Staff Accountant

Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs; Needham (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs in Needham, MA seeks a Staff Accountant to join the Finance Department. The role focuses on delivering accurate, GAAP-compliant financial information and revenue recognition for nonprofit activities.

You will handle day-to-day accounting, including AP, invoicing, journal entries, and grant accounting, collaborating with program leaders and development staff to ensure strong financial stewardship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting is required.
• 3+ years of accounting experience.
• Experience with revenue recognition, grant accounting, government grants, and/or fee-for-service billing preferred.
• Experience in nonprofit environment not required.

Responsibilities

• Process day-to-day finance activities including accounts payable, billing, banking, and general ledger posting with GAAP compliance.
• Prepare and post monthly journal entries (revenue, deferred revenue, depreciation, accruals, payroll reclasses, benefit allocations).
• Record monthly invoices and manage revenue recognition for various programs and grants.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of bank accounts and general ledgers; manage accounts receivable for programs and foundation activities.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Excel

Analytical

Attention to detail

Cross-department collab

Confidentiality & judgment

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

Tools

Dynamics 365 BC

Continia

Paycom

Cube

Job description

Position Summary

The Staff Accountant is a key member of the Finance Department, responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and compliant financial information. As a growing nonprofit, we are seeking an ambitious, motivated, and detail-oriented individual who thrives in a collaborative environment and is eager to contribute to organizational growth. This role combines core accounting responsibilities with financial analysis, and process improvement initiatives. The accountant partners closely with the senior accountants, program leaders, development staff, and external stakeholders to ensure strong financial stewardship, accurate revenue recognition, and operational excellence.

Essential Functions

General Accounting & Operations

• Perform day-to-day finance operation activities including the processing of funds into the accounting payment systems, accounts payable, billing, banking, and recording general ledger activities while ensuring compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and nonprofit best practices.
• Ensure timely monthly closing processes, including preparation and posting of journal entries (revenue, deferred revenue, depreciation, accruals, payroll reclasses, employee benefit allocations).
• Prepare and issue monthly invoices for all programs/customers and manage revenue recognition for fee-for-service, state contracts, tuition, and grants.

Ensure monthly accounting closes are completed as scheduled; including but not limited to:

• Process Accounts Payable invoices in a timely manner while ensuring accuracy.
• Record monthly journal entries.
• Perform monthly bank account reconciliations.
• Perform monthly general ledger account reconciliations.
• Manage accounts receivable activity associated with all programs/customers, training and consulting, and foundation funded activities. This includes active follow‑up on outstanding aging and write off proposals.
• Record weekly advancement activity including donations, grants, and pledges for all fundraising activity including reconciliation to operating bank account and compliance with funding documentation.
• Support the lead accountant for all pre and post-award grant activities including budget development, financial forecasting, grant close‑out, and grant file support.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Assist in developing the annual organizational budget and multi-year financial forecasts.
• Collaborate with Directors and Program Managers to support program-level budgeting, reporting, and performance metrics.
• Assist in preparing year end financial audit work to support audited financial statements, uniform financial reporting requirements (UFR), and other required reporting requirements.
• Identify trends, variances, and opportunities for operational improvement; complete finance dashboards, tools, and kpi’s to support decision support activity across the organization.

Systems, Process Improvement, & Cross-Functional Support

• Maintain and improve accounting systems and workflows; support implementation and enhancements of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Continia, Paycom, and other financial reporting tools.
• Document standard operating procedures for finance functions and reporting processes.
• Participate in cross-department initiatives to support agency growth, streamline processes, and improve data integrity.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative team environment.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or applicable coursework required.

Experience

• 3+ years of accounting experience required, experience in a nonprofit environment not required.
• Experience with revenue recognition, grant accounting, government grants, and/or fee-for-service billing preferred.
• Experience working in a growing or evolving organization is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data for non-financial users.
• High degree of accuracy, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills; proven ability to build collaborative relationships across departments.
• Demonstrated initiative, problem‑solving abilities, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing needs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, data analysis, etc.).
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Continia, Paycom, and Cube or other reporting/BI tools is a plus.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exhibit sound professional judgment.

Supervision

Reports to the Controller