Accounting Manager

Lenfest Institute; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO and holidays

Health benefits

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism seeks an Accounting Manager to oversee day-to-day financial operations and reporting. The role reports to the Chief Finance and Administrative Officer and supports GAAP-compliant accounting for a nonprofit with assets over $125 million.

The position is full-time and hybrid, with Wednesdays in Philadelphia, PA, and remote days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Responsibilities include ledger maintenance, reconciliations, bank deposits, and 1099 filings,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field required.
• Minimum of five years of accounting experience.
• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting rules required.
• Ability to analyze data and assess situations and their impact.
• Ability to examine, develop and recommend finance policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the Institute’s general ledger with department and line-item codes.
• Record monthly general ledger activity including cash receipts and grants revenue.
• Prepare account reconciliations and analyses for key accounts.
• Prepare and process bank deposits.
• Oversee accounts payable and vendor setup and payments.
• Manage corporate credit card program and monthly transactions.
• Develop and maintain internal controls around cash, revenue and expenses.
• Document finance policies and procedures as needed.
• Ensure compliance with records retention policies.
• Prepare 1099-NEC filings.
• Coordinate with outside vendor on state charitable registrations.

Skills

Nonprofit accounting rules

Financial reporting systems

Data analysis

Policy development

Team collaboration

News industry familiarity

MIP accounting software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

5+ years accounting experience

Tools

MIP accounting software

Job description

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating solutions for the next generation of local news. The Institute was founded in 2016 by cable television entrepreneur H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest when he gifted both an endowment and sole ownership of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Institute, while a subsidiary of The Philadelphia Foundation, has an independent board and management, along with more than $125 million in assets to support its programs and investments in Philadelphia and around the country.

The Institute is seeking an Accounting Manager to be responsible for the Institute’s day-to-day financial operations and reporting.The position reports to the Chief Finance and Administrative Officer.

• Maintaining the Institute’s general ledger in the detail necessary for reporting and effective management, including setting up new department codes and line-item codes, as needed.
• Recording monthly general ledger activity, including, but not limited to, cash receipts (check deposits, wires, ACH and credit card transactions), contribution/grant revenue, prepaid expenses, fixed assets and accruals.
• Reviewing pledge and grant agreements to determine whether criteria are met for recording in accordance with GAAP.
• Preparing account reconciliations and analyses for key financial statement accounts, including, but not limited to, cash, prepaid expenses, accrued expenses, grants payable and fixed assets, in accordance with the Institute’s reconciliation schedule.
• Preparing and making all bank deposits.
• Managing the accounts payable process, including new vendor setup, reviewing payment requests for proper approval, support and coding, entering transactions and generating ACH payments.
• Managing the Institute’s corporate credit card program with BILL, including recording monthly transactions and ensuring compliance with the Institute’s credit card policy.
• Developing and maintaining internal controls around cash, revenue and expenses.
• Documenting finance policies and procedures as needed.
• Ensuring compliance with the Institute’s records retention and other policies.
• Preparing 1099-NEC tax filings.
• Working with an outside vendor to manage state charitable registration renewals.

Things we look for in a successful candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field and a minimum of five years of accounting experience
• Knowledge of, and experience with, nonprofit accounting rules
• Skilled in financial and reporting systems and tools
• Ability to analyze data and assess situations and their impact
• Ability to examine, develop and recommend finance policies and procedures
• Collaborative team member with a customer service orientation
• Familiarity with the news industry is a plus
• Familiarity with MIP accounting software is a plus
• The Accounting Manager is a full-time position with a salary between $100,000-$110,000, commensurate with experience.
• The position is hybrid, with Wednesdays in the Institute’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday remote. Additional in-office days may be required.

The Institute provides a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Minimum of 18 days of paid time off, plus 10 corporate holidays and a winter break the last week of the calendar year
• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term insurance policies

Applications are due by Friday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. EST.

About The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to develop and support sustainable business models for great local journalism. The Institute owns and supports The Philadelphia Inquirer and provides grants and programs to local news organizations across the country through initiatives including the Lenfest Expert Network.

The Lenfest Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to apply so we can build a team that reflects the diversity of news organizations and journalism professionals we wish to serve. We view diversity as multi-dimensional and intersectional, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, class, geography, veteran status, lived experiences, and more. We know there are excellent candidates who might not have all the skills and experience that we have outlined. If that describes you, please apply and tell us about yourself.

Local News Solutions

The Lenfest Institute provides free tools and resources for local journalism leaders to develop sustainable strategies to serve their communities.