Senior Accountant

CALSTART; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 85,760; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid comprehensive health benefits

3 weeks of vacation in the first year

11 paid company holidays

Paid family leave

Job summary

CALSTART in Pasadena, CA is seeking a skilled financial expert to ensure compliance with accounting principles and government regulations. The role involves monitoring fiscal activities, performing financial analysis, and collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance transparency and systems.

Qualified candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, especially with government contracts. CALSTART offers generous benefits like comprehensive health coverage and vacation time.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant accounting experience, especially with government contracts.
• Experience in reporting requirements related to federal and state agencies.
• Advanced abilities in Microsoft Excel and proficiency in document management.

Responsibilities

• Review funding contracts to ensure compliance with government regulations.
• Monitor contract compliance and communicate issues to relevant personnel.
• Assist with preparation and monitoring of project budgets and contract amendments.

Skills

Knowledge of auditing standards

Ability to identify issues and research solutions

Strong analytical skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong customer service orientation

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Salesforce

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Job description

Job Description

CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all. For over 30 years, CALSTART has worked to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all. CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.

About The Role

This position will serve as the subject matter expert to ensure compliance and consistency in adhering to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and funding agency regulations/guidelines such as the “Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” (Uniform Guidance or 2 CFR 200), or state and local funding agencies. This role will entail significant cross-functional interactions with project management and business development, more specifically serving in the capacity of the dedicated financial partner for the Clean Mobility Options Pilot Program (CMO), with main duties to include monitoring subrecipient and program beneficiary (Awardees) fiscal activities in accordance with agreement terms and conditions, prime funding agency terms and conditions, and CALSTART accounting policies and procedures.

Additionally, this role includes performing financial analysis and business support in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and business needs, while improving systems, processes, and transparency across the program. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex financial requirements into clear, actionable guidance for non-accounting stakeholders, including community-based organizations and program awardees.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Review funding contracts to ascertain: the presence of federal funding; cost reimbursement vs. milestone-based vs. time and materials billing terms; contract/project reporting requirements.
• Monitor and communicate contract compliance issues that impact project operations to appropriate personnel.
• Manage contract billings in accordance with funding contract terms and conditions.
• Review subcontractor/subrecipient agreement billing submissions in accordance with terms and conditions of subcontract/subaward.
• Monitor subcontractor/subrecipient compliance with subcontract/subaward terms and conditions.
• Quarterly reporting on Federal contracts.
• Liaison with funding agency and/or subcontractors/subrecipients regarding contract finance and other issues.
• Monitor contract finance (billings/costs v. budget) and communicate contract financial status with appropriate personnel.
• Monitor contract status (contract term/period of performance, reporting requirements, etc.) and advise appropriate personnel.
• Assist with preparation project budgets, budget modifications and contract amendments.
• Update and monitor contract log to advise program managers of contract status.
• Ensure completion of grant close-out processes.
• Drafting contracts and contract amendments as needed.
• Perform general accounting duties such as journal entries, particularly as they relate to contract billings and subcontractor/subrecipient billings.
• Ensure prompt payments of subrecipient/awardee payment requests: ensure efficient workflows for processing payment requests; timely review of payment requests, ensuring submissions are in accordance with agreement terms and conditions; timely and efficient communication with subrecipient/awardee on non-compliance issues and concise instructions on how to bring in compliance; timely follow-up on communications.
• Partner with CMO Project Managers to process payments and improve workflows.
• Maintain tracking across Salesforce, Excel, and Airtable.
• Translate financial concepts into plain language.
• Participate in weekly and monthly program meetings.
• Improve accounting procedures and tools for voucher implementation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college/university (Minimum).
• 5+ years of relevant accounting experience, particularly with government contracts/grants accounting and compliance. Nonprofit experience helpful.
• Working knowledge of auditing standards, particularly as they relate to cost verification.
• Knowledge of government contracting and government funding regulations such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and other regulations specific to government contracting.
• Experience in reporting requirements and procedures related to federal, state, other agencies, cost accounting, government accounting and auditing.
• Advanced abilities in Microsoft Excel and document management applications such as Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Ability and initiative to identify issues and research optimal solutions.
• Ability to seek out and provide support for others as a team member.

Desired Qualifications

• CPA or CPA candidate is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance or 2 CFR 200), FAR, and state cost accounting standards (Typically California).
• Expertise in computerized accounting and reporting applications (Preferably Sage 100/MAS90).
• Experience with Salesforce and similar platforms.

Other Skills/Abilities

• Strong customer service orientation.
• Organizational and time management skills to manage multiple projects, set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Flexible work style with the ability to adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong work ethic with a defined sense of urgency, ownership, and accountability for job duties.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to problem solving.
• Self-starter who can work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent management and supervisory skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to details.

Salary range: $72,000 - $85,760 per year.

We understand that not everyone will match the above qualifications 100%. If your background isn’t perfectly aligned but you feel you would be a great addition to the team, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re a tight-knit team of world-class innovators, business minds, and change agents who believe passionately in our mission and invest in your success. We care about your personal well being and offer generous benefits to full-time employees including 100% company-paid comprehensive health benefits, retirement plan with generous company contributions, FSA for Health and Dependent Care, 3 weeks of vacation in the first year, 11 paid company holidays, paid sick time, paid family leave, and more.

Our inclusive environment focuses on merit without regard to race, color, hair texture, gender, religion, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, LGBTQIA+ status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.