Sr Accountant

Senior AccountantThe William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, is seeking a Senior Accountant for the Finance Department.The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation that advances ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world. For more than 50 years, it has supported efforts to advance education for all, preserve the environment, support vibrant performing arts, strengthen Bay Area communities, make the philanthropy sector more effective, and foster gender equity and responsive governance around the world. In addition, we also make grants for special projects and to address other timely problems. Our newest program focuses on strengthening U.S. democracy, and in 2020, the foundation announced a new grantmaking commitment focused on racial justice. The Hewlett Foundation's assets are more than $14 billion with annual grant awards totaling more than $600 million.The Finance Department serves the foundation's charitable work by providing financial and business planning support to enable the organization to focus on its philanthropic goals. This financial leadership is offered through sound financial planning and reporting, quality operational processes, and business controls that meet the needs of the foundation and its outside constituents, including regulators and auditors. Finance is the agile and reliable thought partner and empowers the foundation's mission through expertise, collaboration, and foresight.The Senior Accountant is a key member of the Finance team, bringing strong accounting skills, audit experience, and systems fluency to support the department's day-to-day operations and long-term effectiveness. Reporting to the Controller, the Senior Accountant gains broad exposure across accounting operations, and visibility with cross-functional teams. This position combines hands-on accounting execution with a service-oriented mindset and a proactive approach to process improvement.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesAccounting OperationsLeads assigned month-end close activities, including preparation of journal entries and reconciliation of general ledger and sub-ledger accounts of varying complexity; exercises professional judgment to resolve discrepancies and determine treatment for non-routine transactionsLeads preparation of assigned audit areas, determine appropriate treatment for complex or non-routine transactions; escalates high risk issues to the Controller or Accounting ManagerMaintains clear, accurate, and audit-ready documentation to support management review and financial reportingOwns the cash disbursement and release process to ensure payment compliance with the Foundation's policies and guidelinesMaintains in-depth knowledge of online banking platforms for independent research and exception resolution; serves as one of the primary contacts with banking and treasury partnersSupports the credit card program by monitoring card usage and general ledger reconciliations, and liaises between cardholders and service providers to resolve disputes or discrepanciesSupports the Foundation's tax and information reporting, including annual information returns (Forms 1099, 1096, 1042, and 1042-S) and property tax filingsFinancial Systems and Process ImprovementBuilds deep institutional knowledge of finance processes and systems, translating it into well-documented procedures and system-based practices that keep operations consistent and resilientOwns day-to-day administration of finance systems—including Concur travel & expense and invoice routing—serving as a control point for user access and configuration, and coordinating troubleshooting and vendor relationshipsLeverages accounting and finance applications (Sage Intacct, Concur, AP workflow) to streamline transaction processing, reduce manual effort, and improve data accuracyIndependently identifies internal control risks within assigned processes and recommends remediation plans, partnering with the Accounting Manager on implementationFoundation SupportProvides responsive, service-oriented support to internal clients across the FoundationOversees the design and delivery of Finance orientation sessions; leads orientation for Finance policies and procedures, serving as a go-to resource for policy applicationsPartners with the Accounting Manager, Finance colleagues, and cross-functional teams to support broader initiatives and projectsRequired Skills, Experience and EducationBachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferredMinimum 5 years of relevant accounting experience, additional years preferred, with demonstrated working knowledge of GAAP and auditStrong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to identify issues and recommend practical solutions.Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, dependability, and organization, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization and work successfully in a team environment.Systems-savvy with strong aptitude for learning and optimizing financial systems and technology; proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience with Sage Intacct or other accounting/ERP systemsCompensation and BenefitsThe Hewlett Foundation is committed to providing compensation that is competitive within the philanthropic sector. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this role starts at $125,000-$145,000. Offers are based on the candidate's years of experience and our practice of maintaining salary equity within the foundation.Physical Demands/Work EnvironmentThe physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time and to travel via various modes of transportation for extended periods of time. The Senior Accountant role is based in Menlo Park, California and there are three days in the office per week minimum.To apply:Our recruitment partner for this role is the DeWinter Group. Please submit your resume and cover letter directly on their website.The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation embraces the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally, in our hiring process and organizational culture, and externally, in our grantmaking and related practices. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.