Accounting Associate

Accounting Associate

United Way of the National Capital Area is committed to the health, education, and economic opportunity of every person in our community, regardless of race, gender, income, and ability.

We are uniquely positioned at the intersection of the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, and the only organization that can mobilize the best resources and people to lead collective impact for our community. Through our Community Commitment and programmatic focus, we are transforming our region and changing the story for thousands of people in a meaningful way.

The ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population represents more than 600,000 low- and moderate-income households in our region that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living for the county/state in which they live. United Way NCA's ALICE Lives Here initiative is one of United Way NCA's strategic programs established to address the issues of inequity in our systems for employment, education, health and food access, financial stability, and opportunities for all to grow to the best of their abilities.

Equity is fundamental to our mission. We infuse equity in all our business operations, hiring practices and community impact initiatives.

Overview: Are you driven and passionate about ensuring that everyone has equitable access to health, education, and economic opportunity? Are you a natural leader who loves to build and develop teams? Are you a change agent who is looking to make a lasting impact in your community and within your organization? If so, you may be just what we are looking for as we expand our team. Take a closer look and reach out if you meet these qualifications.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Accounting Services, the Accounting Associate is an entry-level professional accounting position that applies accounting principles and professional judgment to review, reconcile, analyze, and maintain financial information. The position examines financial records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), organizational policies, donor restrictions, and grant requirements, and supports the preparation of financial reports and analyses used in decision-making and financial oversight.

Key Responsibilities:

• General Accounting: Partner with the Director of Accounting Services and other accounting team members to maintain the general ledger through the preparation of journal entries, supporting schedules, and related documentation. Review financial transactions and data for completeness and accuracy and support compliance with GAAP, organizational policies, donor restrictions, and grant requirements.
• Account Reconciliations and Month-End Close: Prepare account reconciliations and supporting schedules; assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities; and help identify and assist in resolving discrepancies and variances.
• Financial Reporting: Preparing internal and external financial reports, financial statement schedules, and supporting analyses for management, auditors, grantors, and other stakeholders.
• Audit Support: Support the annual financial statement audit by preparing audit schedules, account reconciliations, supporting documentation, and assist in responding to auditor requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Restricted Funds and Grant Accounting: Tracking, recording, analyzing, and reconciling restricted contributions, grants, and related expenditures to support compliance with donor restrictions and grant requirements.
• Procure-to-Pay Support: Support accounts payable and related accounting processes, including expense coding, review of payment documentation, vendor record maintenance, and reconciliation of related financial information.
• Fixed Assets and Internal Controls: Assist with maintaining fixed asset records, including additions, disposals, depreciation, and related reconciliations. Supporting internal control procedures designed to safeguard organizational assets and promote accurate financial reporting.
• Accounting Research and Process Improvement: Performs accounting research, policy compliance reviews, process improvement initiatives, system enhancements, and documentation updates to support effective accounting operations.
• Data Management and Record Retention: Maintain complete, accurate, and organized accounting records and supporting documentation in accordance with organizational policies, audit requirements, and record retention standards.

Special Projects and Team Support: Participate in special projects, financial analyses, cross-functional initiatives, and other duties as assigned.

Educational Background and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 0-2 years of accounting experience.
• Fundamental understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and basic accounting concepts.
• Basic understanding of financial reporting, account reconciliations, and journal entries.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and analytical ability.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate financial information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes: Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with an emphasis on accuracy, timeliness, and attention to detail. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities, collaborate effectively with colleagues across the organization, maintain confidentiality, and uphold high standards of professional integrity. A commitment to continuous learning and United Way NCA's mission is essential.

Competencies: The candidate must possess the following core competencies and United Way NCA Guiding Principles, which are required of all United Way NCA staff regardless of role: mission focused, brand steward, result driven, relationship-oriented, collaborative, positive approach, accountability, effective communication, teamwork, and innovation. In addition, the successful candidate must articulate operational excellence, adapt to complexity, and change and values and attributes align with those of United Way NCA.

Organizational:

• Mission focused —the ability to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.
• Relationship oriented —an understanding that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator —understands the role and contribution of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources through meaningful engagement.
• Results driven —dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good, creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations.
• Brand steward —a steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

Functional:

• Ethical Standards —Maintains confidentiality, acts with professional, personal, and behavioral integrity.
• Problem solving —the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Interpersonal Skills —the individual maintains confidentiality, remains open to others' ideas, and exhibits willingness to try new things.
• Oral communication —the individual speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills, and conducts meetings.
• Written Communication —the individual edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively and can read and interpret written information.
• Planning/organizing —the individual prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.
• Quality control demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors your own work to ensure quality.
• Adaptability —the individual adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and can deal with frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability —the individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.