Senior Staff Accountant

Alternatives, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 58,225 - 78,775; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement 403(b)

Paid time off

Parental leave

EAP

Leadership pipeline

Job summary

Alternatives, Inc. in Chicago is seeking a Senior Staff Accountant to support daily accounting operations, including government grant voucher preparation and month-end close.

You will work with the Controller and program managers to ensure accurate recording and timely billings for grants and non-grant services. The role requires 3–5 years of accounting experience in a not-for-profit setting, GAAP expertise, and ability to coordinate across departments.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in not-for-profit accounting.
• Bachelor’s degree in accountancy required.
• Experience working with government grants is mandatory.
• 3–5 years of accounting experience required.

Responsibilities

• Meet weekly with Supervisor to discuss workflow and receivables.
• Prepare vouchers for grants, including City of Chicago, State of Illinois, Cook County, CPS and other contracts.
• Timely submission of all approved vouchers to funders.
• Full cycle accounts receivable including collections and reconciliations.
• Support Controller and program management with monthly budgets.
• Collaborate with program staff to ensure proper expense accounting.
• Maintain Balance Sheet schedules (depreciation, receivables, prepaid expenses, restricted revenue, payroll).
• Build positive workplace relationships and collaborate as a reliable team member.

Skills

Not-for-profit accounting

GAAP accounting

Interdepartmental collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accountancy

Tools

SAGE Intacct

Job description

Description

Senior Staff Accountant Reports to: Controller

Status: Full-time; Exempt,

Benefits Eligible: Blue Cross Medical/Dental/Vision, 403(b) retirement plan, Holidays, Paid Time Off, 10 weeks Paid Parental Leave, EAP, Leadership Pipeline

Salary: $68,500

Alternatives

Overview Our mission is to inspire young people to create a just future through practices that heal individuals, restore communities, and transform systems. Since 1971, Alternatives has modeled innovative alternatives to the status quo in Chicago's youth services field. Our school and community-based therapy, prevention and leadership development programs support young people to individually and collectively to address causes of substance abuse, grief and trauma while building social-emotional, career and social change skills. In addition to working directly with young people, we train, coach and advocate for youth-serving institutions like Chicago Public Schools to be restorative and trauma-informed.

Purpose Overview

The Senior Staff Accountant is to help with the day-to-day activities of the accounting department; this includes preparation of the vouchers for government grants. Tracks governmental contract submissions and payments and follow up. Perform other entries as assigned by the Controller. Review of bills before submission to funders for billings that are not grant related such as Chicago Public Schools for services rendered by Training and Coaching staff. Assists with the month end close; and assists with the accounts payable process.

Responsibilities

• Meet weekly with the Supervisor to discuss workflow and receivables.
• Prepare vouchers for grants, which include City of Chicago, State of Illinois, Cook County, CPS and other contracts as assigned.
• Timely submission of all approved vouchers to funders
• Full cycle process of accounts receivable including collections, reconciliations, revisions, and recording
• Supports Controller and program management tracking monthly budgets
• Works with program staff to ensure that expenses for contracts are properly accounted for in the accounting system.
• Maintains on-going schedules on Balance Sheet, including but not limited to depreciation, accounts receivables, prepaid expenses, restricted revenue and payroll.
• Build positive workplace relationships and work as a collaborative and reliable team member within Alternatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. Proven experience working in not-for-profit accounting.
2. Bachelor’s degree in accountancy
3. Organized
4. Have the ability to work well across departments.
5. Experience working with government grants is mandatory.
6. Knowledge of GAAP based accounting
7. Experience in SAGE Intacct accounting software is wanted but not required
8. 3 - 5 years of accounting experience is required
9. Consistently learning and working within the following frameworks: Anti-oppression, Positive Youth Development, Trauma-informed and Balanced and Restorative Justice.
10. Committed to working in a community-based, youth-centered organization, with flexibility, cultural responsiveness, and a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
11. The COVID vaccine is mandatory for all employees to the full extent permissible under applicable law.