Staff Accountant

Whitman Partners; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitman Partners in Portland, OR is seeking a Staff Accountant to join our team on a hybrid schedule. You will manage accounts payable, client billing, collections, payroll coordination, and month-end close under the guidance of a fractional CFO.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and 2–4 years of relevant experience, with comfort learning multiple systems (QuickBooks Online, Airbase/Paylocity, Sage, ADP) and a sharp eye for detail.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• 2–4 years of experience in accounts payable, billing, collections, or general accounting.
• Comfort learning multiple systems quickly (QuickBooks Online, Airbase/Paylocity, Sage, ADP).
• Microsoft Excel proficiency at an intermediate level or better.
• Attention to detail and ability to catch discrepancies.

Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable: vendor bill processing, reimbursements, W-9s and deposits.
• Client Billing: interim and retained invoicing, full cycle AR.
• Collections & AR: aging reports, client statements, payment follow-up.
• Payroll & Close: payroll ownership for interim staff and month-end close prep.
• Account Reconciliation: bank reconciliations and transaction coding.

Skills

Curious and analytical

Relentless

Service and accountability-oriented

Organized

Execution-focused

Team player

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Airbase/Paylocity

Sage

ADP

Job description

Staff Accountant

Whitman Partners is looking for a Staff Accountant to join our team in Portland, OR. We will be reviewing applications beginning Friday, 9/25.

Schedule

Full-time, 1.0 FTE

Location

Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Reports To

Chief Operating Officer

Compensation

Starting at $75,000, based on experience.

Why Whitman Partners

We're a boutique, retained executive search firm built around one thing: placing Directors of Surgical Services and other perioperative leaders who keep hospital operating rooms running. Small team, high trust, real ownership. What you do here shows up in the numbers by Friday, not buried three layers down in a big-company org chart.

Who This Role Is Built For

• Curious and analytical. You ask why, not just how. You want to understand how a transaction connects to the bigger financial picture, not just process it and move on.
• Relentless. Chases a stale invoice without being told, and chases our own recruiting team just as hard for missing paperwork. Direct, not apologetic.
• Service and accountability-oriented. You keep vendors, clients, and the team on your side even when you're the one asking for money or paperwork, again. You hold outside parties accountable, following up firmly with a slow‑paying client or an unresponsive vendor without letting the relationship sour.
• Organized. Runs accounts payable, billing, and collections in parallel without dropping a thread.
• Execution-focused. Finishes what they start. Deadlines are commitments, not suggestions.
• Team player. Pitches in wherever needed. Runs a tight, trustworthy ship.

What You'll Own

• Accounts Payable: vendor bill processing, expense reimbursements, Airbase/Paylocity administration, W-9 and deposit tracking.
• Client Billing: interim and retained search invoicing, both revenue lines, full cycle accounts receivable.
• Collections & AR: weekly aging reports, client statements, payment follow‑up, daily banking.
• Payroll & Close: payroll ownership (interim employees), plus general ledger entries and month‑end close preparation once ramped, reviewed by our fractional CFO.
• Account Reconciliation: bank reconciliation and credit card transaction coding as part of month‑end close.

What's Next

This role is built to grow. Within 12 to 18 months of full ownership, based on performance, there's room to take on additional accounting responsibilities and deepen your experience with month‑end close and reconciliations.

What You Bring

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, required.
• 2 to 4 years of experience in accounts payable, billing, collections, or general accounting, ideally with some exposure to month‑end close or account reconciliations.
• Comfort learning multiple systems quickly. This role touches QuickBooks Online, Airbase/Paylocity, Sage, and ADP.
• Microsoft Excel at an intermediate level or better.
• Sharp attention to detail. You catch the invoice that's off by a decimal point.
• A direct, persistent communication style. You follow up on an overdue invoice firmly, without being pushy or apologetic.
• Discretion. You'll see sensitive financial information about clients and the firm.
• AI-fluent. You use AI tools to move faster, not to hide from the work: coding invoices, catching anomalies, drafting a first‑pass collections email, speeding up reconciliation. You know when to trust it and when to check its work yourself.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with Airbase/Paylocity, Sage, QuickBooks Online, or ADP.
• Prior exposure to payroll processing or multi‑state payroll compliance.
• Active pursuit of, or interest in, a CPA or CMA credential.
• Experience in a professional services or search/staffing environment.
• Hands‑on use of AI‑assisted accounting tools, automated invoice capture, reconciliation assistants, or similar.