Associate Director, Finance

Milken Institute

Santa Monica (CA)

On-site

USD 105,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&

Paid Time Off

Family Leave

Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)

Training & Development

Job summary

The Milken Institute in Santa Monica, CA, seeks an Associate Director, Finance to maintain the general ledger, manage month-end close, and support audits. This role collaborates with AP, AR, Payroll, and Finance leadership to ensure timely, accurate financial statements.

The position requires 3–7+ years in accounting, a Bachelor’s in Accounting, and proficiency in NetSuite and Salesforce. Hybrid work schedule with in-office and remote days, and occasional travel to other Milken locations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.
3–7+ years of progressive accounting experience.
CPA or CPA candidate preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare journal entries, including accruals, depreciation, deferrals, allocations, and reclassifications.
Manage month-end close procedures and ensure accurate financial statements.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure complete and accurate reporting.
Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting and GAAP compliance.
Assist in annual and statutory filings and preparation for audits.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Analytical skills

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA or CPA candidate preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Salesforce

Job description

Associate Director, Finance

Full-time Regular Santa Monica, CA, US

Salary Range: $105,000.00 To $120,000.00 Annually

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.

About the Position

The Associate Director of Finance is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger and supporting timely financial reporting. This role manages key reconciliations, executes month-end close procedures, and ensures compliance with accounting standards and internal controls. The position works closely with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and Finance leadership to support accurate and timely financial statements. This position reports to the Director of Finance.

Responsibilities

General Ledger & Journal Entries

Prepare journal entries, including but not limited to accruals, depreciation, deferrals, allocations, and reclassifications.
Review trial balance activity and ensure proper account coding.
Reconcile and record intercompany transactions as applicable.
Ensure proper period cutoff procedures are followed each month.
Record and reconcile cash activities.

Account Reconciliations

Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations (bank, prepaid expenses, accruals, fixed assets, payroll, and other key accounts).
Investigate and resolve reconciling items in a timely manner.
Maintain clear supporting documentation in accordance with internal control standards.

Month-End & Year-End Close

Execute month-end close procedures and meet established deadlines.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Events, Marketing, Pillars, etc.) to ensure complete and accurate reporting.
Support year-end close and external audit requirements.
Assist in preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
Prepare supporting schedules and management reports.
Analyze income statement and balance sheet trends to identify anomalies and propose resolution.

Compliance & Process Improvement

Ensure adherence to GAAP and company accounting policies.
Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting.
Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Additional Responsibilities

Assist in preparation of various annual and statutory filings and surveys.
Assist in preparation of materials for board meetings.
Other ad-hoc or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.
3–7+ years of progressive accounting experience required. Public accounting and audit experience preferred.
Strong knowledge of GAAP and full-cycle accounting.
Proficiency in NetSuite and Salesforce required.
Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and other advanced formulas) and strong overall Microsoft 365 skills (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
CPA or CPA candidate preferred.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.

This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.