Senior Accountant

Aspire Chicago•Hillside, IL

About The Position

Join a Mission that Matters: Connecting people with disabilities to ever-greater possibilities for learning, jobs and safe places to call home... Reporting directly to the Controller, the Senior Accountant plays a critical role in managing the organization’s day-to-day financial operations, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial records. This position leads month-end and year-end close activities, prepares and analyzes financial reports, coordinates audit and compliance efforts, and ensures adherence to GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards. The Senior Accountant collaborates closely with the AP & Payroll Manager, Entitlement Specialist, and Grant Compliance Specialist to strengthen financial controls, support informed decision-making, and advance the organization’s mission. This is an ideal role for a detail-oriented, mission-driven accounting professional who thrives in a collaborative nonprofit environment.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED plus a minimum of three (3) years of accounting work experience
Knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles
Experience with general ledger accounting and account reconciliations
Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
Valid Illinois driver’s license with a good driving record

Nice To Haves

Associate’s Degree in Accounting
Experience working with grants, restricted funds, or government contracts
Familiarity with nonprofit financial statements, including Statements of Financial Position, Activities, and Functional Expenses
Experience with accounting systems such as MIP, Intacct, NetSuite, or similar platforms

Responsibilities

Partner with the Controller to execute monthly reconciliations of general ledger accounts in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards
Prepare, review, and post monthly journal entries, including accruals, allocations, and adjusting entries
Lead the execution of monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes
Independently perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet reconciliations
Produce and analyze internal financial statements and management reports
Collaborate with the Controller on budget development, forecasting, and variance analysis
Monitor and analyze departmental spending, identifying variances, trends, and potential risks
Implement and maintain cost allocation methodologies across programs and funding sources
Coordinate annual financial audit preparation and serve as a primary liaison for auditor requests
Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of restricted funds in collaboration with the Finance team
Prepare and review grant reporting, including expenditure support and reconciliations, in compliance with funder, state, and federal requirements
Maintain and strengthen internal controls and financial documentation to ensure compliance with organizational policies
Drive process improvements to enhance financial controls, accuracy, and operational efficiency
Work closely with the AP & Payroll Manager to ensure accurate expense coding and payroll allocations
Coordinate with the Entitlement Specialist to reconcile client-related revenue and benefits
Provide accounting support and guidance to program and administrative staff as needed