Senior Accountant | Haymarket Center

Chicago Women in Philanthropy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Haymarket Center is seeking an experienced accounting professional to manage month-end and year-end close, reconcile ledgers, and deliver accurate financial statements. You will oversee the Payroll Manager and collaborate with CFO to uphold internal controls and ensure timely reporting for grants and audits.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, and expertise in nonprofit accounting and Sage. CPA or advanced degree preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field; CPA or advanced degree preferred.
• At least five years of progressive accounting experience, with month-end and year-end close, reconciliations, financial statements, and audits; nonprofit or healthcare accounting preferred.
• Experience with restricted grants, cost allocations and payroll reconciliation; familiarity with FQHC, Medicaid or behavioral health revenue is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Own and complete monthly and year-end close processes with deadlines.
• Prepare and post journal entries for payroll, accruals, depreciation, prepaids and allocations.
• Deliver monthly financial statements, budget-to-actuals, and cash flow projections to CFO.
• Reconcile revenue and receivables to the general ledger; coordinate with Revenue Cycle and Grants staff.
• Supervise Payroll Manager and ensure accurate payroll processing and reconciliations.
• Maintain fixed asset, prepaid expense, liability and debt schedules; manage COA and allocations.
• Lead external audit coordination and prepare schedules and workpapers for audits and 990 forms.
• Design and monitor internal controls to prevent fraud and ensure reliable reporting.

Skills

Excel proficiency

GAAP

Internal controls

Sage

Nonprofit accounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

CPA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Sage

Job description

Haymarket Center’s day-to-day accounting activities, monthly and year-end close, general ledger integrity, financial reporting, grant accounting and audit coordination. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this position manages priorities, investigates and resolves accounting issues, maintains effective internal controls and delivers accurate, complete and timely work with minimal supervision. The position supervises the Payroll Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Own and personally complete the monthly and year-end close processes, including the close calendar and deadlines. Prepare bank, investment, credit card, merchant-service, accounts payable, receivable and other balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules. Investigate and resolve discrepancies promptly and take action to meet reporting deadlines.
• Maintain general ledger integrity and accurate account coding. Prepare and post supported monthly and year-end journal entries for payroll and benefits, accruals, depreciation, prepaid expenses, revenue adjustments and cost allocations in accordance with required independent review and approval procedures.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly financial statements, budget-to-actual reports, cash flow projections and meaningful variance explanations to the CFO. Identify unusual trends, classification errors, aging balances and potential write-offs, and recommend corrective action.
• Own the reconciliation of managed care,SUPR/state, grant and other funder revenue and receivables to the general ledger. Coordinate with Revenue Cycle Management and Grant Voucher Specialist to resolve discrepancies among billing, deposits, adjustments and accounting records. Evaluate unsupported balances and recommend allowance adjustments to the CFO.
• Prepare timely financial reports and grant closeout reports, reconcile final balances and resolve outstanding items through completion.
• Supervise the Payroll Manager, set expectations and monitor deadlines and work quality. Review payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliations, benefit entries, labor allocations and payroll variances in coordination with Human Resources. Ensure accurate and timely payroll, correction of errors and resolution of recurring issues. Maintain separation between transaction preparation and designated payment authorization.
• Maintain accurate fixed asset, prepaid expense, liability and debt schedules. Manage chart-of-accounts maintenance, direct and indirect cost allocations, year-end accruals and approved budget uploads.
• Lead external audit coordination and prepare accounting schedules, reconciliations and complete supportingworkpapers for audits, FQHC cost reporting and year-end compliance requirements, including SEFA, GATA reporting and Form 990. Manage auditor requests and responses, resolve outstanding items and implement approved corrective actions within established deadlines.
• Design, implement and monitor internal controls that prevent fraud, safeguard organizational assets and support reliable financial reporting. Identify control gaps, recommend improvements to the CFO and implement approved changes. Ensure approval requirements and appropriate segregation of duties are consistently followed.
• Maintain written procedures, cross-training and coverage plans for critical accounting, payroll and accounts payable functions. Improve workflows and resolve recurring operational problems.
• Work autonomously, manage competing priorities and exercise independent judgment within established policies and delegated authority. Identify issues proactively and resolve routine accounting matters without daily direction. Escalate material financial issues, control exceptions and risks to the CFO with supporting analysis, recommended solutions and a plan for resolution. Remain accountable for follow-through and completion.
• Oversee accounts payable from invoice receipt through payment, ensuring accurate coding, required approvals and timely processing. Resolve vendor issues, monitor aging and recurring payments, and prevent duplicate payments.
• Manage daily cash balances and activity across all bank accounts, maintain cash forecasts, coordinate approved transfers and identify funding needs before payments are released.
• Administer Positive Pay, including payment file submissions and timely review and resolution of bank exceptions. Monitor rejected or returned payments and resolve processing issues.
• Maintain vendor payment records, verify banking changes and coordinate W-9 collection and annual Form 1099 reporting.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience; CPA or advanced degree preferred.
• At least five years of progressive accounting experience, with demonstrated ability to independently complete month-end and year-end close, prepare reconciliations and journal entries, produce financial statements and coordinate external audits; nonprofit or healthcare accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with restricted grants, cost allocations and payroll reconciliation preferred; familiarity withFQHC, Medicaid or behavioral health revenue is valuable. Ability to work autonomously, investigate discrepancies, exercise sound judgment and manage competing deadlines is required.
• Strong Excel and accounting systems skills, including analysis of large data sets; Sage experience preferred. Working knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting and internal controls. Ability to explain variances clearly, maintain organized support and meet deadlines.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervises the Payroll Manager, including setting expectations, reviewing work, monitoring deadlines, providing guidance and addressing performance.