Accounting Specialist

This position will oversee accounting and reporting, general ledger analysis and reconciliation, and accounting policy development; computes and prepares data for journal entries, general ledger, and related financial statements.

Job Title: Accounting Specialist

Job Description:

Summary: This position will oversee accounting and reporting, general ledger analysis and reconciliation, and accounting policy development; computes and prepares data for journal entries, general ledger, and related financial statements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities may include:

• Maintaining financial records and reports.
• Prepare account reconciliations; Prepare bank account and credit card reconciliations.
• Reconciles specified general ledger accounts and prepares account analysis; resolves reconciliation differences on a monthly basis.
• Monthly journal entry preparation; Prepares, records, and in certain cases reviews for accuracy and corrects posting entries.
• Flexibility – May work on multiple Finance Department areas (Cash Receipts, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Grant Accounting) and responsibilities; Act as backup for other Finance Department staff in their absence.
• Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criterion for obtaining results; works autonomously and checks-in as decisions are made.
• Maintains Fixed Assets and related Depreciation Schedules.
• Sales tax calculations and reporting.
• Prepares or reviews financial reports, analyses, work papers or schedules relating to significant or complex accounting areas.
• Cash flow analysis and cash forecasting.
• Treasury Management functions; May be responsible for the preparation of ACH and wire transfers.
• Participates in discrete accounting projects as assigned.
• Assist with budget/forecast activities, evaluating standards, compliance with internal and external audits.
• Assist in the monthly closing process; Complete month-end close tasks in a timely manner.
• Assist in the preparation of the monthly financial statements.
• Assist in the preparation for both internal and external financial audits; Assists with Year End Audit schedules.
• Assist with monthly financial and department level reporting.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by Accounting Manager, Controller and CFO.

Education and Experience: Bachelors’ Degree (Accounting or Finance) is required. Position requires three to five years of experience in accounting and financial reporting.

Language Skills: Must speak English. Bilingual (English/Spanish) highly desirable. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Clearly communicate (via both telephone and/or email) and resolve issues in a timely manner.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have a strong working knowledge of Accounting software and ERP systems; Financial Reporting software; Business Intelligence software; Database software; Design software; Internet software; Payroll systems; Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint) and accounting software (e.g. Great Plains).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: CPA license or equivalent is desirable but not required.

Competencies:

• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Analytical: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Communication: Very good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail Oriented: Must be an organized professional with a great eye for detail.
• Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Knowledge: Solid knowledge of U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and regulations. Excellent knowledge of accounting and financial processes (budgeting, financial closure, financial reporting, etc.). Understanding of data analysis, budgeting and forecasting.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to forger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.