Accounting Manager

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Menlo Park (CA); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation seeks an Accounting Manager to lead accounting operations and ensure financial accuracy for its philanthropic goals. The ideal candidate will hold a CPA, possess extensive accounting experience, and thrive in a collaborative environment, contributing to a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement.

Benefits

Generous total compensation package

Ongoing professional development and learning

Culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience with at least 3 years in management.
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, preferably in a foundation environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly general ledger activity, year-end close, reconciliations, and journal entries in compliance with GAAP.
• Supervise annual financial audit process and prepare audited financial statements.
• Maintain and enhance internal controls and implement automated solutions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Leadership abilities

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Financial reporting systems

Job description

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, is seeking an Accounting Manager for the Finance Department.

About the Foundation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers working to ensure that people, communities, and the planet can flourish. Together with our partners, we are harnessing society’s collective capacity to solve our toughest problems — from the existential threat of climate change to persistent and pervasive inequities, to attacks on democracy itself. A nonpartisan philanthropy, the Hewlett Foundation has made grants in the U.S. and globally for nearly six decades based on an approach that emphasizes long-term support, collaboration, and trust.

The foundation has approximately 130 employees, in programmatic, operational, and investment roles, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Across the organization, our employees are challenged with meaningful work, have the resources for ongoing professional development and learning, and contribute to a collegial and engaging environment where they can thrive. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion as part of our guiding principles and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. More information about the Hewlett Foundation is available at: www.hewlett.org

About the Finance Department

The Finance Department serves the foundation's charitable work by providing financial and business planning support to enable the organization to focus on its philanthropic goals. This financial leadership is offered through sound financial planning and reporting, quality operational processes, and business controls that meet the needs of the foundation and outside constituents, such as regulators.

About the Position

The Accounting Manager is an agile and reliable financial partner who empowers the Hewlett Foundation's mission through expertise, collaboration, and foresight. This role reports to the Controller and leads the foundation's accounting operations with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and service. The Accounting Manager will build technical excellence while fostering a consultative partnership approach, developing automated solutions that protect the foundation's resources while enabling more strategic work. As a trusted thought partner, this position will anticipate needs, promote knowledge sharing, and uphold high professional and ethical standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting Operations and Reporting

• Leads and manages monthly general ledger activity, year-end close, reconciliations, and journal entries in compliance with GAAP with a focus on standardization.
• Supervise the annual financial audit process and preparation of the audited financial statements.
• Align reporting between accounting teams to create consistency and clarity
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of all financial reporting while identifying automation opportunities. Identify opportunities for higher tracking/process accuracy and accountability.
• Develop expertise in treasury functions and payment alternatives

Tax Reporting and Compliance Management

• Support the preparation and filing of foundation tax returns, and other compliance filings.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with IRS regulations for exempt organizations

Financial Systems and Process Improvement

• Maintain and enhance internal controls and segregation of duties
• Implement automated solutions to reduce manual effort in accounting processes
• Lead financial systems management and integration with cross-functional systems
• Lead the development of training documentation for financial systems
• Collaborate with cross-functional team to optimize financial systems integration and contract management

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Grant Processing

• Anticipate foundation needs and collaborate for impact as a trusted thought partner
• Collaborate with accounting staff, building knowledge transfer among team members
• Support grant payment processing and accounts payable functions
• Expand knowledge/capacity across team for risk management and compliance functions
• Create training schedules and expanded documentation for systems and processes
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and creative problem-solving
• Build an environment where team members feel empowered to propose better solutions

Required Skills, Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA required
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a management role
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, preferably in a foundation environment
• Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements for nonprofits
• Experience implementing or optimizing accounting systems and automation tools
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Strong leadership abilities
• Outstanding communication skills with ability to explain technical concepts clearly
• Commitment to high professional and ethical standards
• Passion for creative problem-solving with clear communication
• Commitment to continuous growth and excellence, with a curious mindset and joy in learning
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and financial reporting systems
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple projects
• Positive attitude and excellent customer service orientation

Compensation and Benefits

The Hewlett Foundation is committed to providing compensation that is competitive within the philanthropic sector. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this role starts at $128,000-$160,000. Offers are based on the candidate's years of experience and our practice of maintaining salary equity within the foundation.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time and to travel via various modes of transportation for extended periods of time. The Accounting Manager role will be based in Menlo Park, Calif. The foundation has reopened in a hybrid work environment of three days in the office per week at a minimum.

To apply:

Please apply online and submit a resume and cover letter explaining how your skills fit this position.

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation embraces the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally, in our hiring process and organizational culture, and externally, in our grantmaking and related practices. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.