Staff Accountant

STAFF ACCOUNTANT

We’re looking for an accountant with experience or an interest in the nonprofit sector to join our small but high-performing accounting team. This is an opportunity to support the great work of a mature child welfare agency that maintains high standards and values staff well-being.

ABOUT US

Northwest Resource Associates (https://www.nwresource.org/) is a nonprofit child welfare agency with an operating budget of about $5 million per year, funded by state governments and private agencies.

We envision every young person having family that nurtures their growth and potential. We work toward this vision by designing and delivering programs and technology that empower youth, strengthen families, and improve child welfare systems. More than four decades old, we are headquartered in Seattle, WA, and have offices in Alaska and Oregon as well. You can find our program work at the following websites:

• AdoptUSKids (https://adoptuskids.org)
• Alaska Center for Resource Families (https://www.acrf.org/)
• Northwest Adoption Exchange (https://www.nwae.org/)
• Oregon Post-adoption Resource Center (https://www.orparc.org/)

Equity and inclusion are priorities across all programs at Northwest Resource Associates. We are passionate about inclusive and affirming policy and practice and are recognized by the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children, All Families program. We seek staff diversity in ability, age, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. In addition, we welcome applications from those with lived experience in foster care or with adoption. We are an equal opportunity employer.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Our ideal candidate is an experienced nonprofit accountant with a strong focus on accounts payable, accounts receivable, journal entries, reconciliations, and month-end close. You might be a good fit if you:

• Have experience working in an environment with multiple programs and government grants.
• Understand accrual accounting.
• Are good at finding problems, then working to resolve them.
• Have professional references that rave about your ability to self-motivate, attention to detail, and reliability.
• Are a continuous learner who is looking to take on additional responsibilities as they grow their accounting career.
• Are willing to roll up your sleeves and do whatever work needs to be done to close the month on time.
• Are committed to friendly customer service; maintaining a positive relationship with our staff, vendors, and funders is paramount.
• Can take responsibility and ownership over your projects and work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Our current accounting team consists of a part-time CFO, who will supervise this position; another full-time staff accountant; and a part-time accounting assistant. The new staff accountant will collaborate with the team in the following areas.

Accounts payable

The staff accountant will participate in the full cycle of accounts payable. Activities include:

• Process all vendor bills for the agency.
• Send out credit card statements to program managers and reconcile them.
• Help code costs and ensure that all costs are approved.
• Ensure that bills are paid on time, and file documents so that we have backup for costs.

Accounts receivable

Monthly activities include:

• Create and send invoices to our funders each month.
• Follow up with funders if payment to us is late.

Timekeeping and payroll

Monthly activities include:

• Make sure timesheets are submitted on time.
• Create cost allocation spreadsheets based on the timesheets.
• Allocate costs according to FTE and prepare the distribution codes.
• Over time, learn to assist the CFO with preparing payroll.

Miscellaneous

In addition to the above accounting tasks, the staff accountant may be asked to:

• Assist with reconciliation of accounts for month-end close and year end close.
• Assist with work on annual audit.
• Register employees for benefits or terminate benefits.
• Participate in the selection and implementation of new systems and software.
• Other duties as negotiated.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in accounting or a degree that required coursework in accounting, plus at least 18 months of experience working in a professional setting, or an equivalent level of experience that would demonstrate commensurate technical knowledge.
• Experience in the areas described in the “responsibilities” section.
• Knowledge of and experience with accrual accounting. General understanding of GAAP and ability to pass a basic, short accounting quiz during the interview that tests your knowledge of debits and credits and accrual accounting.
• Experience with double-entry accounting (knowing the appropriate debit and credit for a transaction).
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively and get along well with others.

Preferred skills

• Experience with Abila/MIP software.
• Experience working at an organization with an annual operating budget of more than $1 million
• Nonprofit accounting experience.
• Understanding of FAAR (guidelines for government contracts/accounting) would be a bonus!

LOCATION, PAY, BENEFITS

Location

This is a remote position, with the option of using our Seattle office if you’re in the area.

Pay

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary of $60,000 to $70,000, plus 3% pension. We would be open to an employee who wanted to work less than full-time. While we would need you to work during core business hours, we are open to a 4/10 work schedule.

Benefits

We offer flexible work schedules, 3.5 to 6 weeks of paid vacation per year, 15 to 16 paid, holidays per year, paid sick leave, a generous family leave policy, a retirement plan contribution, optional 403b plan, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care insurance, and commuter benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

Tell us of your interest and submit your resume via our AirTable form: https://airtable.com/appQoRAQidYl4xDF9/pagfqUKB3KquK4LZF/form

We will review applications as they come in and keep the position open until filled.