Senior Accountant

Bible League International; Crete (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Bible League International is seeking a Senior Accountant to ensure accuracy and timeliness of key accounting activities in Crete, IL. You will guide accounting staff, support month-end close, audits, and internal controls while promoting responsible use of AI tools to improve efficiency.

The role reports to the Director of Global Accounting and collaborates with finance and cross-functional teams to maintain compliance with GAAP and nonprofit standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including at least 3 years supervising accounting staff.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and nonprofit accounting preferred.
• Experience with reconciliations, account ownership, and audit support.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel, with the ability to learn and responsibly use approved AI tools and accounting technology.

Responsibilities

• Maintain ownership of key balance sheet and income statement accounts, with responsibility for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare journal entries for assigned accounting activity.
• Research and resolve discrepancies and reconciling items.
• Review and maintain fixed asset accounting activity, including capitalization, depreciation, disposals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Oversee accounting for Charitable Gift Annuities, covering related journal entries, reconciliations, liability activity, and supporting documentation.
• Perform final review of general journal entries prepared by the Cash Operations Manager and escalate items requiring additional information or approval.
• Lead month-end and year-end close activities for key accounting areas.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Nonprofit accounting

Analytical skills

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

AI tools

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Accountant

Full Time Professional Crete, Illinois, Crete, IL, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1125

Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

This is not just a job opportunity, this is an opportunity to transform lives!

Summary

Bible League International equips the under-resourced Church to make disciples, transforming lives through God’s Word! Our team is excited about God’s calling on our ministry and serves Him in His mission for the world, with commitment and joy. We hope you will consider His leading in using your God-given gifts and abilities to help fulfill the Great Commission in serving at Bible League International! For more information about Bible League International, visit https://www.bibleleague.org/ . Also take a moment and view our careers video to learn more about our culture through our staff at Bible League.

The Senior Accountant ensures accuracy, integrity, and timely completion of key accounting activities while providing day-to-day guidance for the Accounting Generalist and Accounts Payable Specialist. This role exercises independent professional judgment within established policies, procedures, and internal controls and serves as the first point of escalation for routine questions.

The role contributes to month-end and year-end close activities, coordinates audit requests, and promotes consistency and timeliness through clear procedures, guidance, and follow-up. It also helps advance the responsible use of approved AI tools and emerging technology to improve efficiency, analysis, and process consistency across accounting functions.

The Senior Accountant operates within established systems and control frameworks, while broader responsibility for accounting policy, global accounting strategy, and overall staffing or organizational structure resides with the Director of Global Accounting.

Duties

Accounting Review

• Maintain ownership of key balance sheet and income statement accounts, with responsibility for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare journal entries for assigned accounting activity.
• Research and resolve discrepancies and reconciling items.
• Review and maintain fixed asset accounting activity, including capitalization, depreciation, disposals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Oversee accounting for Charitable Gift Annuities, covering related journal entries, reconciliations, liability activity, and supporting documentation.
• Perform final review of general journal entries prepared by the Cash Operations Manager and escalate items requiring additional information or approval.

Supervision & Continuity

• Support day-to-day activities and provide guidance on priorities to direct reports.
• Evaluate work for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with procedures and communicate any training needs or performance concerns to the Director of Global Accounting.
• Function as the first point of escalation for routine accounting questions.
• Promote consistent application of established procedures and internal controls.
• Serve as backup for the Cash Operations Manager during extended absences to ensure critical processes continue without disruption.
• Lead month-end and year-end close activities for key accounting areas.
• Coordinate close-related tasks performed by direct reports.
• Escalate policy questions or cross-functional impacts.
• Monitor fiscal year-end prepaid expenses and prepare related expense relief entries at the start of the new fiscal year.

Organization-Wide Staff Training & Coaching

• Train and onboard department team members on accounting procedures and systems.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance and feedback.
• Encourage cross-training to maintain continuity of operations.

Audit Support

• Serve as primary audit contact for assigned accounts and processes.
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation.
• Respond to auditor inquiries related to account activity, reconciliations, and backup schedules.
• Review and coordinate annual 1099 preparation and related records.
• Assist with implementing improvements resulting from audit feedback.

Process Improvement

• Identify and recommend practical uses of approved AI tools and emerging technology to improve accounting efficiency, accuracy, analysis, and process consistency.
• Recommend process enhancements to the Director of Global Accounting.
• Support implementation of approved changes and reinforce updated procedures with staff.

Authority & Escalation

• Coordinate priorities and deadlines for direct reports within departmental priorities.
• Follow up with direct reports when corrections are needed or when policy or procedural requirements require reinforcement.
• Make routine accounting decisions within established policies, procedures, internal controls, and the role’s authority.
• Escalate matters involving policy interpretation, control changes, system impacts, cross-functional decisions, or staffing concerns.

Organizational Relationships

Reports to: Director of Global Accounting

Supervises: Accounting Generalist, Accounts Payable Specialist

Collaborates with: Finance and Accounting Teams, cross-functional departments, auditors, and external partners.

Qualifications

• Must be a Christian, having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Must also agree with our statement of faith and conduct his/herself in a Christ-like manner.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• Requires 5–7 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including at least 3 years supervising accounting staff.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and nonprofit accounting preferred.
• Experience with reconciliations, account ownership, and audit support.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel, with the ability to learn and responsibly use approved AI tools and accounting technology.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Takes responsibility for accounting work and follows through on commitments.
• Ensures accuracy and completeness in all deliverables.
• Manages competing priorities and meets deadlines.
• Analyzes issues and recommends practical solutions.
• Exercises sound judgment within the role’s authority and escalates broader matters appropriately.
• Provides clear, timely updates and guidance to stakeholders.
• Guides direct reports effectively in day-to-day work.
• Upholds financial controls and ethical standards.

Standards of Performance

• Be at work regularly, avoiding tardiness.
• Completion of duties in a prompt, efficient, and accurate manner.
• Work cooperatively with other people.

In day-to-day responsibilities, this position will carry out Bible League International’s core values which are:

• Prayer – Our relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Calling – God’s call into His work.
• Service – Serving God and others.
• Unity – Working together in unity.
• Integrity – In line with God’s Word in word and deed.
• Vision – A Christ-centered hope and perspective.

Performance Evaluations

You will meet with your manager quarterly in alignment with our fiscal year to discuss your accomplishments and priorities.

Bible League International offers employees a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, Paid Time Off, Holiday pay, Short and Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, a generous 401k plan, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, and more. As a part of our Statement of Faith, BLI champions the training and professional development of our employees. We are also Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying public service employer. If you want to learn more about this exciting role or if you would like to apply, please visit our careers page .

We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Bible League International is a nonprofit, non-denominational, faith-based organization. Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act Section 702, the Bible League has the right to hire only candidates who agree with Bible League's Statement of Faith and profess Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.