Accounting Manager

Chicago Public Media; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 88,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous benefits package

Retirement plan

Paid time off & commuter benefits

Job summary

Chicago Public Media is seeking an Accounting Manager to lead daily accounting operations with a strong focus on not-for-profit accounting and GAAP compliance. The role supervises three direct reports, oversees month-end close, and ensures audit readiness across the organization.

The successful candidate will translate complex financial data into clear narratives, identify trends, and collaborate across teams to maintain strong internal controls.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of not-for-profit/public accounting experience with increasing responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field required.
• CPA or CPA-candidate preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain general ledger and reconcile entries across multiple subledgers.
• Lead month-end close and ensure audit readiness.
• Oversee coordination of annual financial statements and variance analysis.
• Support tax filings, regulatory and grantor reporting as needed.
• Assist with corporate sponsorship financial operations.
• Participate in ACH approvals and wire transfers as needed.

Skills

U.S. GAAP

Sage Intacct

Limelight

MS Excel

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Discretion/confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

Sage Intacct

Limelight

MS Excel

Job description

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

The Opportunity

The Accounting Manager is a hands-on, highly analytical individual with a strong foundation in not-for-profit and/or public accounting that leads our daily accounting operations while ensuring appropriate accounting compliance and control. The Accounting Manager bridges the gap between technical GAAP compliance and day-to-day operational excellence. The Accounting Manager oversees the general ledger, drives month-end close cycles, and ensures our organization is always "audit-ready." This position is responsible for supervising the organization’s general accounting functions and manages three direct reports, an Accounting Supervisor and two Staff Accountants. The Accounting Manager interacts with individuals on all levels within the organization and provides accounting support to ensure compliance with agency and programmatic requirements.

The Accounting Manager must be a disciplined, analytical thinker who instinctively looks beyond the “what” of the numbers to investigate and understand the “why.” This individual must be able to identify underlying trends and anomalies and translate and communicate them into a cohesive, actionable narrative.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain general ledger by monitoring and ensuring accuracy of accounting transactions, journal entries, and reconciliations performed by the Accounting Supervisor, Staff Accountants, Senior Accounts Payable Coordinator, and Senior Revenue Coordinator.
• Lead the close operations of the accounting team, ensuring that the team adheres to a prescribed close calendar.
• Oversee Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets subledger close.
• Lead monthly departmental review meetings to analyze variances, establish accruals, and document corrections in preparation of monthly financial reporting.
• Partner in preparation of monthly financial statements and variance analysis for CEO financial reporting package.
• Lead accounting support and ensure readiness for CPM’s annual financial audit, tax filings, and regulatory and grantor reporting.
• Assist with corporate sponsorship financial operations, as needed.
• Participate in ACH approval and initiate wire transfers, as needed.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting
• Proficiency in Sage Intacct, Limelight, and MS Excel (advanced skills)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization
• Intellectual curiosity, initiative, and strong work ethic
• Positive team player who embraces collaboration
• Strong attention-to-detail and ability to assess accuracy and data integrity
• Fast learner who likes to solve problems in a dynamic environment
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• High level of discretion to maintain confidentiality

Minimum Qualification: 10+ years of not-for-profit and/or public accounting experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including the management of direct reports

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field

Certificates and/or Licenses: CPA or CPA candidate preferred

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $88,000 to $115,000 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.

Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.

Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.