Temp Associate Accountant

About the Role
We are seeking an Associate Accountant to support accounting and financial operations within our Intellectual Property Office. Reporting to the Principal Accountant, this role is responsible for accounting and financial operations functions in compliance with applicable policies, contract requirements, regulations, and laws. The position covers a broad range of activities including payments, invoicing, banking, monthly close, general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, internal and external reporting, audit preparation, process improvements, and financial analysis.
This is a great opportunity for an early-career accounting professional looking to build hands-on experience across the full accounting cycle in a mission-driven organization.

What You'll Do
Accounting, Operations & Reporting (90%)

• Process patent invoices for payment, and create, send, and track rebilling invoices sent to licensees
• Manage cash receipts and accounts receivable
• Prepare various general ledger account reconciliations
• Support annual royalty distribution calculations and analysis as assigned
• Handle monthly and year-end close activities, including journal preparation, accruals, and reclasses
• Research, analyze, and correct complex irregularities and reconciling items in system outputs and reconciliations
• Support development, oversight, execution, and monitoring of financial transactions, processes, and systems
• Use financial database systems to obtain and analyze complex financial information; work with programmers to design and develop reports
• Take on additional department tasks/projects as requested (planned or ad hoc)

Financial Policy Interpretation (5%)

• Develop, evaluate, and implement work methods and transaction documentation to improve efficiency, and recommend process improvements
• Participate in end-user acceptance testing of new system functionality prior to implementation

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Provide general accounting support to the Principal Accountant

What You Bring
Required:

• 0–1 years of related professional-level experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Experience developing and maintaining complex financial spreadsheets and databases with advanced functions, and using commercial and/or institutional financial tools
• Experience in financial and/or cost accounting
• Knowledge of interpreting and applying financial policies and procedures, including GAAP and related methodologies
• Experience with financial functions such as preparing and posting journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, financial statement analysis, financial report preparation, and variance analysis
• Ability to independently research, interpret, analyze, compile, and present data and information
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare and deliver financial briefings, documentation, reports, and financial advice to internal and external stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain, negotiate, persuade, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders

Preferred:

• Experience in Federal accounting
• Auditing experience
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft financial applications

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines, including occasional work outside normal hours as needed
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods
• Ability and flexibility to travel between office sites as needed