Senior Accountant

About JFF

For more than 40 years, JFF has been uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and workforce. We design and scale innovative solutions, influence policy and practice, and build powerful partnerships so that learners and workers have the skills, resources, and credentials they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Together with our partners, we work to improve labor market outcomes for youth and adults who face systemic barriers to economic mobility.

JFF operates at the national, state, and local levels, helping to connect education, workforce, and economic development within regions of all sizes. Our staff are based across the United States, working primarily remotely with offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, CA. Our work is powered by a broad network of partners and funders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, all committed to advancing economic opportunity.

If you’re inspired by the chance to drive real systems change, we invite you to learn more about JFF and explore our current career opportunities at jff.org. Join us as we build a future that works for everyone.

Equal Employment Opportunity at JFF

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.

JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we hire based on qualifications, experience, and are committed to fair opportunity for all qualified candidates – including those without a 4-year degree or formally incarnated individuals.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Accounting Manager, and as a member of the accounting team, the Senior Accountant will meticulously manage a multitude of accounting activities including bi-weekly payroll review and payroll allocation, general ledger reconciliations, bank reconciliations, revenue recognition, cost allocations and reclasses, month-end close and year-end audit preparation.

This position presents an exciting opportunity for an accounting professional to broaden their expertise across all facets of finance within a mission-driven organization. This person will play a key role in supporting elements around numerous accounting functions, and partner cross functionally across the entire Finance team to ensure best practices to support the audit and month end components for the team.

The ideal candidate for this role is a dynamic individual who has experience with bank account reconciliation, general ledger account reconciliation, cost allocation to support different accounting functions, including payroll processing and allocation. This is a great opportunity for an individual who thrives in an environment of change, approaches tasks with unwavering attention to detail, and exemplifies a strong customer service around financial and stakeholder engagement.

What you'll do: 

Manage daily accounting functions and support key pieces of the monthly and annual close

• Conduct thorough reviews of bi-weekly payroll and serve as a backup for payroll processing in collaboration with the accounting team
• Provide support in the collection, validation, and consolidation of payroll input data in preparation for bi-weekly payroll processing
• Manage and support the reconciliation of multiple bank and investment accounts
• Process bi-weekly payroll allocation entries and accruals, prepare reconciliation for balance sheet accounts and audit schedules
• Monitor and ensure compliance with internal financial and accounting controls over procurement, payroll, receipts, disbursements, and other processes
• Maintain the fixed asset and associated depreciation schedules
• Prepare monthly journal entries and ensure proper recording and tracking of new purchases and disposals
• Prepare journal entries and collecting, analyzing, and summarizing account information for monthly and year-end closing including prepaid entries, accruals, reclasses and others
• Manage and maintain lease schedules ensuring proper amortization of right of use assets
• Perform indirect cost recovery and process other cost allocations across the organization
• Prepare the federal drawdowns, reconciling federal revenue and expenses and assisting in preparation of SEFA (Schedule of Expenditures for Federal Awards)
• Manage state registrations and other organization fillings

Collaborate with key stakeholders across the Finance team to support team goals and objectives

• Respond to inquiries from finance leadership, finance colleagues and other program managers regarding financial results, and special reporting requests
• Assist with preparation of financial reporting to donors and other statutory financial reports
• Assist with annual audit requests, resource-gathering, and recommended follow-through
• Provide accounting support and collaborate closely with grants stewards team and finance business partner on grants reports and analysis
• Partner with grants steward team to review and prepare reclassification entries to ensure proper reporting of expenses to individual awards ensuring proper documentation is received

Analyze and implement best practices around efficient procedures and resources across the Finance team

• Partner with the Senior Director of Accounting and the Accounting Manager on updates to processes and policies
• Support maintenance and enhancements of integrated financial management system, NetSuite
• Monitor and help support compliance around different accounting functions including payroll, accounts payable, federal award expenditure and accounts receivables in alignment with organizational policies, procedures and federal regulations to meet our North Star goals

Who you are: 

• You bring experience with accounting, payroll and reconciliations preferably within a fast-paced nonprofit environment, (New hires at the Senior Manager level at JFF typically bring 5-10 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)
• You have 3-4 years of accounting experience in non-profit organizations; Background working with federal and state grant programs is ideal
• You are deeply experienced with NetSuite or a similar accounting system with expertise using Microsoft Excel or other reporting systems
• You bring a knowledge and understanding of GAAP and not for profit/fund accounting or cost accounting
• You thrive at multi-tasking, working under ambiguous environments, and meeting deadlines to accomplish key financial goals
• You have experience supporting and analyzing best practices to ensure compliance and other accounting functions
• You know how to develop collaborative partnerships across the organization to achieve results; you continually leverage your communication skills and customer service approach when working alongside staff members and external stakeholders, especially when handling confidential matters
• You have a track record of success functioning both independently and as a member of a cross-functional team
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work
• You demonstrate awareness of your performance, impact, and of those around you with respect to the cultural context of your organization
• You are an active listener who communicates clearly, openly, and respectfully, whether verbally, in writing (reports, memos, briefs, etc.), and/or when facilitating
• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others
• You take ownership of work by keeping yourself and others focused and accountable to the work
• You leverage professional development and other learning opportunities to stay current with advances in your field and grow your subject matter expertise

What We Offer

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers. 

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, new JFF employees receive office equipment as needed.

The hiring range for this role is $80,000 - $100,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Senior Manager salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.

To Apply

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed toAccounting Manager, Michael Boglarski, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

Applications submitted by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, June 9th will be prioritized for review. We encourage interested candidates to apply by that date. Applications submitted after that date may not be prioritized for review. We will ensure that all candidates receive updates on their candidacy before the search is closed.

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.