Staff Accountant - Gifts Processing

aspeninstitute; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 71,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Job summary

The Aspen Institute seeks a Staff Accountant – Gifts Processing to accurately process donor contributions, enter data in CRM+ and NetSuite, and generate tax receipts. The role supports gift processing workflows, ensures accurate donor records, and collaborates with Institutional Advancement for routine inquiries.

The role reports to the General Ledger Manager and requires attention to detail, organization, and willingness to learn in a high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit gift processing, accounting, or donor operations.
• Experience with accounting systems (NetSuite and Salesforce preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions for data analysis and reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Process daily gift batches in accordance with established procedures.
• Review gift documentation for completeness and accuracy prior to processing.
• Enter charitable contributions into the Institute's CRM system (CRM+).
• Generate and distribute charitable tax acknowledgment receipts using established templates and procedures.
• Maintain organized electronic records supporting gift transactions and tax acknowledgments.
• Correct gift batches and tax receipts as needed.
• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Advancement to resolve routine gift processing questions.
• Ensure donor information, gift designations, and related data are entered accurately.
• Support month-end gift processing and reconciliation activities.
• Create new gift designation accounts in CRM+.
• Set up new constituent records in NetSuite and new donor records in CRM+.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration

Tools

NetSuite

Salesforce

Job description

ABOUT US

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners.

OFFICE OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

The mission of the Office of Financial Operations (OFO) is to deliver timely and accurate financial reporting, analysis, and guidance that allows the Institute to pursue its programmatic goals and provide financial confidence in the organization. The OFO principally assists the organization's various programs and departments and its Board of Trustees by planning, organizing, and directing financial activities in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as the standards set forth by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). OFO promotes sound fiscal management through leadership, policy, and oversight.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Staff Accountant – Gifts Processing supports the Aspen Institute's charitable gift administration by accurately processing donor contributions and preparing charitable tax acknowledgment receipts. This position is responsible for entering gift batches, maintaining supporting documentation, and helping ensure gifts and donor records are processed accurately and in a timely manner. The Staff Accountant - Gifts Processing helps maintain the integrity of donor and financial records while supporting daily gift processing activities. Our ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and eager to learn, with the ability to manage routine, high-volume transactions with accuracy and consistency.

This position will report to the General Ledger Manager. The salary range for this position is $71,100 - $90,900. In accordance with our Reimagining Work policy, the Director should be willing to be in-person with colleagues a minimum of 40% of the time while having the flexibility to work remotely for the balance

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Gift Processing & Tax Receipts

• Process daily gift batches in accordance with established procedures.
• Review gift documentation for completeness and accuracy prior to processing.
• Enter charitable contributions into the Institute's CRM system (CRM+).
• Generate and distribute charitable tax acknowledgment receipts using established templates and procedures.
• Maintain organized electronic records supporting gift transactions and tax acknowledgments.
• Correct gift batches and tax receipts as needed.
• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Advancement to resolve routine gift processing questions.
• Ensure donor information, gift designations, and related data are entered accurately.
• Support month-end gift processing and reconciliation activities.
• Create new gift designation accounts in CRM+
• Set up new constituent records in NetSuite and new donor records in CRM+.

Administrative & Operational Support

• Assist with reconciliations between the CRM system and the financial system.
• Distribute weekly donation reports to Institute staff.
• Acts as primary for remote check deposit processing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent combination of education and work experience required.
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit gift processing, accounting, or donor operations.
• Experience with accounting systems (NetSuite and Salesforce preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions for data analysis and reconciliation.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet critical deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email [e-mail] or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.