Staff Accountant

Title: Staff Accountant

Reports to: Senior Director of Finance

Direct Reports: None

Location: In person at exalt headquarters in New York City (with the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule that still requires regular in-person attendance)

Schedule: 11am-7pm

ABOUT exalt

exalt is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming outcomes for court-involved youth ages 15-19 through an integrated model of education, paid internships, court advocacy, and alumni support. For two decades, exalt has demonstrated the power of effective educational engagement as a viable alternative to criminal justice involvement, equipping young people with the skills, experience, and confidence to become self-sufficient, productive members of society.

Serving over 1,000 young people annually, exalt is entering its next phase of strategic growth-expanding statewide to Syracuse, deepening its infrastructure, launching new programmatic initiatives, and positioning itself as a national thought leader in juvenile justice. This is an extraordinary moment to join an organization on the rise.

POSITION SUMMARY

exalt seeks a highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive Staff Accountant to join the finance team during a period of significant organizational growth. This role will help strengthen the accounting infrastructure necessary to support exalt's continued expansion in both New York City and Syracuse while ensuring accurate and timely financial operations.

The Staff Accountant will play a critical role in supporting day-to-day accounting operations, monthly and quarterly close processes, grant accounting, audits, and financial reporting. This position is ideal for an experienced accountant who can work independently, manage competing priorities, and contribute to building scalable systems and processes as the organization grows.

The Staff Accountant reports to the Senior Director of Finance and works closely with development, program, and operations staff across the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Accounting Operations

• Manage accounts payable, vendor payments, and maintenance of vendor records and W-9 documentation.
• Review and reconcile employee expense reports and corporate credit card activity through Concur and ensure timely and accurate posting to QuickBooks.
• Process weekly student stipend and vendor payroll and prepare related accounting entries, supporting schedules, and reconciliations.
• Prepare journal entries and maintain supporting documentation for recurring and non-recurring transactions.
• Maintain schedules and accounting records for prepaid expenses, accrued liabilities, fixed assets, depreciation, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Prepare bank reconciliations and monitor cash activity.

Month-End Close and Financial Reporting

• Support and execute the monthly close process to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and investigate variances or discrepancies.
• Assist the Senior Director of Finance with preparation of monthly financial statements and internal financial reports.
• Support quarter-end close activities and preparation of financial materials for Finance Committee and Board meetings.
• Assist with budget-to-actual analyses and financial reporting as needed.
• Partner with the Development team to regularly reconcile contributions, grants, pledges, and other fundraising activity to ensure accurate revenue recognition and financial reporting.

Grants, Compliance, and Audit Support

• Support grant billing, invoicing, and reimbursement requests for government and private funders.
• Assist with grant reconciliations and maintenance of supporting schedules.
• Prepare audit schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for annual financial statement audits.
• Respond to requests from auditors and external accountants during annual audits and other financial reviews.
• Assist with compliance reporting and financial documentation required by funders and regulatory agencies.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Maintain organized accounting records and supporting documentation to ensure timely and accurate submission of backup documentation required for government grants, contracts, and reimbursement requests.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting workflows, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Support implementation of new systems, processes, and internal controls as the organization grows.
• Assist with ad hoc financial analyses and special projects as assigned by the Senior Director of Finance.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience and Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 4+ years of accounting experience required.
• Nonprofit accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with government grants, reimbursement contracts, or fund accounting strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting annual audits and financial statement preparation preferred.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online required.
• Experience with Concur, Paychex, and ADP preferred.
• Strong Excel skills required.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Core Competencies
• Attention to Detail and Accuracy
• Ownership and Accountability
• Organization and Prioritization
• Financial Systems and Data Fluency
• Collaboration and Communication
• Adaptability and Continuous Improvement

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary range: $80,000 - $90,000
• Health insurance: medical, dental and vision
• Other insurance: life and long-term disability
• 401k matching plan: 50% matching of employee's contribution up to 5% of salary
• Generous paid time off

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Please submit cover letter and resume on exalt's career page:

exalt is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from people who are reflective of the diverse communities we serve.