

• Recommend and implement accounting process enhancements to reduce inefficiencies and increase accuracy. 

• Contribute to the successful rollout and maintenance of financial software tools such as NetSuite and Salesforce. 

• Streamline and automate reporting practices to support real-time visibility and better financial decision-making. 

Other Duties 

• Act as a resource for team members and provide mentorship for Project Accountants 

• Participate in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Controller. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting, with expertise in fiscal sponsorship and 501(c)(4) financial management. 

• Experience managing financial operations for multiple programs, projects, or sponsored entities. 

• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks) and CRM platforms like Salesforce. 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate findings effectively. 

• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and provide guidance to non-financial stakeholders. 

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in financial practices. 

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. 

• 5+ years of experience in accounting, including project accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting. 

• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis tools. 

Preferences

• CPA certification is desirable but not required  

• Experience in nonprofit accounting, fiscal sponsorship, or 501(c)(4) financial management is highly desirable. 

• Experience with Salesforce, NetSuite, and other financial management tools preferred.