Associate Manager, Financial Accounting

California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is seeking an Associate Manager, Financial Accounting to supervise staff and manage end‑of‑period closes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

You will oversee complex transactions, balance sheet reconciliations, and prepare schedules for audits and Form 990, partnering with departments to strengthen internal controls. Reporting to the Assistant Controller, this hands‑on leadership role combines technical accounting, staff development, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or finance field.
• Minimum 4+ years of relevant accounting experience in mid-sized to large organization or public accounting firm.
• Minimum 1+ years in a supervisory role (preferred).
• Working knowledge of Workday Financials (preferred).
• CPA or license or working towards CPA is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, train, and mentor Financial Accounting staff; assign workloads and ensure timely deliverables.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes and close calendar.
• Oversee accounting for complex transactions; ensure GAAP compliance and accurate documentation.
• Review and prepare complex journal entries with supporting schedules.
• Oversee reconciliations and resolution of reconciling items.
• Analyze financial results and communicate variances to management.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Google Workspace

Excel proficiency

Autonomy

Coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Workday Financials

Job description

About the California Academy of Sciences

Founded in 1853 , the California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non-profit scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum—all under one living roof— our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our living collection reflects Earth’s vast biodiversity, consisting of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species. Our research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. Our diverse team includes leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who are passionate about advancing knowledge and catalyzing action through science and storytelling.

Whether you're conducting research behind the scenes or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Associate Manager, Financial Accounting supervises staff and oversees key financial accounting activities to ensure accurate, timely, and complete financial reporting in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Academy policies. This hands‑on supervisory role coordinates assigned period‑end close activities, reviews complex accounting transactions and reconciliations, provides technical guidance, supports external audits and financial statement preparation, and partners with departments across the Academy to strengthen accounting processes and internal controls.

Organizational Culture

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission‑driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation, and celebrates its accomplishments together. Staff share a commitment to executing a new strategic plan that will strengthen the organization's financial foundations, cultivate a vibrant internal culture, and foster smart growth to secure the Academy’s future.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are motivated to contribute to our mission. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. The specific onsite/hybrid schedule for this position is listed below.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Supervise, train, and mentor Financial Accounting staff; assign and prioritize workloads, review performance, provide technical guidance, and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
• Period-End Close Management: Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including managing the close calendar, coordinating Accounting deliverables, and facilitating close meetings with Accounting and FP&A to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Financial Accounting & Technical Guidance: Oversee the accounting treatment of complex transactions, including revenue recognition, investments, fixed assets and capitalization, consolidations, and intercompany activity; research technical accounting matters and ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP and Academy policies.
• Journal Entry Review: Review journal entries and supporting schedules prepared by staff, prepare complex entries as needed, and ensure transactions are accurately recorded and adequately supported.
• Account Reconciliation Oversight: Oversee the account reconciliation process, ensuring timely preparation, standardized documentation, compliance with U.S. GAAP, and resolution of reconciling items.
• Financial Analysis: Review period-end financial results, investigate significant variances against budget and prior periods, and communicate findings and recommendations to management.
• Financial Reporting & Tax Support: Assist in preparing quarterly and annual financial statements and annual Form 990, including supporting schedules, financial analyses, and related disclosures.
• Financial Statement Audit Support: Prepare schedules and reports for interim and annual financial statement audits; review workpapers and supporting documentation prepared by junior staff to ensure all audit deliverables are accurate, complete, and adequately documented.
• Accounting Policies & Internal Controls: Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls that support accurate financial reporting, adequate documentation, and compliance with U.S. GAAP and Academy policies.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Assist in preparing the annual budget and periodic forecasts for assigned Accounting Department line items in collaboration with FP&A.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Advancement, Sales, FP&A, Operational Accounting, and other departments to resolve accounting issues, communicate requirements, and ensure appropriate accounting treatment of transactions.
• Process Improvement & Special Projects: Lead improvements to accounting workflows, reconciliations, and reporting processes; support Workday enhancements, automation, and other accounting projects as assigned.

Qualifications

A successful candidate will have the following:

EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business, or Finance-related field.
• Minimum of 4+ years of relevant accounting experience in a public accounting firm or mid‑sized to large organization.
• Minimum 1+ years in a supervisory role (preferred).
• Working knowledge of Workday Financials (preferred).
• CPA or license or working towards passing the CPA exam (preferred).

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and complex accounting principles, including revenue recognition, fixed assets and capitalization policies (CAPEX vs. OPEX), intercompany transactions and consolidations, and financial statement presentation.
• Google Workspace and Excel skills (maintaining complex spreadsheets and employing intermediate formulas).
• Detail‑oriented, strong organization and problem‑solving skills with the ability to track multiple tasks and issues at once while meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, coordinate the efforts of others, and work well with people at a wide range of levels.
• Demonstrated ability to bring new ideas, create inventive solutions, and find efficiencies to transform manual or detailed processes.

Physical Environment

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities who meet the job’s essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, use a computer, and communicate on the phone, in person, and online meetings/calls. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 90% of the time.

Although this position is exempt from overtime pay, there are periods when additional hours and/or weekend work will be expected to fulfill business needs.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $115,000-$125,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

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