Director of Accounting

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. Since Laura and John Arnold launched their foundation in 2008, the philanthropy has expanded, and AV’s focus areas include education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. The Arnolds became signatories of the Giving Pledge in 2010.

Position Overview

We are seeking a director to lead our Accounts Payable team and manage the annual audit process and insurance renewals. The Director will design and develop system and process improvements to increase productivity and efficiency of AV’s accounting systems and Accounts Payable Team. This position will be based in our Houston, TX office and report to the Controller.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead Accounts Payable Team
  • Manage priorities, tasks, and training of the Accounts Payable team
  • Review vouchers for accuracy and provide feedback
  • Offer backup during busy periods or absences
  • Approve Concur expense reports including corporate credit cards
  • Review vendor set-up and documentation changes
  • Lead and manage 1099 filing
  • Analyze weekly cash needs for grants, operations, and investments
• Design and Implement Accounts Payable Improvements
  • Partner with Controller to update expense policies, train employees, and identify opportunities to optimize travel and discretionary spending
  • Initiate and execute system improvements for voucher efficiency and accuracy
  • Design and refine accounting codes to meet reporting needs
• Audit
  • Coordinate and manage annual audit with auditors
• Other
  • Review budget vs. actuals to refine accounting processes and reporting
  • Assist Controller with annual insurance renewals (general liability, commercial, worker’s compensation)
  • Prepare census, survey, and other responses for the accounting team

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in accounting, business, or finance
• 10 years of accounting experience and 3-5 years of managing a team
• Experience with leading system implementations and/or process improvements
• Experience with Multiview, Concur, or other accounting software
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional project management, time management, and organizational skills
• Mastery of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other standard computer software

The salary range for this position will be $145,000-$190,000.

Benefits Overview

AV is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program.

Our Culture and Core Values

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help AV achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of AV’s work culture.

• • We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
  • We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback
  • We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects
  • We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals

AV’s values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the AV team to make a difference.

• • Respect for Ourselves & Others
  • Audacious Action
  • Collaborative Engagement
  • Depth of Thought
  • Clear Communication

AV is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace. We are seeking applicants from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences and perspectives. Candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.