Accounting Associate

Purple Strategies; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Purple Strategies in Alexandria, VA, is seeking an Accounting Associate to join the finance team. This full-time role supports invoicing, general ledger, journal entries, accounts payable and receivable, payroll processing, and audit support, with a focus on accuracy and process improvement using Excel.

The ideal candidate has 1–2 years of accounting experience, a Bachelor’s in Accounting or Finance, and experience with QuickBooks or Sage Intacct.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of accounting experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Experience with QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or another ERP system preferred; familiarity with Bill.com and Ramp a plus
• Working knowledge of AP/AR and broad accounting functions
• Solid Excel skills including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, and formulas, with an interest in streamlining processes
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly to enhance work product while maintaining confidentiality and accuracy
• Detail-oriented, organized, deadline-driven, and able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Public accounting or internship experience a plus
• Embodiment of Purple’s values: Adaptable, Collaborative, Curious, Innovative, Industrious, Respectful

Responsibilities

• Support core accounting processes, including invoicing, journal entries, general ledger entries, and account reconciliations
• Assist with the month-end close process (e.g., preparing schedules, reconciling accounts, and supporting reporting deliverables)
• Perform day-to-day Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable tasks, including issue resolution and timely follow-up
• Assist with payroll processing and related recordkeeping
• Partner with internal teams to ensure accurate coding, documentation, and timely processing of invoices and payments
• Assist with audit and compliance support, including preparing schedules and gathering documentation for auditor requests
• Help maintain organized documentation for core accounting processes
• Use Excel to organize and validate data sets (e.g., pivots, lookups, embedded formulas) and flag discrepancies; support efforts to automate recurring processes
• Support ad-hoc projects and cross-functional requests as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Excel

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication skills

AI tools usage

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

QuickBooks

Sage Intacct

ERP systems

Bill.com

Ramp

Job description

Purple Strategies is a corporate reputation and strategy firm that combines the creativity and discipline of brand communications with the speed and strategy of political campaigns to helpleverageor reduce pressure on a business,brandor issue. We help build anddefend reputation and brand valueand serve Fortune 500 companies, associations,nonprofitsand some of the most recognizable brands in the world.

Purple helps the world’s most important organizations address their toughest challenges. Weoperatein a highly collaborative environment and apply integrated, team-based approaches to help clients:

• ANTICIPATE reputation challenges and opportunities;
• COMPEL change through business actions and transformation; and
• NAVIGATE reputation issues, acute crises, key businesschoicesand policy/regulatory changes to inform decision-making.

About the Role

The Accounting Associate isa member of the finance team who works under the direction of the finance team to keep day-to-day accounting operations running smoothly and accurately. The ideal candidate is an organized, critical thinker with strong Excelskills,aproactive mindset, and a process-oriented, analytical approach to improving accuracy and efficiency.

This is a full-time position. The Accounting Associate joins a current two-person teamcomprisedof a Senior Director of Finance and Accounting and a Revenue Accountant.

Responsibilities

• Supportcore accounting processes, including invoicing, journal entries, general ledgerentries, and account reconciliations
• Assistwiththe month-end close process (e.g., preparing schedules, reconciling accounts, andsupportingreporting deliverables)
• Perform day-to-day Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable tasks, including general issue resolution andtimelyfollow-up
• Assistwith payroll processing and related recordkeeping
• Partner with internal teams to ensureaccuratecoding, documentation, andtimelyprocessing of invoices and payments
• Assistwith audit and compliance support, including preparing schedules and gathering documentation forauditor requests
• Helpmaintainorganizeddocumentation for core accounting processes
• Use Excel toorganizeandvalidatedata sets (e.g., pivots, lookups, embedded formulas) andflagdiscrepancies;support efforts toautomate and streamline recurring processes
• Support ad-hoc projects and cross-functional requests as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• A minimum of 1-2 years of relevant accounting experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Experience with QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or another ERP system preferred; familiarity with Bill.com and Ramp a plus
• Working knowledge of AP/AR and broad accounting functions
• Exposure to audit support ordocumentation requestsis a plus
• SolidExcel skills, includingfamiliarity withPivot Tables,VLOOKUP,andformulas,with an interest in using these skills to help streamline processes
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly to enhance work product while consistently applying critical thinking, judgment, protecting confidentiality, andmaintainingaccountability for work quality and accuracy.
• Detail-oriented, organized, deadline-driven, and able to multi-task in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Strongoral and written communications skills
• Stronganalytical skillsand comfort working withdata
• Public accounting or internship experience a plus
• Embodiment of Purple’s values: Adaptable, Collaborative, Curious, Innovative, Industrious, Respectful.

Work Location

This is a full-time positionbased in our Alexandria, VA headquarters.Purple Strategies offers a hybrid model and seeks employees whoare able towork in the office three days a week.

Compensation

Purple Strategies offers a competitive total compensation package with salary, bonus and benefits. Base salary for this position starts at $58,000.

Purple is an equalopportunityemployer and does not discriminate in itsselectionand employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.