Finance and Grants Accountant

The Lemelson Foundation; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid vacation

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Lemelson Foundation in Portland, Oregon seeks a Finance and Grants Accountant to lead all day‑to‑day finance and grants administration for a $25 million budget and $400 million in assets. You’ll oversee accounting, budgeting, compliance, reporting, and HR/payroll, partnering with program staff to improve financial systems.

Ideal candidates bring 5–10 years of non‑profit accounting, GAAP expertise, and grant management experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting is required; CPA preferred.
• GAAP knowledge for non-profit and foundation accounting.
• Experience with grants management and investments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accounting systems and financial policy development.
• Prepare and administer annual budgets and financial statements.
• Oversee HR, payroll, and employee benefits processes.
• Ensure grant recording and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with leadership to communicate financial performance.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Non-profit accounting

Sage Intacct

ADP Payroll

Salesforce

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting

CPA preferred

Tools

Sage Intacct

ADP Payroll

Salesforce

Job description

The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives.

Established by prolific US inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy in the early 1990s, and guided today by the Lemelson family, The Lemelson Foundation (the Foundation) believes invention can solve many of the biggest economic and social challenges of our time. A private philanthropy located in Oregon and operating globally, The Lemelson Foundation has assets of approximately $400 million and an annual budget of approximately $25 million. All told, the Foundation has provided over $300 million in grants and other investments to hundreds of organizations around the world. The Foundation approaches its work to strengthen the invention ecosystem and empower inventors to solve the biggest global challenges and opportunities of our time, guided by a three-part framework called Impact Inventing:

Inventions should have positive social impact;

Inventions should be environmentally responsible—from the materials and processes used through final products that go to market; and,

Business models should become financially self-sustaining.

The Foundation promotes a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, and operates its programs and initiatives through two strategically focused teams: Invention and Entrepreneurship, and Invention Education. Its flexible approach and entrepreneurial environment has helped The Foundation’s small team (10-15) to have an outsized impact in the social landscape of invention.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Finance and Grants Accountant (FGA) leads all day-to-day finance and administrative operations of a $25 million foundation budget (with approximately $400 million in investment assets) with responsibilities that include oversight for accounting, budgeting, compliance, reporting, and grants administrative services. The FGA also manages The Foundation’s administrative processes including human resources, payroll, and benefits. This position supports Program Officers, the Grants Manager, the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, and the Executive Director to educate them regarding finance, accounting, and administrative program operations and to develop new and improved systems. The FGA reports to the CFAO.

COMPENSATION

$110,000 - $130,000

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accounting & Administration Oversee and maintain all accounting systems, functions and financial policy development;
• Maintain awareness of laws and regulations as necessary and oversee the preparation of all required tax returns and audit activity with appropriate team members;
• Oversee all HR administrative processes including payroll, policies and procedures, and employee benefits.
• Oversee and manage all finance-related policies and procedures;
• Work with the Executive Director and Chief Financial & Administrative Officer to prepare and administer the Foundation’s annual administrative, programmatic, and grantmaking budgets, including financial projection models and subsequent analysis;
• Develop financial plans and projections with the Board of Directors and ensure timely communication of financial statements and other updates as needed;
• Oversee long-term budgetary planning and cost management in alignment with the Foundation’s strategic plan.
• Grants and Program-Related Investment Oversight Ensure accurate recording for all grants, in coordination with appropriate team members;
• Oversee the Foundation’s program-related investments and ensure compliance and up-to-date documentation;
• Work with legal counsel in support of the Foundation’s domestic and international grantmaking, contracts, and contract practices.
• Foundation Culture and Performance Participate in the Foundation’s evaluation and communication initiatives; engage with Foundation colleagues and partners to develop, understand, and communicate the impact of its collective portfolio;
• Contribute to strategic planning and other Foundation-wide initiatives, including work to make the Foundation increasingly accountable to its values of joy, DEIJ, trust, collaboration, accountability, learning, and audacity;
• Contribute to the Foundation’s culture of ‘inquiry, learning, and collaboration’; cultivate an organizational culture in which timely, accurate, and meaningful information is shared by and accessible to all;
• Participate in refining and implementing operational processes especially as they relate to grantmaking and management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of 5-10 years of full charge accounting experience
• Experience in philanthropy overseeing grants and ideally program-related investments; Experience at a private foundation is helpful but not required
• Experience working directly with organization leadership to represent the accounting function across procedures, preparing and maintaining accurate records, compiling and preparing financial reports, and accrual and depreciation accounting methods
• Knowledge at the advanced level of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Practices (GAAP) for non-profit and foundation accounting procedures
• Knowledge of databases and systems, including accounting, payroll, and online grants management databases, from set up, ongoing improvement, and use (Sage Intacct, ADP Payroll, Salesforce)
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field required, CPA preferred

BENEFITS AND CONDITIONS

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000.

• The Lemelson Foundation offers employees an exceptionally generous benefits package including fully paid health care coverage for employees and dependents, a 403(b) plan with a generous employer match, and 20 paid vacation days per calendar year during the first year of employment, increasing over time.
• While employees are welcome to work in the office on any day of the week, The Foundation has official ‘Core Days’ (administrative support present) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Employees are expected to be in the office 6-10 Core Days per month (27-45% of a typical 22 working-day month).
• Relocation assistance is available if the successful candidate resides outside the Portland, Oregon area.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Lemelson Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to build a diverse team. Candidates with historically underrepresented identities and affiliations are encouraged to apply. As part of this commitment, the Foundation will ensure that persons with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation.