Staff Accountant

The Organization

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) is the nation’s leading American history organization dedicated to K–12 education. The Institute’s mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. Since its founding in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute has created powerful and meaningful ways to teach and learn history. Focusing on primary sources, the Institute offers teacher seminars, online courses, exhibitions, digital materials, and print publications that enable students of all ages and backgrounds to study the nation’s past.

The Institute brings the work of today’s leading historians into classrooms and homes around the globe. Through public events, publications, posters, videos, exhibitions, essays, and a dedicated website rich in primary sources, the Institute brings every period of American history to life. The Institute’s diverse education programs, including the acclaimed Hamilton Education Program, provide opportunities to explore five centuries of American history. The Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School network comprises fourteen million students and 97,000 teachers from more than 36,000 schools worldwide.

The Position

GLI is currently seeking a Staff Accountant to manage the internal accounting of the organization and be a key member of the finance team. Responsibilities include accounts payable, accounts receivable including PO processing, budgets, grant and project reporting, monthly and year-end close management, audit prep work, sales tax filing, and 1099 filing. The Staff Accountant will work closely with all departments across the organization.

The right candidate will have an associate's degree or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to communicate clearly and effectively, a keen attention to detail, and strong organizational skills.

This role reports to the Chief Financial Officer and helps supervise the Nonprofit Accounting and HR Intern. This role will be based in New York City and currently requires working in person at least one day per week in GLI’s midtown office. The anticipated start date is Monday, March 10, 2025.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable (70%)
  • Manage accounts payable, including processing and approving invoices, expense reimbursements, and check requests
  • Manage accounts receivable, including following up with vendors, generating daily cash reports, and reconciling donations with fundraising team
  • Process income from several payment platforms
  • Process purchase orders from multiple educational institutions
• Budget & Financial Reporting (15%)
  • Prepare recurring and adjusting journal entries
  • Generate budget reports and work with all program managers to update budget forecasts on a quarterly basis
  • Create grant and project-based reporting monthly for project managers and stakeholders
  • Provide support in both the monthly and year-end financial closing processes
  • Prepare investment schedules for the Institute’s endowment portfolio
• Audit and Annual Filings (10%)
  • Assist CFO with annual audit preparation
  • Manage state sales tax filings for all products sold by GLI
  • File vendor 1099s with the IRS
• Additional responsibilities as required (5%)
  • Monitoring department inbox
  • Responding to requests and inquiries

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in Accounting
• CPA preferred but not required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications
• Experience with QuickBooks preferred
• Experience with Salesforce and Authorize.net a plus
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• An ability to handle all situations with a calm and professional approach, and demonstrated ability to problem-solve under pressure
• Punctuality and reliability
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Connection to the Institute’s mission, American history, and/or K–12 education a plus