Staff Accountant

The Board of Control for the Southern Regional Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision

403(b) retirement plan

Generous leave programs

FSA/HSA options

Job summary

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is seeking a Staff Accountant who takes pride in accurate numbers and reporting. This hybrid Atlanta role covers payroll, payables, receivables, and fixed assets within a nonprofit finance team in Midtown Atlanta.

The position reports to the Director of Finance, with a Monday-Tuesday in-office hybrid schedule and remote Wednesday–Friday duties, focusing on reconciliations, journal entries, and audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting with two years of professional accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and fund or cost accounting.
• Ability to review financial documents for accuracy and generate reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication and independent work ability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools and accounting software.

Responsibilities

• Review accounting documents for accuracy, authorization, and policy conformance.
• Prepare and maintain accounting records and general ledger reconciliations.
• Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and fixed assets records.
• Assist with payroll, audits, and grant reporting.
• Research regulatory and grant requirements and apply them.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Fund accounting

Cost allocation

Financial reporting

Reviewing accounting documents

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Accounting software

Job description

SREB is looking for a Staff Accountant who takes real satisfaction in getting the numbers right — someone who catches the entry that doesn't quite reconcile, keeps payables, receivables, and fixed assets clean and current, and can synthesis individual transactions into a well-documented report. If you want solid, hands‑on accounting work that supports a respected, mission‑driven organization — without the ambiguity of a role still finding its shape — this one is built for you.About SREB The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonpartisan, interstate compact that helps its member states improve education from early childhood through doctoral education and into the workforce. SREB does this through reliable data, practical support for implementation, and cross‑state collaboration — producing research, state comparisons, data services, and publications that policymakers and practitioners use every day.About the Role This is a hands‑on accounting role within SREB's finance team, reporting to the Director of Finance. You'll be responsible for accurate, day‑to‑day financial record‑keeping across payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and fixed assets, along with the reconciliations, journal entries, and reports that keep SREB's books sound. You'll work independently on your area of the ledger while staying closely connected to the rest of the finance team, and you'll have regular exposure to audits and varied reporting requirements — giving you real breadth in nonprofit accounting. This position has a hybrid schedule that currently requires working in our mid‑town Atlanta office every Monday and Tuesday and remotely Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. When working remotely, you must be available and free from distractions for the same working hours as in‑office days. You may be required to report to the office other days as needed for business purposes, however, this is infrequent for this role. This is an individual‑contributor position with no supervisory responsibility. It's a strong fit for someone who wants to build depth as a working accountant — precise, dependable, and trusted with the details — rather than a stepping stone into management.

What You’ll Do

• Review accounting and financial documents for accuracy, proper authorization, and conformance with contracts, policies, and regulations, making correcting entries as needed.
• Prepare and maintain accounting records and financial reports, including journal entries and periodic reconciliations of the general ledger, subsidiary accounts, and bank statements.
• Maintain expenditure and budgetary control accounts and account for cash operations and deposits.
• Review Accounts Payable transactions for accuracy and documentation, partnering with the Accounts Payable specialist to close any gaps.
• Manage Accounts Receivable, ensuring accuracy of departmental submissions and maintaining customer records in the accounting software.
• Track and maintain Fixed Assets records, including tagging, depreciation, and physical inventory.
• Allocate expenditures across cost centers, reconcile against budget, and flag variances for budget owners.
• Reconcile health, dental, disability, and life insurance expenses and record related journal entries.
• Assist with payroll processing, annual filings, financial audits, and grant reporting requirements.
• Research and apply relevant statutory, regulatory, and grant requirements, including state sales tax exemptions.
• Complete ad hoc reconciliations, reports, and project work, and support process improvements as new initiatives are implemented.

What You Bring Required

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, plus two years of professional accounting and financial operations experience — or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and fund or cost accounting, including cost allocation.
• Skill in reviewing financial documents for accuracy, generating and reviewing reports, and performing accurate calculations.
• Comfort working independently in standard situations, using sound judgment within established policy guidelines.
• Clear business writing and communication skills, with the ability to work well with people from varied backgrounds.
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools (Teams, Outlook, Excel) and accounting software.

Helpful, but not required

• Experience supporting financial audits or annual filings in a nonprofit or grant‑funded environment.
• Knowledge of more advanced excel functionality such as pivot tables and formulas such as XLOOKUP or SUMIF

What We Offer

• Starting salary for this position begins at $53,000.
• Continuous improvement mindset. Every day is an opportunity to grow. Employees are set up to succeed in a workplace that supports continuous learning and development as part of a lifelong journey of achievement.
• Mission and social impact that reaches across the nation. SREB focuses on helping states improve education from early childhood through postsecondary and the workforce. Together, we're shaping stronger futures for students and economies across the South, and the nation.
• Medical, dental and vision.
• Life and short‑term disability insurance.
• Flexible spending and health savings account options (FSA/HSA).
• Health reimbursement account (HRA).
• Additional voluntary life and long‑term disability options.
• Very generous leave programs.
• Outstanding 403(b) retirement plan.

Why This Role

• Meaningful, hands‑on accounting work that directly supports SREB's mission across member states.
• Broad exposure across payroll, AP, AR, fixed assets, audits, and financial reporting — building well‑rounded expertise.
• A collaborative finance team and a Director of Finance who sets clear direction and priorities.
• A stable, respected, mission‑driven organization with a long track record in Southern education.