Senior Project Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Senior Project Accountant

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Project: Village SF

Salary: $95,000-$115,000 – based on experience and demonstrated ability.

Village SF

Friendship House Association of American Indians is developing Village SF as a Native-led wellness,

economic, and cultural center for urban Native communities. Grounded in Traditional Healing practices

and Indigenous values of mutual care, reciprocity, and responsibility, Village SF represents a nationally

significant model for community wellness, housing stability, economic development, and cultural

restoration.

Summary: The Senior Project Accountant serves as the lead accounting professional and primary

financial point of contact for the Village SF capital and construction initiative. The position is responsible

for comprehensive financial oversight of all project-related funds, including capital campaign proceeds,

grants, restricted donations, construction expenditures, contracts, and compliance obligations.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Capital Project Lead, the

Senior Project Accountant ensures accurate accounting, transparent reporting, regulatory compliance,

and strong fiscal stewardship throughout all phases of the project. The role functions as the primary

financial liaison to the project team, providing timely guidance on budget status, eligible costs,

procurement thresholds, funding draws, and compliance requirements.

While financial authority remains within the Finance Department, this position operates as an integrated

member of the capital project team to support timely, compliant, and financially sound project execution.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated experience in nonprofit

fund accounting, grant management, and project or construction accounting.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Lead and manage all accounting activities related to the Village SF capital and construction

project.

2. Establish and maintain appropriate general ledger structures, cost centers, fund codes, and job

cost tracking systems to accurately capture project-specific activity.

3. Track and reconcile all revenues and expenditures by funding source, grant, restriction, and

budget category.

4. Prepare, monitor, and update project budgets, forecasts, and cash flow projections to ensure

financial stability and informed planning.

5. Maintain detailed job costing and documentation for construction, development, and related

capital expenses.

6. Process and reconcile contractor invoices, progress payments, retainage, change orders, and

milestone-based payments.

7. Review construction contracts and vendor agreements for financial accuracy, compliance, and

alignment with approved budgets.

8. Manage grant billing, drawdowns, reimbursements, and required supporting documentation in

accordance with funder requirements.

9. Track restricted contributions, pledges, and capital campaign proceeds to ensure proper

classification and utilization.

10. Prepare monthly reconciliations, journal entries, and project-specific financial statements

11. Develop and deliver routine and ad hoc financial reports, including budget-to-actual analyses

and variance explanations, for leadership and board oversight.

12. Serve as the primary financial liaison among accounting, development, and construction teams

to ensure clear communication and coordination.

13. Establish and maintain strong internal controls and accounting procedures specific to capital and

restricted funds.

14. Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and nonprofit fund accounting

standards.

15. Maintain organized, audit-ready financial records and support external audits, grant reviews, and

financial monitoring activities.

16. Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls, and enhance financial reporting

efficiency.

17. Perform additional related duties as assigned by CEO, Capital Project Lead and CFO.

Personal and Professional Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field is required.

2. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible accounting experience is required.

3. Real estate finance experience and prior collaboration with City agencies preferred

4. Candidate must have experience with financial management and reporting standards for similar

size and scale projects within the City and County of SF. Prior experience with MOHCD, HCD,

HUD and prevailing wages preferred.

5. Experience with nonprofit accounting, fund accounting, or grant-funded environments is strongly

preferred.

6. Experience with construction, capital projects, or project-based accounting is strongly preferred.

7. Demonstrated knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and internal control best

practices is required.

8. Proficiency in accounting software systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills is required.

9. Ability to manage multiple funding streams, deadlines, and complex reporting requirements with

accuracy and consistency is required.

10. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills are essential.

11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with

diverse stakeholders are required.

12. High levels of integrity, discretion, and professional judgment are expected when handling

sensitive financial information.

13. Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated knowledge of the American Indian community and culture,

highly desirable.

14. If in recovery, at least three (3) years of continuous sobriety are required.

15. Must meet standards of character under PL 101-630, section 408, Character Investigation,

subsection (a) and PL 101-647, section 231, Requirement for Background Check, subsection

(c), and agree that employer can contact the last two employers, the sex abuse detective

division of local law enforcement and Child Protective Services of the last two counties

in which the person has lived or worked.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Section 472 and

473). Applicants claiming Indian Preference must submit verification of Indian certified by tribe of affiliation or other acceptable documentation

of Indian heritage.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration without regard to race,

color, gender, religion, national origin or other non-merit factors.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Friendship House abides by the mandates of the ADEA (protecting individuals 40 years

and older) and considers age a non-merit factor in all employment decisions and considerations.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Friendship House abides by the mandates of the ADA and considers disability a non-merit factor in

all employment decisions and considerations. Furthermore, Friendship House will make any practical, feasible, and reasonable arrangements to accommodate qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

The Friendship House Association of American Indians is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, established in 1963 to serve American Indians who were relocated from their reservations to the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1963, Friendship House has served more than 5,500 residential clients and hundreds of youth consumers and provided community-focused events for countless numbers of American Indians. As a cultural center with co-located services and community activities, Friendship House is uniquely poised in the San Francisco Bay area to serve American Indians.

The overarching goal of Friendship House is to promote healing and wellness in the American Indian community by providing a continuum of services that build resiliency to substance abuse. And to strengthen connections to family and community to improve the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of American Indians across the lifespan.

Friendship House operates three program facilities: the Friendship House American Indian Healing Center, an 80- bed adult men and women residential substance abuse treatment facility located in San Francisco, California; the Friendship House American Indian Lodge, a 9-bed facility for women and their children located in Oakland, California; and the Friendship House Youth Program, an afterschool youth center, located in San Francisco, California.

The Friendship House’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program was established to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians through services designed to strengthen the personal conditions which support a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to restoring clients to productive living individuals in their respective communities. Prayer, songs and drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, Walking the Red Road Medicine Way, and many other traditional methods are integral to the residential treatment program.

While many best practices in the substance abuse treatment field have been proven to work effectively with substance abusers from many backgrounds, few evidence-based practices have been evaluated and proven to work with Native people. We know, based on more than 28 years of tracking our own performance, that American Indians have the best outcomes when Native culture and cultural practices are honored, as well as integrated into our service delivery efforts.

Company Description

The Friendship House Association of American Indians is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, established in 1963 to serve American Indians who were relocated from their reservations to the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1963, Friendship House has served more than 5,500 residential clients and hundreds of youth consumers and provided community-focused events for countless numbers of American Indians. As a cultural center with co-located services and community activities, Friendship House is uniquely poised in the San Francisco Bay area to serve American Indians.\r\n\r\nThe overarching goal of Friendship House is to promote healing and wellness in the American Indian community by providing a continuum of services that build resiliency to substance abuse. And to strengthen connections to family and community to improve the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of American Indians across the lifespan.\r\n\r\nFriendship House operates three program facilities: the Friendship House American Indian Healing Center, an 80- bed adult men and women residential substance abuse treatment facility located in San Francisco, California; the Friendship House American Indian Lodge, a 9-bed facility for women and their children located in Oakland, California; and the Friendship House Youth Program, an afterschool youth center, located in San Francisco, California.\r\n\r\nThe Friendship House’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program was established to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians through services designed to strengthen the personal conditions which support a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to restoring clients to productive living individuals in their respective communities. Prayer, songs and drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, Walking the Red Road Medicine Way, and many other traditional methods are integral to the residential treatment program.\r\n\r\nWhile many best practices in the substance abuse treatment field have been proven to work effectively with substance abusers from many backgrounds, few evidence-based practices have been evaluated and proven to work with Native people. We know, based on more than 28 years of tracking our own performance, that American Indians have the best outcomes when Native culture and cultural practices are honored, as well as integrated into our service delivery efforts.