Staff Accountant

The Staff Accountant supports the financial accuracy, integrity, and overall accounting operations of Big Picture Learning (BPL), with primary responsibility for general ledger and balance sheet reconciliations, bank and investment reconciliations, accounting schedules, and financial analysis support. This role serves as an important independent review and verification function within the Finance team, ensuring that financial transactions are accurately recorded, reconciled, and supported by appropriate documentation. Working closely with the Senior Accountant and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Staff Accountant supports timely financial reporting, month-end and year-end close processes, audit readiness, and the continuous improvement of financial controls and accounting systems. Responsibilities General Ledger & Account Reconciliations Perform monthly and quarterly reconciliations of general ledger and balance sheet accounts, including bank and investment accounts, Accounts Receivable, revenue and deferred revenue, payroll liabilities, pension, prepaid expenses, accruals, and clearing accounts. Reconcile Bill.com Accounts Payable activity, corporate credit cards, PayPal, cash receipts, and related clearing accounts; identify outstanding, returned, or voided payments and coordinate resolution of discrepancies with the Finance team. Perform quarterly reconciliations between the general ledger, Accounts Receivable records, and Salesforce grant and contract pipelines to ensure accuracy and completeness. Maintain fixed asset registers, depreciation schedules, debt schedules, and fiscal sponsorship/pass-through funding schedules, ensuring balances are properly reconciled and supported. Prepare journal entries related to bank and investment activity, reconciliations, accruals, and other assigned accounting transactions for review and approval. Financial Close & Accounting Operations Prepare monthly, quarterly, and year-end accounting schedules and supporting documentation, assisting the CFO and Senior Accountant with timely and accurate financial close processes. Identify unusual transactions, outstanding balances, and accounting discrepancies; investigate and recommend appropriate corrections. Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure accurate recording of grants, contracts, and other financial transactions. Provide limited backup support for Accounts Payable and other accounting functions when necessary, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties and independent review of any transactions processed. Financial Reporting & Analysis Support the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reporting packages, ensuring accurate reconciliations and supporting financial schedules. Assist the CFO with financial analysis, including budget-to-actual comparisons, revenue and expense trends, cost-center analysis, and organizational financial metrics. Support the CFO and Senior Accountant with forecasting, financial reporting, and ad-hoc analysis projects as assigned. Audit, Compliance & Internal Controls Prepare reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation for the annual financial statement audit, Form 990, pension audit, workers' compensation audit, and other financial reviews. Maintain accurate and organized accounting records in accordance with GAAP, organizational policies, and internal control requirements. Identify and support improvements to accounting procedures, financial systems, documentation, and reconciliation processes. General Support, participate in, and attend annual BPL conferences and other organization-wide events as needed Support efforts to foster fairness, belonging, and equal opportunity while actively advocating for justice at the personal, organizational, and systemic levels. Other duties, as assigned Qualifications, Requirements and Skills BA in Accounting or Finance strongly preferred. However, as research demonstrates that education requirements can be a deterrent for qualified candidates to apply and can perpetuate gender and racial disparities, we encourage all candidates with the professional experiences and leadership qualities outlined in this position specification to apply. 4-7 years of experience in general accounting, preferably in a nonprofit environment Demonstrated experience with general ledger, bank, and balance sheet reconciliations. Experience preparing journal entries, maintaining accounting schedules, and supporting monthly and year-end close processes. Understanding of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), internal controls, and accounting best practices. Experience supporting financial audits and Form 990 preparation strongly preferred. High preference for experience with Intacct, Expensify, Bill.com and Salesforce Strong aptitude with Excel and similar financial tools Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality Self-motivated with the ability to set priorities and manage multiple tasks under minimal supervision Willingness to travel approximately 10% of the time. Potential for advancement and cross-training in Accounts Receivable and broader finance operations Organizational Skills Steadfast belief that students should be at the center of their own learning and that education (in particular public education) is due for a reorientation that allows students to be confident in the pursuit of their own passions and interests Strong internal accountability (especially important due to the geographic spread of BPL’s work and our virtual teams), comfort juggling multiple projects and prioritizing tasks, and the ability to work remotely in distributed teams across multiple time zones Ability to exhibit entrepreneurial behaviors, take ownership, and see tasks and ideas through from conception to implementation Excellent interpersonal communication skills (speaking, writing, listening) in person and virtually Commitment to continuous improvement, a relentless approach to growth and learning, and an openness to constructive critical feedback Collegial and empathetic approach to working with others, while bringing a creative, flexible and thoughtful approach to your work Ability to use - or quickly learn - multiple tech platforms (i.e., Google Suite, Salesforce, Bill.com, Intacct) Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Evaluation Method: Yearly goals written in July, year-end written review/evaluation completed in June. Work Year, Terms and Conditions of Employment: Full-time, year-round. Evenings/Weekends as needed.