Staff Accountant

Position Title: Staff Accountant

Employer: Workforce Initiative Association

Work Location: In-Person, Canton, Ohio

Employment Type: Regular, Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: $55,000 to $62,000/annually; commensurate with experience

About the Role

Our organization is looking for a Staff Accountant to play a key role in our financial operations. This is more than routine bookkeeping; you'll exercise independent judgment and discretion on matters affecting our accounts, payroll, vendor relationships, and grant cost allocations within defined thresholds, with periodic oversight from the Accounting Manager. You'll also provide day-to-day supervision of the Office Operations Specialist.

If you're detail-oriented, comfortable making sound judgment calls, and want your accounting expertise to directly support our mission and someone who brings a professional, positive attitude to every interaction. Apply today! 

Job Summary

The Staff Accountant plays a crucial role in supporting the financial operations of the organization. Responsibilities include a wide range of accounting and administrative tasks to ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions, compliance with financial regulations, and support of federal and state grant compliance and reporting. Beyond routine processing, the Staff Accountant exercises independent judgment and discretion within defined dollar and policy thresholds on matters affecting the organization's accounts, vendor relationships, and grant cost allocations, subject to periodic (not transaction-by-transaction) review by the Accounting Manager. The Staff Accountant also provides day-to-day supervision of the Office Operations Specialist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. 

General Ledger:

• Create and maintain the general ledger by recording financial transactions and journal entries, identifying and correcting misclassifications independently.
• Accurately enter financial transactions into accounting software or spreadsheets.
• Maintain and update financial records, including accounts payable and receivable.
• Reconcile bank statements with company records to identify discrepancies.
• Investigate and resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Determine and apply appropriate general ledger and grant/non-grant cost allocation treatment for non-routine or ambiguous transactions, using professional accounting judgment consistent with GAAP and grant compliance requirements, subject to the Accounting Manager's periodic review rather than pre-approval.
• Independently investigate, evaluate, and resolve vendor account and bank reconciliation discrepancies, determining and executing the appropriate correcting entry rather than referring routine discrepancies for approval; entries with unresolved or unusual root causes are reported to the Accounting Manager at month-end.
• Evaluate and prioritize the sequencing of outgoing payments during periods of constrained cash flow, weighing vendor terms, contractual obligations, and organizational priorities to determine payment order.
• In the Accounting Manager's absence, will exercise independent judgment to approve or hold transactions within established organizational policy.

Accounts Payable and Receivable:

• Handle accounts payable functions, review to ensure accuracy, proper authorization, process payments and vendor communication.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Handle accounts receivable, generate and send invoices, monitor outstanding invoices, and follow up on overdue payments.
• Record and allocate payments received from customers.
• Verify and process invoices for payment.
• Ensure invoices are accurately coded and approved before payment.
• Generate basic financial reports, such as income statements and balance sheets.
• Assist in preparing financial reports for management or regulatory purposes.\
• Track and categorize business expenses and prepare expense reports.
• Review and process employee expense reports, ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Independently review, code, and approve routine and non-routine vendor invoices for payment, exercise judgment as to proper coding, allowable costs, and reasonableness; invoices above threshold or outside normal vendor terms are escalated to the Accounting Manager.

Payroll:

• Independently administer end-to-end payroll processing using the HRIS system ensuring accuracy of timekeeping, deductions, and benefit contributions and resolving discrepancies prior to processing. 
• Compile and submit staff retirement reports.
• Review agency tax reporting to ensure accuracy.
• Collaborate with HR to handle payroll-related inquiries from employees.

Compliance and Audit Support:

• Provide compliance support, invoice tracking, and recordkeeping for federal and state grant management and reporting, in coordination with the Grants Coordinator. 
• Assist in preparing documents and records for financial audits.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal financial policies.
• Support the Grants Coordinator by tracking grant-related invoices and maintaining supporting documentation for subrecipient and contract monitoring files. 
• Assist in developing policies and procedures.

Communication:

• Collaborate with colleagues and other departments to gather financial information and resolve accounting-related issues.
• Provide support for special projects and financial initiatives.
• Recommend improvements to accounting procedures and internal controls based on independent evaluation of recurring issues; recommendations are given substantial weight in the Accounting Manager's decision-making

Directly supervise employee(s) and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees, planning, assigning, and directing work, appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Perform any other duties or tasks consistent with the nature of this position and the goals of the organization.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required, and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible accounting experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.
• Experience with federal or state workforce development programs, particularly under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), is highly desired.
• Proficiency in accounting and payroll software, MS Dynamics GP and HRIS/Paylocity knowledge a plus; Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel), and ability to quickly learn, navigate, and use various web applications.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and financial concepts.
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state financial regulations and compliance standards preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of customer and staff information.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, work independently, and effectively collaborate with all levels of the organization and its customers.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, assign work, effectively manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license.
• Ability to travel for training or conferences, as needed. 

About Workforce Initiative Association (WIA): 

WIA's mission is to provide workforce development programs that serve area businesses and prepare adults and youth for worthwhile and sustainable employment, especially recognizing those economically disadvantaged individuals and others in special need, through the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act federally funded programs. WIA also operates the OhioMeansJobs Centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties; a partnership of community organizations providing employment, training, and education resources. The centers are located in Canton and New Philadelphia. WIA staff fulfill roles that directly assist job seeker and business customers with their workforce needs. 

What We Offer:

• Participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).
• Full-time staff have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits; competitive sick/vacation leave; and company paid life insurance.
• Standard full-time work week of 37.50 hours (1950 hours per year).
• Compensation $55,000 to $62,000/annually; commensurate with experience