Staff Accountant

Description

Staff Accountant


June 5, 2026


* Please upload resume, cover letter, and three professional references as a single PDF.*

Legal Action of Wisconsin (Legal Action), Inc. is seeking to fill one full-time Staff Accountant position.


Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. ("Legal Action") is a non-profit law firm, funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and many other sources and supporters. Legal Action provides free civil legal aid to low-income persons in Wisconsin with offices in Milwaukee, Madsion, Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay, La Crosse and Wausau. Legal Action attorneys, advocates and paralegals have expertise in a range of substantive areas, but most of our direct representation is in the areas of housing, public benefits, removing barriers to employment, consumer law, and family law.


Mission Statement: Legal Action's mission is to deliver exceptional civil legal services and structural change advocacy, free of cost, to those most in need. Our core values (equity, advocacy, client-centered, integrity and community) guide our work and actions. Please see our website for a description of the core values and vision that guides our work.


OFFICE LOCATION


The Staff Accountant may be housed in either Legal Action's Milwaukee office or in our Wausau office. The Milwaukee office is located at 633 West Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2000 and the Wausau office is located at 401 N. 5th Street, Suite 200. The Staff Accountant may request a hybrid work schedule under Legal Action's Flex Work Policy.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES


The Staff Accountant Performs routine accounting duties that require thorough knowledge and application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, practices, and concepts that support the firm's operations and management, as follows:


Accounts Receivable

• Performs daily financial transactions including verifying, classifying, computing, posting and recording account receivables, including grants and other receivables, and reconciling the accounts receivable ledger.
• Reviews and monitors grant revenue actual to budget and alerting the Director of Finance and the Controller of any material variances.
• Reviews expenses by funding sources and properly invoice funders for incurred expenses.

Accounts Payable

• Performs accounts payable functions by ensuring that all invoices submitted for payment are recorded accurately for the period, and coded to the proper grant, department, purpose, location, etc., and reconcile the accounts payable ledger.

Journal Entries and Account Reconciliation

• Makes proper journal entries and maintains the general ledger.
• Prepares reconciliation of balance sheet accounts (including bank accounts and others).
• Participates in month-end closing and monthly financial reporting process.

Grant Accounting

• Tracks and records all grant activity including revenues, expenses, accounts receivables and deferred revenue on grant reports.
• Creates financial statements in the accounting software for each grant including reconciliation of the revenue and expenses.
• Prepares grant budgets for discussion and presentation to the organization's management and funding sources.
• Prepares funding source financial statements and client service reports to the oversight authority.
• Effectively works with management and communicates on all aspects of the grant financials.

Month-End/Financial Statements

• Assists with preparing accurate, timely financial statements in accordance with our established schedule and with input from the rest of the accounting department, including comparative budget to actual.
• Assists with preparing forecasts and projections of cash flow and other performance indicators.

Year-End

• Assists in the preparatory work for each financial audit including preparation and review of accounting schedules, preparation of journal entries, and communicate with auditors during audits.
• Prepares grant, government, and service reports, from Client database Legal Server and assists in tracking year to date expenses.

Compliance

• Maintains physical inventory system including updating spreadsheets, inventory database, tagging new items and processing disposal forms including auditing assets as required by grant funders.
• Spots errors and suggest ways for improving procedures.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP standards.
• Ensures proper record retention is upheld for all financial records.

Other

• The Staff Accountant will also be expected to perform other duties related to the administration of the program which are not related to the substantive legal work of the program.

QUALIFICATIONS


Required Qualifications:

1. Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting, or related field, from an accredited university.

1. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, and other Microsoft Programs.

1. Proficient and working knowledge of accounting software packages and payroll reporting.

1. Proven ability to consistently attend to details and check for accuracy of information.

1. Demonstrated ability to undertake all work with a professional attitude.

1. Ability to handle confidential information professionally and ethically.

1. Analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to make responsible and appropriate decisions within the limits of standard policy and procedures.

1. Demonstrated ability to be flexible in work style and approach in response to the demands of the situation.

1. Ability to function as an effective team member with other employees through cooperation and shared work to get the work done.

1. Able to set priorities considering what's important and plan accordingly based on the time involved.

1. Commitment to working cooperatively and collegially with all employees who have varied backgrounds and experiences and a commitment to improving the diversity and inclusion of our employees.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Experience: 2 or more years of accounting experience of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and account reconciliations.

1. Experience with Abila MIP.

1. Grant accounting experience.

1. Non-profit accounting experience.

1. Candidates who have a CPA or a graduate degree in Finance are encouraged to apply.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT


This position involves sedentary work, including sitting and/or standing at a desk while working at a computer for an extended period. This position also exerts up to 10 pounds of force on a regular basis to lift, carry, push, or otherwise move objects. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and/or laptop keyboard and use a telephone. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision requirements due to computer work. Occasional reaching, bending, kneeling, and stooping involved to retrieve assorted items and materials are required. This position works in an environmentally controlled office environment with moderate noise from phones, printers, and light office traffic.


SALARY


The salary scale for this position has 36 steps, where each step represents one year of relevant work experience. Step 0 is the minimum salary step for this position, with a salary of $46,814. The Step 2 annual salary (2 years of relevant experience is desired) is $49,415. An incumbent at Step 5 (with 5 years of relevant experience) would earn an annual salary of $53,316; Step 10 earns $59,818; Step 20 earns $72,562; Step 30 earns $84,266; and Step 36 earns $91,288. Employees advance one step on their anniversary date unless they are on a performance improvement plan.


SPANISH OR HMONG LANGUAGE FLUENCY PREMIUM


In addition, Legal Action's Salary Administration Plan includes additional pay ($2,400 or $4,800, depending on demands for the language in the position) for those employees who are fluent in Spanish or Hmong.


FLEX WORK AVAILABLE


Under Legal Action's Flex Work Policy, the Staff Accountant may request a hybrid work week wherein they may work remotely three days out of five. (Currently, the accounting team is in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays.) In addition, we would consider a condensed work week for the Staff Accountant.


FRINGE BENEFITS


Legal Action offers a generous fringe benefits package, including Legal Action-paid health and dental insurance for employees, spouses, and employee's eligible dependents. We do not require employees to contribute to health and dental insurance premiums for single or family insurance. (Some employees are required to contribute $200/month to the health insurance premium for their spouse, if the spouse has group health insurance provided by their employer.) Legal Action also provides life and long-term disability insurance, a profit-sharing retirement plan, salary deferral options for retirement planning, low-cost employee paid vision coverage, starting leave benefits which include four weeks of vacation per year, four days of personal leave per year, generous sick leave accrual, and four weeks of paid parental leave for eligible employees at the start of employment and increasing with longevity.


SCOPE OF AUTHORITY


The Staff Accountant performs their duties with some oversight and direction (depending on their amount of experience) while still working in collaboration with others and the supervisor. The Staff Accountant does not direct the work of others.


GOVERNANCE


LAW's personnel policies and other operating policies and procedures, which are subject to unilateral change by the LAW Board of Directors, govern this position. This position is subject to a probationary period of up to six months.


SUPERVISION


This position will be supervised by Legal Action's Director of Finance, Kristin Eckert.


HOW TO APPLY


Applicants must submit the following application materials via Legal Action of Wisconsin's online applicant portal.

• Cover letter summarizing qualifications and interest in the position;

• Resume;

• Names and contact information for three professional references

Applicants may also be asked to complete a skill or performance test as part of the selection process.


DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS


This position will be open until filled. We will review applicants on a rolling basis. To ensure consideration, submit application materials no later than 11:59 pm Monday, June 22, 2026.


Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer