Senior Accountant, Finance Department

Brooklyn Defender Services•New York, NY

1d•$85,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is a multi-disciplinary defense office dedicated to representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work is concentrated at the intersection of legal systems that disproportionately affect poor, Black, Latine, and immigrant communities. BDS serves thousands of individuals annually, addressing complex and multifaceted legal needs through interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers, and advocates. We offer a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including assistance with housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. As a public defense office, BDS fosters a collaborative environment where staff work across disciplines to provide high-quality legal services to the people we represent, their families, and communities in Brooklyn. The majority of BDS's funding is derived from New York City and State government contracts. The Finance unit is responsible for managing BDS's financial and management accounting, including the preparation and submission of contract budgets and invoices, tracking revenue and expenses for contracts, ensuring compliance with funder fiscal policies, and liaising with funding agencies to address budget-related inquiries and resolve issues. Reporting directly to the Assistant Controller, the Senior Accountant will support the Assistant Controller of Billing and Revenue in overseeing the daily grant accounting operations at Brooklyn Defender Services. This role involves preparing grant budgets and modifications, recording monthly financial activities, tracking grant revenues and expenses, ensuring adherence to contractual requirements, and delivering precise financial reports to funding agencies and internal stakeholders. The Senior Accountant will also contribute to audits and special projects concerning grants and financial operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field
Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing government and/or nonprofit grants.
Experience working with funding agencies such as MOCJ, DYCD, DSS, OCA-JCLS, DCJS, and HRA.
Strong knowledge of grant compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Sage Intacct or similar accounting systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare and submit accurate monthly and quarterly invoices to funding sources.
Record monthly grant revenue and indirect cost allocations in Sage Intacct.
Record cash receipts related to grant activity in Sage Intacct.
Prepare annual grant budgets and budget modifications in accordance with funder guidelines.
Record personnel reclassifications between funding sources, including maintaining detailed knowledge of organizational salary structures.
Monitor grant revenues, expenses, recoupments, and cash receipts to ensure accuracy and timeliness in recordings.
Review monthly expenses against approved budgets, identify variances, and communicate potential budget issues to the Assistant Controller of Billing and Revenue.
Prepare monthly expense-to-budget analyses and financial projections for grant programs.
Ensure compliance with grant agreements, contractual obligations, and applicable funding regulations.
Maintain accurate and complete financial records and supporting documentations for each assigned funding source.
Follow up on outstanding billing and grant payments as needed.
Assist with annual independent audits and ongoing grantor audits including but not limited to preparing audit schedules, account analyses, and supporting documentation.
Perform special projects and other related duties as assigned.