Staff Accountant II

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Accountant supports the accounting and operations functions of SFI and provides internal/external customer service by fielding accounting related questions as the first level of support in the US headquarters office in Washington, DC. Reporting to and working closely with the Controller, the Staff Accountant also collaborates with Human Resources, IT, and the fractional Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance.

Requirements

• A./B.S. degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college or university required.
• A minimum of 120 credit hours is required, including coursework that meets the eligibility requirements for professional accounting certification.
• Minimum 2 to 3 years of progressive accounting experience required, preferably in a nonprofit, or public accounting environment.
• Demonstrated experience in general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, and supporting audits required.
• Familiarity with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and standard financial practices required.
• Experience working with federally funded programs or grants required, including: Ensuring expenditures comply with federal cost principles and funding restrictions.
• Processing federal award payments, including drawdowns, reimbursements, and cash management transactions in compliance with federal regulations and grant terms.
• Ability to research, interpret and apply federal regulations and funding terms to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
• Actively working toward obtaining a professional accounting credential required, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or another recognized licensure in the field of accounting.
• Commitment to ongoing professional education and adherence to the ethical standards of the accounting profession required.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English

Nice To Haves

• Thorough understanding of GAAP, with the ability to independently apply them to journal entries, reconciliations, and compliance activities preferred.
• Understanding of federal grant management requirements preferred, including compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Knowledge of allowable and unallowable costs, time and effort reporting, cost allocation principles, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Sage Intacct, NetSuite, or similar ERP systems) preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis tools preferred.
• Strong comprehension skills for interpreting accounting standards and organizational policies preferred.
• Understanding of internal controls and their application across all accounting and financial processes preferred.
• Interest or background in nonprofit management, forestry, forest products, natural resources, sustainability, or environmental education a plus.
• French, Spanish, or other language proficiency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process vendor invoices accurately and promptly, ensuring proper approvals and coding.
• Verify that all expenditures are properly authorized and supported with appropriate documentation.
• Process A/P funded by Federal Award Payments
• Monitor grant expenditures to confirm they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under Uniform Guidance.
• Maintain detailed documentation and audit trails for all federal award transactions.
• Prepare and process electronic payments, ACH transfers, and check disbursements.
• Verify and collect required documentation from all vendors, including W-9 forms, executed contracts, and proof of insurance where applicable.
• Review vendor information for accuracy before activation and regularly update vendor data (e.g., addresses, tax IDs, banking details).
• Ensure vendor setup complies with internal control policies, procurement standards, and federal grant regulations under OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Record and reconcile incoming payments, including grant reimbursements, donor contributions, and other receivables.
• Prepare and submit invoices to funding agencies and clients in accordance with contract and grant requirements.
• Track outstanding receivables and follow up on delayed payments or discrepancies.
• Process and record all federal award drawdowns and reimbursements, ensuring compliance with award terms and federal cash management regulations.
• Prepare journal entries, adjusting entries, and closing entries as needed.
• Support month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Perform regular bank reconciliations and ensure all transactions are accurately reflected in accounting records.
• Reconcile credit card and balance sheet general ledger accounts monthly.
• Identify, investigate, and correct discrepancies promptly.
• Prepare and issue annual Form 1099-NEC/MISC to vendors in compliance with IRS regulations.
• Maintain accurate vendor records to ensure timely and accurate year-end reporting.
• Provide accurate schedules and reconciliations to auditors and management as requested.
• Assist with annual audits, single audits (if applicable), and other financial reviews.
• Support the Finance Department in preparing accurate schedules, reports, and grant-related reconciliations.
• Ensure all accounting activities and records comply with S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Adhere to all applicable rules and regulations set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other relevant state and federal authorities.
• Maintain awareness of changes in accounting standards, tax laws, and grant compliance requirements to ensure continued compliance and accuracy in reporting.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Retirement plan with generous employer contribution and additional matching contribution up to 11% of your salary, provided you also contribute 4%.
• Paid Time Off – generous vacation policy ranging from 2 weeks to 5 weeks, increasing with experience, all federal holidays, plus 4 floating holidays annually that may be used to observe additional religious, cultural, or traditional occasions that are meaningful to you, and 12 sick days annually.
• Educational assistance and investment in professional development.

What This Job Offers

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