Accounting Manager

The New York Historical; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health, dental, vision, life insurance

Disability coverage

403(b) retirement plan

Flexible spending accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Store discount

Free museum admissions

Job summary

The New York Historical seeks an Accounting Manager to oversee financial operations, ensuring GAAP compliance and accurate reporting. This role manages a small team and partners with departments to classify donor revenue and manage budgets.

The ideal candidate brings several years of nonprofit accounting experience, strong Excel/Word skills, and a proven ability to lead staff and improve financial processes. Equal opportunity employer with generous benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; Advanced degree preferred.
• Seven years of accounting experience with increasing responsibility.
• Not-for-profit accounting experience required; public accounting a plus.
• Prior experience managing staff.
• Solid understanding of GAAP and traditional bookkeeping (debits/credits).
• Advanced knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Experience with systems implementations and integrations; knowledge of Blackbaud Financial Edge or similar.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily accounting operations and supervise staff.
• Ensure accurate recording of contributed revenue and donor restrictions; coordinate with Development.
• Monitor banking activity and provide updates on wires.
• Manage reconciliations for credit cards, revenue, and expenses.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and close processes.
• Support audits, tax filings, and year-end reporting.

Skills

Not-for-profit accounting

Staff management

GAAP

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

Blackbaud Financial Edge

Job description

New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution documenting over 400 years of American history through a peerless collection of art, documents, and artifacts. Our offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections. We are home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women’s History, the Reiss Family Graduate Institute for Constitutional History, the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States’ democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Controller, the Accounting Manager is responsible for overseeing the integrity and accuracy of The New York Historical’s financial operations and reporting. This role manages day-to-day accounting activities, supervises two finance team members, and ensures compliance with GAAP, internal controls, and organizational policies. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and experienced in nonprofit accounting.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Oversee daily accounting operations and supervise the Senior Accountant and Senior Accounts Payable Specialist;
• Ensure accurate recording of contributed revenue and proper donor restriction classifications; coordinate with the Development team to reconcile subsidiary systems and review donor pledges and gift documentation;
• Monitor daily banking activity and provide timely updates on incoming wires to Development.;
• Manage credit card reconciliations and resolve outstanding items and discrepancies;
• Review revenue reconciliations for Admissions, Museum Store, and Education programs;
• Track and review exhibition and capital project expenses for proper classification;
• Approve monthly bank reconciliations, cash receipts, accounts payable, and journal entries;
• Review ACH instructions, verify new vendor setups, and oversee vendor tax documentation (Form W-9);
• Manage the annual 1099 reporting process and unclaimed funds compliance;
• Maintain and update the chart of accounts and fiscal year budgets in the financial system;
• Prepare quarterly sales tax filings and fixed asset schedules, including depreciation;
• Manage and update the lease schedule;
• Prepare and submit government-related census reports and surveys;
• Ensure timely monthly distribution of financial reports to departments for budget and grant management;
• Support investment, endowment, and net asset accounting as needed;
• Coordinate and ensure reconciliation of all balance sheet and income statement accounts in preparation for month-end and year-end closing;
• Assist with quarterly closes, year-end audit fieldwork, annual financial statement and audit supplemental materials, tax return preparation and supplemental schedules, state registrations, deadline tracking, periodic financial reporting for management and debt compliance;
• Assist Controller with ongoing projects, update processes and new system implementations;
• Support the Controller in ensuring an accurate and timely period close and providing reports for financial statements and other reporting needs;
• Work with Controller and CFO on special projects, as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; Advanced degree preferred;
• A minimum of seven years of accounting experience with increasing responsibility;
• Not-for-profit accounting experience required; public accounting experience a plus;
• Prior experience managing staff;
• Solid understanding of traditional (debit and credit) bookkeeping systems and GAAP;
• Advanced knowledge and proficiency with Excel and Word;
• Experience with systems implementations and integrations;
• Excellent written and communication skills;
• Ability to independently recognize problems and develop solutions;
• Strong time management and multitasking skills; can handle multiple responsibilities and projects with competing priorities and deadlines;
• Knowledge of Blackbaud Financial Edge or similar platform is desired.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This is largely a sedentary role using a computer; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stoop as necessary.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The expected salaryrangefor this position is $90,000 - $100,000 per year. The successfulcandidate will be offered a salary within thisrangebased on specificfactors such as their individual qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

The New York Historicalprovides a generous benefits package for eligible employees to support their health and wellbeing, which includes:

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal days, and holidays observed by the Museum;
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance;
• Short and long-term disability coverage options;
• 403(b) retirement plan with eligibility for employer contributions following one year of full-time service;
• Flexible spending accounts for health-related expenses, dependent care, and parking and transit expenses;
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees and their families;
• 20% discount at the NYHistory Store, Café 77 and Clara restaurant, located within the Museum;
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions across the city.

The New York Historical is an Equal Opportunity Employer.