Accountant

The Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free museum admission

401(k) with company match

Employee discounts

Paid time off

Parking provided

Job summary

The Cleveland Museum of Art is seeking a Senior Accountant to manage grants, pledges, and endowed funds, ensuring accurate recording and compliance with grant terms. The role collaborates with Development and Finance to monitor receivables, prepare reports, and support audits.

Responsibilities include tracking donor-restricted funds, endowment support, and backup coverage for AP, vendor management, and tax processes as needed. Minimum 3–4 years in accounting required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; CPA a plus but not required.
• Minimum 3–4 years of accounting experience, nonprofit/grants experience preferred.
• Experience with grants and nonprofit accounting highly preferred.
• Proficiency with accounting software (e.g., Blackbaud) and CRM software is a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong MS Office proficiency.
• Analytical thinking with attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accounting records for grants, pledges, and specific funds; ensure proper recording of revenues and expenses.
• Monitor grant receivables and deferred revenue; prepare grant reports and schedules.
• Coordinate grant-related closeouts, compliance reviews, and audits; assist with grant audits.
• Record gift and pledge activity; classify gifts by restrictions and monitor donor-designated funds.
• Track debt interest expense, swaps, and endowment portfolio administration support.
• Serve as backup for accounts payable, vendor management, and tax processes as needed.

Job description

The Senior Accountant primarily manages the accounting and compliance functions for the museum's grants, pledges, specific-purpose funds, temporarily restricted gifts, and charitable gift annuities. The role is responsible for monitoring grant and pledge receivables, reviewing expenses for compliance with grant, donor, and fund restrictions/terms, coordinating the monthly reconciliation of philanthropy activity to the general ledger, recording and monitoring releases from restriction, and maintaining supporting schedules for financial reporting and audit purposes.

The role also oversees debt interest expense tracking, supports select administrative aspects of the endowment investment portfolio, and serves as the escalation point for compliance questions arising from daily philanthropic gift processing. This role additionally serves as a cross‑trained backup across other functions within the Finance department, supporting continuity for accounts payable, vendor management, and tax‑related processes as needed.

This role requires close collaboration with the Development/Philanthropy team, and members of the Finance department, but also with other departments across the museum (education, curatorial, conservation, etc.). This role is expected to exercise independent judgment in interpreting donor restrictions and grant compliance matters, forming a well‑reasoned position based on the underlying agreement — while knowing when to raise ambiguous or high‑stakes questions to the CFO or other senior staff within Finance before finalizing a determination.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Grants Accounting and Financial Management
  • Maintain financial records for grants and ensure revenues and expenditures are properly recorded.
  • Review expenses charged to grants for appropriate coding, allowability and compliance with grant requirements.
  • Calculate and maintain grant receivables and deferred revenue as appropriate.
  • Prepare grant financial reports and schedules.
  • Monitor grant expiration dates, reporting deadlines and closeout requirements.
  • Coordinate with program staff and grant administrators to resolve accounting and coding issues.
  • Assist with grant audits and provide supporting documentation.
• Gifts, Pledges and Philanthropy
  • Maintain/record pledge receivable schedules, calculate pledge discount values and maintain cash flow schedule.
  • Record pledge payments.
  • Review and reconcile gift and pledge activity received from Philanthropy on a monthly basis.
  • Review the financial treatment of gifts, including cash, securities and other non‑cash gifts in coordination with other Finance staff.
  • Ensure gifts are appropriately classified as unrestricted, temporarily restricted or otherwise restricted.
  • Monitor donor‑designated and specific‑purpose funds.
  • Identify discrepancies between Philanthropy records, the general ledger and bank deposits.
  • Serve as the primary Finance liaison to Philanthropy on financial gift and pledge matters.
• Restricted Funds and Endowment‑Related Activity
  • Maintain schedules for donor‑restricted and specific‑purpose funds.
  • Monitor expenditures against donor restrictions and fund purposes.
  • Determine when funds are eligible for release from restriction.
  • Prepare and document releases from restriction.
  • Review restricted fund balances and identify unusual or inactive balances.
  • Coordinate with senior Finance staff on technical accounting issues involving restrictions and net assets.
  • Provide supporting schedules for financial statements and audit.
• Other responsibilities
  • Debt, swap, and interest
    • Reconcile interest expense to lender statements; and track principal and interest payments.
    • Monitor all debt‑related fees.
    • Monitor swap valuation and make corresponding journal entries, including accruals as needed.
    • Maintain debt amortization schedules.
    • Maintain supporting documentation and assist with audit reporting.
  • Charitable Gift Annuities (“CGA”)
    • Process and reconcile Charitable gift annuity payments and corresponding journal entries quarterly.
    • Maintain CGA accounting administration database and record annual FASB liability adjustments.
    • Provide annuitant Forms 1099 data for A/P processing.
  • Assist with administrative and operational aspects of endowment/investment portfolio
  • Assist with gathering information and perform analysis for special projects.
  • Act as backup for other areas of the business office, such as accounts payable, and accounts receivable, as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance. CPA a plus but not required.
• Minimum of three to four years of experience in accounting, or related field.
• Experience with grants and/or non‑profit accounting highly preferred.
• Basic knowledge of accounting principles; proficiency working with accounting software (e.g. Blackbaud) and CRM software a plus.
• Demonstrated computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel skills.
• Self‑motivated with analytical thinking skills to identify, research, and resolve exceptions; and the ability to meet deadlines while multi‑tasking.
• Possess strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and communications skills.

PROFESSIONALISM AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment in all interactions and decisions.
• Treats colleagues, volunteers, visitors, and stakeholders with respect, courtesy, and inclusiveness.
• Fosters positive working relationships and contributes to a collaborative and supportive workplace culture.
• Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information with discretion.
• Consistently upholds the museum's values, professional standards, and reputation.
• Takes ownership of responsibilities and is accountable for the quality and timeliness of work.
• Pursues continuous improvement by seeking opportunities for professional growth and process enhancement.
• Adheres to all CMA policies, procedures, protocols, and workplace expectations.
• Responds constructively to feedback and adapts effectively to change.

Annual Salary / $65,000-$70,000

Full‑time Benefits include:

• Free, unlimited admission to select Cleveland Museum of Art ticketed exhibitions (two adult member tickets per visit, subject to availability)
• 50% off admission to select ticketed exhibitions for members' guests
• Free admission to select ticketed exhibitions for unlimited children, 17 and younger, when accompanied by a member
• Priority registration and discounts for museum art classes for adults and children
• 20% discount in the museum store
• 25% discount in the museum restaurant and café
• Annual subscription to Cleveland Art members magazine
• Free Garage Parking
• Your employment relationship with the museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other cultural institutions such as the Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Zoo, etc.
• Medical
• Vision
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Voluntary Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• HSA
• FSA
• 401(k) with company match
• Critical Illness Insurance
• ID Theft
• Legal Services
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.