Junior Accountant

Center for Jewish History; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

FSA benefits

403(b) plan

Life insurance

AD&D insurance

Long-term disability

Job summary

Center for Jewish History is seeking a Junior Accountant to support the Finance Department with accounts payable, cash receipts, reconciliations, and month-end close. The role emphasizes analytical thinking, advanced Excel, and process improvement in a nonprofit setting.

The position reports to the Controller and offers hands-on training with experienced CPAs, exposure to audit prep, and opportunities to grow responsibilities while maintaining a hybrid work schedule in New York.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Advanced Excel with SUMIFS, XLOOKUP, pivot tables, data validation, conditional formatting, and formula auditing.
• Strong analytical judgment and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support month-end close activities with journal entries and reconciliations.
• Process accounts payable transactions including invoice entry and payments.
• Assist cash management: donations, deposits, petty cash counts.
• Analyze general ledger accounts and prepare supporting documentation.
• Prepare year-end audit schedules and workpapers.
• Collaborate with CFO and CEO on special projects and analyses.
• Develop and maintain Excel-based schedules and management reports.
• Identify improvements to accounting processes and automate where possible.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Tools

Blackbaud Financial Edge

Accounting software

Job description

Virtual/Remote or In-Office: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 remote)

Frequency: 5 days, Monday-Friday

About the Center for Jewish History

The Center for Jewish History is a leading institution dedicated to Jewish scholarship, archives, education, and public engagement. Through its partner organizations - including the American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and the American Jewish Historical Society - the Center stewards the world’s largest collections of Jewish historical materials outside of Israel.

Position Overview

This position offers an excellent growth opportunity for an early-career accounting professional to gain valuable experience in the nonprofit sector. Working closely with experienced CPAs, the successful candidate will receive hands-on training and exposure to accounting, financial reporting, audit preparation, internal controls, and financial operations, with opportunities to expand their skills and take on increasing responsibility. Candidates pursuing CPA licensure are encouraged to apply.

The Junior Accountant will report directly to the Controller within the Finance Department, supporting accounts payable, cash receipts, reconciliations, month-end close, financial analysis, and reporting processes. This role is ideal for a highly analytical, technology-oriented accounting professional with advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency who enjoys improving how financial information is organized, analyzed, and presented.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter who looks beyond existing processes, identifies more efficient ways to complete recurring work, and takes ownership of producing accurate, well-supported schedules and analyses. Strong skills in variance analysis, reconciliations, accuracy, and attention to detail are essential.

Responsibilities

Accounting Operations and Reporting

• Support month-end close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and completion of close checklists.
• Process accounts payable transactions, including invoice entry, payments, and vendor record maintenance.
• Support cash management activities, including processing cash receipts, completing remote check and bank deposits, and performing monthly donation box and petty cash counts.
• Analyze general ledger accounts, investigate unexpected balances or activity, and prepare clear supporting documentation.
• Prepare and optimize year-end audit schedules and workpapers as necessary, ensuring amounts reconcile to the general ledger.
• Work closely with the Chief of Financial Services and CEO on special projects and ad hoc financial analyses, including reconciliations, variance analyses, and Excel-based schedules.

Excel, Financial Analysis, and Process Improvement

• Develop, maintain, and optimize Excel-based accounting schedules, reconciliations, tracking files, and management reports.
• Review existing workpapers for accuracy, usability, consistency, and opportunities for automation or simplification.
• Perform variance analysis, investigate unusual activity and clearly document conclusions.
• Design checks and controls within Excel files to identify errors, omissions, and data-quality issues.
• Organize and analyze large data sets and convert accounting information into clear, decision-useful reports.
• Standardize templates, formulas, schedules, and supporting documentation to improve efficiency and audit readiness.
• Recommend practical improvements to recurring accounting and reporting workflows.
• Assist with system implementations, data testing, report development, and process documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• Strong understanding of fundamental accounting principles, including debits, credits, journal entries, and general ledger activity.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, including experience building, improving, and automating accounting schedules and recurring processes using SUMIFS, XLOOKUP, pivot tables, data validation, conditional formatting, and formula auditing.
• Strong analytical judgment and the ability to identify discrepancies, assess reasonableness, and investigate root causes.
• Demonstrates exceptional accuracy, attention to detail, follow-through, and ownership of assigned work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with staff and leadership at all levels.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Experience

• Minimum 1–3 years of accounting, finance, or related experience
• Hands‑on experience with accounting software; Blackbaud Financial Edge experience is preferred.
• Experience maintaining accounting records and efficient workflows in a hybrid or remote environment.

Candidate Screening

Candidates should be prepared to discuss examples of Excel schedules or accounting processes they have built, improved, automated, or reorganized. The interview process may include a practical Excel and accounting exercise focused on reconciliations, variance analysis, accuracy, and problem-solving.

What We Offer

Hybrid work schedule; medical, dental, and vision coverage; FSA benefits; 403(b); life insurance; AD&D insurance; long-term disability insurance; generous paid time off; and an extensive paid holiday schedule that reflects a broad range of religious and cultural observances.