Senior Accountant

Heritage Health - Idaho•Coeur D'Alene, ID

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About The Position

About the Role The Senior Accountant (Technical Close Lead) owns key components of the month-end closing process, including preparation and review of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance explanations. This role is responsible for maintaining an audit-ready reconciliation binder, strengthening internal controls, and improving close efficiency through standardized templates and process improvements. The position partners cross-functionally resolve accounting issues at the source and provide timely, decision-useful financial insights to leadership.

Requirements

Strong GAAP knowledge; understands nonprofit (501(c)(3)) accounting fundamentals and internal controls.
Advanced Excel skills (large datasets, pivots, lookups, structured templates) and comfort with accounting/reporting systems.
Strong time management and ability to prioritize competing deadlines with minimal oversight; consistently meets close timelines.
Excellent communication and cross-department collaboration skills; can explain accounting issues plainly and drive resolution.

Responsibilities

Own assigned areas of the month-end close from pre-close through final review, including recurring entries, accruals, and cut-off procedures.
Own month-end close for grant-related accounts (grant receivables, deferred revenue, revenue recognition support) and deliver monthly grant balance summaries to Finance leadership and the Grants/Program team.
Prepare and/or review journal entries with clear support, proper coding, and GAAP-based rationale; ensure entries are posted timely and accurately.
Lead preparation of an audit-ready reconciliation binder for assigned balance sheet accounts (monthly roll-forward, support, aging of reconciling items, resolution plans).
Perform and document flux/variance analysis on assigned accounts; explain drivers and highlight emerging risks/trends to Finance leadership.
Maintain the organization’s grant accounting schedules for HRSA, State, foundation, and other grant award funding, ensuring transactions are properly coded by grant, program, and period.
Prepare and deliver monthly (or draw-period) support to the Grant Management/Program team for reimbursement requests, including: o Allowable personnel cost details (salary, fringe, allocations) supported by payroll reports and approved methodologies o Allowable direct cost detail supported by invoices, GL detail, and policy-based allowability
Track grant financial activity against approved budgets and award terms; monitor burn rates, budget variances, and remaining available funding; proactively flag over/under-spend risk and timing concerns.
Maintain a grant drawdown tracking log by award (requested, received, applied, remaining) and reconcile it monthly to the general ledger.
Record grant-related journal entries and month-end close activity, including (as applicable): o Grant receivables (amounts requested/earned but not yet received) o Grant revenue recognition consistent with award terms (including fixed awards, where revenue may be recognized per the applicable recognition basis and documentation) o Deferred revenue / unearned revenue when funds are received prior to meeting recognition requirements
Collaborate closely with the Grant Management/Program team on grant reporting timelines and financial support for: o Interim and final grant reporting packages o Budget amendments and reforecasting o Grantor/auditor PBC requests related to grant expenditures, allowability, and reconciliation support
Maintain audit-ready documentation for all grant accounting areas, including cost support, allocation methodologies, reconciliation workpapers, and drawdown tie-outs.
Reconcile balance sheet accounts; investigate discrepancies, trace root causes, and implement corrective actions (including process fixes, not just “band-aid” entries).
Maintain strong awareness of business events impacting accounting; proactively partner with operational teams to prevent recurring issues.
Support and enhance internal controls over financial reporting; document processes and recommend improvements, including compensating controls where segregation-of-duties is limited.
Produce monthly close deliverables for assigned areas: reconciliation status, open item aging, and variance commentary; create ad hoc reports as requested.
Build and maintain standardized templates (reconciliation formats, JE support, tie-out checklists) to improve accuracy, reduce manual work, and increase consistency.
Serve as a key point person for assigned audit areas: prepare PBC schedules, respond to auditor questions, and maintain organized support files.
Perform accounting research and prepare written documentation/memos on new or complex topics impacting the organization.
Act as mentor to other accounting staff providing training, review support, and standard work adoption (recs, documentation, close discipline).
Provide backup coverage for key accounting workflows as needed to maintain continuity of operations.
Serve as payroll processing backup (bi-weekly), ensuring accuracy and timely posting; maintain payroll-related reconciliations and documentation.