Senior Staff Accountant

Proteus Fund • Washington, DC

1d • Remote

About The Position

The Staff Accountant, reporting to the Controller, is responsible for recording all aspects of accounts receivable, semi-monthly payroll and 401k plan activity. This role is also responsible for recording and reporting donor advised fund (DAF) activity and supporting the Finance team in maintaining accurate and timely financial records and reporting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 to 7 years of general accounting experience
• Solid understanding of accounting fundamentals, payroll practices, and nonprofit accounting principles, including GAAP
• Experience with accounting and payroll systems; CheckWriters experience preferred
• Experience supporting nonprofit financial reporting, compliance, and day-to-day accounting operations
• Proficiency with accounting and finance software systems, with intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and related functions
• Ability to work and adapt in a fast-paced environment and work efficiently in a virtual setting
• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and teams that are diverse through building inclusion and belonging

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in key areas of oversight; Ability to ask relevant lines of questioning to functional experts when personal content knowledge areas of expertise are not directly aligned
• Maintains a high degree of accuracy and detail orientation when working with data/ keeping data clean and up-to-date, data/ knowledge management, record keeping, etc
• Strategic management of daily tasks and related deliverables within a portfolio of work. Prioritizes support to actively mitigate risk and minimize bottlenecks when possible, keeping in mind the needs of other collaborators
• Demonstrates strong commitment to the mission and values of Proteus Fund as a progressive, social justice organization, including a deep investment in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
• Analyzes challenges, engages stakeholders, and develops practical, goal aligned solutions using sound judgment and a solution-oriented approach
• Ability to learn, navigate, and support multiple operational systems and platforms across finance functions. Supports system maintenance, troubleshooting, workflow updates, and process improvements with adaptability and consistency
• Communicates with clarity, cultural fluency, and integrity across sensitive or complex topics. Balances transparency, care, and discretion in all people-facing work

Responsibilities

• Perform monthly reconciliations of payroll items to the general ledger and prepare payroll related journal entries and work papers for the monthly and annual close, annual 401k plan audit, annual financial audit, and preparation of IRS Form 990
• Reconcile and record payroll related accounting activity, including 401(k) semi-monthly invoices, monthly pension accruals based on organization’s employee benefits, and salary and benefits accounts in the general ledger to ensure accuracy of financial reporting
• Partner with the People & Culture team to resolve payroll discrepancies and 401k plan discrepancies
• Prepare and maintain accurate records and reports of payroll transactions
• Perform internal audits on both payroll and 401k plan, as needed
• Support the 401k plan audit process, including direct communication with auditors, coordinating documentation with Third-Party providers, People & Culture, the Controller, the CFO, and gathering payroll-related audit materials
• Prepare Finance reports for People & Culture and/or management for reimbursements related to specific employee earnings and benefits
• Record accounts receivable and cash receipts in the accounting system and partner with Donor Services to accurately track and allocate revenue.
• Identify and create adjusting journal entries, as needed
• Generate and analyze financial reports, such as monthly and quarterly DAF reports, and act as backup to generate program reports and funder reports, as needed
• Assist with monthly and annual closings, including the creation and analysis of expense allocations, journal entries, and reconciliations of trial balance accounts
• Support the annual audit, tax, and budget processes
• Conduct and collaborate on analyses and special projects, as needed
• Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Manage Account Receivable email activity, requests, and inquiries
• Support the maintenance and administration of finance systems, including SAP Concur, the accounting system, and related integrations

Benefits

• 401k plan activity
• employee benefits
• salary and benefits accounts

What This Job Offers

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