Accounting Associate

Job Description

Job Description

WHO WE ARE

Arena Stage is the voice of American theater resident in our nation's capital. Focused on American artists, our productions are innovative and representative of stories from across the country. We nurture new plays and reimagine classics. We celebrate our democracy and diversity through a multitude of voices in our productions and community engagement programs to inspire people to action.

WHAT WE VALUE

A work culture that values experimentation and collaboration.

Excellence in all aspects of our endeavor.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion throughout the Organization and within our audience and the community.

Community Service through education and public engagement.

Lead effective partnerships and collaboration to serve artists and arts professionals.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Accounting Associate will be a member of the Business Office team and work closely with all departments of Arena Stage. The Accounting Associate will be able to learn several key accounting principles including accounts payable management, revenue recognition, contributions support, audit best practices, and more.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the front desk representative for the Business Office, welcoming colleagues, answering questions, and directing them to the appropriate team member for assistance.
• Monitor the departmental email inbox and respond to internal and external inquiries regarding invoices, vendor payments, check status, and other pay-related matters.
• Represent the department in internal communications and staff engagement activities.
• Receive and process daily mail, including scanning and sorting checks and distributing mail to departments in a timely manner.
• Respond to miscellaneous requests from other departments and serve as a resource for routine Business Office needs.
• Review accounts payable invoices submitted by departments through the accounting system for completeness, accuracy, coding, and required approvals prior to processing.
• Assist with accounts payable processing, including preparing invoices for payment, entering or verifying payment details in the accounting system, and helping ensure payments are processed in accordance with established deadlines.
• Assist the Staff Accountant in the weekly preparation of accounts payable check runs, including organizing approved invoices, confirming supporting documentation, and preparing materials for payment processing.
• Assist in the preparation of ACH payment batches, including verifying vendor payment information, confirming payment amounts, and helping ensure electronic payments are accurately entered and submitted.
• Prepare daily check deposits and assist the Accounting Manager with weekly and monthly check reconciliations.
• Monitor and reconcile cash deposits.
• Assist the Accounting Manager with monthly bank reconciliations.
• Maintain the department's petty cash fund and reconcile petty cash activity.
• Manage office supply and paper inventory, proactively monitoring stock levels and placing orders as needed.
• Serve as the primary contact for the organization's mail machine, including adding postage funds and assisting staff with machine usage.
• Support the Chief Financial Officer, Accounting Manager, and Staff Accountant with additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest, knowledge, and enthusiasm for live theater.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments.
• Interest in learning and developing foundational accounting knowledge.
• Strong organizational, note-taking, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Self-starter with the initiative to take ownership of daily responsibilities and special projects.
• Calm, positive, and professional demeanor, with the ability to remain helpful and effective under deadlines or in stressful situations.

Requirements for This position are listed below and are non-negotiable:

• Must be available to work onsite Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; this position is not eligible for remote work.
• Ability to sit for extended periods and work at a computer for up to 6 to 7 hours per day.
• Ability to lift and move office materials, including boxes of paper, shredding, and archived files.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and file materials as needed.
• Ability to walk throughout the building and navigate stairs in order to support other departments.
• Ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematical calculations accurately.
• Flexibility and willingness to learn new processes and adapt to changing departmental needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Outlook, preferred.
• Prior accounting experience is not required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

The Washington Drama Society, Inc., Arena Stage does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

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