Senior Grant Accountant

National Audubon Society • New York, NY

1d • $73,000 - $103,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Grant Accountant plays a critical role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely financial management and reporting for a complex portfolio of domestic and international grants. Currently reporting to the VP, Controller, Treasury & Financial Ops, this role serves as a subject-matter expert in grant accounting, supports audit readiness, and partners closely with program and finance teams. This position is well-suited for a seasoned grant accounting professional who brings strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and a desire to deepen systems experience within a growing and evolving finance organization. This position is classified as hybrid, in accordance with Audubon’s “Where We Work” Policy. Hybrid employees are expected to work in an Audubon office every Monday and Tuesday and an additional two days each month of the employee’s choosing. Candidates should be located within commuting distance of one of Audubon’s offices, which include locations in: Albuquerque, NM; Albany, NY; Anchorage, AK; Baltimore, MD; Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Columbia, SC; Fargo, ND; Fort Collins, CO; Lincoln, NE; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Palm Desert, CA; Roseville, MN; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Tallahassee, FL; and Washington, DC.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting and/or finance required.
• 5 years relevant professional experience in a nonprofit or grant-funded organization.
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience will also be considered.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and grant compliance standards, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
• Thorough understanding of government grant accounting guidelines and donor-restricted funds preferred.
• Effective and persuasive written and verbal communications skills; ability to successfully recommend courses of action, present information to and work with program managers and staff.
• Experience supporting audits, cost allocation, and compliance activities, including preparation of schedules and supporting documentation.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with financial systems, such as Workday, Financial Edge NXT, or equivalent preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgement in a compliance-driven environment.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Nice To Haves

• Thorough understanding of government grant accounting guidelines and donor-restricted funds preferred.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with financial systems, such as Workday, Financial Edge NXT, or equivalent preferred.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

Responsibilities

• Monitor budgets for an assigned portfolio of grants, including preparation of monthly financial reports and quarterly variance analyses, and ongoing monitoring of spending levels against both grant term and fiscal year projections.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders on grant-related financial issues to ensure compliance with applicable donor requirements and financial guidelines.
• Work closely with finance, development and program teams to prepare funder required financial reports, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Review expense coding with program managers, ensuring that direct expenses are allowable, properly documented and within approved grant budgets.
• Assist program staff in fulfilling match requirements, including ensuring match expenses are correctly coded to grants and reviewing documentation for third party in-kind support.
• Participate in grant meetings.
• Create grant codes for new grant awards, and enter, maintain, and update grant budgets within Audubon's systems.
• Monitor Government Grants inbox and work with the grant accounting team to research and process assigned requests.
• Lead grant closeout reviews, working with grant specialists and accounting teams to resolve outstanding financial issues in order to fully reconcile closed grants.
• Apply GAAP, Uniform Guidance, and special funding terms and conditions in day-to-day grant accounting to uphold internal fiscal controls and policies.
• Participate in the organization's monthly, quarterly and fiscal year-end close process through timely and accurate grant-related reconciliations, schedules and analyses.
• Maintain the grants receivables schedules, working with accounting, grant specialist and accounts receivables teams to reconcile receivable balances and help expedite clearing outstanding issues.
• Provide Journal Entry training and technical guidance to other Finance staff to promote consistency and accuracy in grant-related accounting.
• Serve as a key contributor to audits (financial statement, Uniform Guidance, donor audits), including preparation of schedules, supporting documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries.
• Serve as a key contributor to the preparation of schedules for the Tax Form 990, including schedules for grant payments and responses to tax advisor inquiries.
• In partnership with the Manager, Grant Accounting, lead preparation and submission of the organization’s NICRA application, including development of supporting schedules, coordination across finance and program teams, and liaison with external consultant as needed.
• Maintain strong internal controls over grant accounting and reporting, including documentation of processes and review procedures.
• Support responses to donor, regulator, and internal compliance inquiries related to grant accounting and cost allocation.
• Contribute to process and systems improvements, including system and workflow testing; collaborate with various finance and technology teams as needed.
• In partnership with the Manager, Grant Accounting, support documentation and training related to grant accounting processes and Workday.
• Maintain and foster culture of safety.
• Other duties as assigned by manager.

Benefits

• Salary range based on geo-differentials: $73,000 - $82,000 / year = Albuquerque, NM; Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Fargo, ND; Fort Collins, CO; Lincoln, NE; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Salt Lake City, UT; Tallahassee, FL
• $82,000 - $92,000 / year = Albany, NY; Anchorage, AK; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Palm Desert, CA; Roseville, MN; Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC
• $91,000 - $103,000 / year = New York, NY; Oakland, CA

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior