Staff Accounting Analyst

ARA; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Staff Accounting Analyst for the AMA Division in a hybrid role based in Arlington, VA.

The successful candidate will perform accounting duties, manage invoices, vouchers, and reimbursements, and enter transactions in the CostPoint system while supporting budgeting needs. Candidates should have 2–4 years of related accounting experience or a bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, along with strong Excel skills and a proactive,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent or 8 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree.
• 2-4 years of related accounting experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Willingness to learn new programs and policies.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent time management and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Create financial statements and review for completeness and accuracy against uniform classifications.
• Review invoices for accuracy before processing.
• Act as office credit card reviewer and reconciler.
• Process employee reimbursements in a timely manner per policy.
• Enter AP/PO vouchers and journal entries into CostPoint.
• Create and submit purchase requisitions for approval.
• Provide solutions to accounting issues as they arise.
• Liaise with corporate departments on accounting matters for the division.
• Investigate and feedback on accounting irregularities.
• Assist with division budget planning, tracking and projections.

Skills

Excel

Analytical thinking

Time management

Independent contributor

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Accounting/Finance/Business) or equivalent

Tools

CostPoint

General Ledger Codes

Journal Entries

Accounts Payable

SharePoint

Excel (Office 365)

Job description

Algorithms, Modeling and Assessments (AMA) Division has an immediate need for an energetic, well-organized Staff Accounting Analyst. The qualified candidate will have 2 - 4 years of previous experience and will become the point of contact for all accounting functions within the division. The ideal candidate will have previous experience with an accounting system, preferably CostPoint, and previous experience submitting invoice vouchers for payment, as well as using an accounting system to run reports. The successful candidate will possess outstanding organization and listening skills, with a strong attention to detail. Must possess the ability to perform detail-oriented work, manage multiple competing priorities, be a proactive problem solver, critical thinker and work independently. This is a hybrid position and the current office is located in Arlington, VA. We are relocating to the Alexandria, VA area in early 2027.

What you’ll do as a Staff Accounting Analyst at ARA

• Create various financial statements and review for completeness, internal accuracy, and conformance with uniform accounting classifications
• Review of invoices for accuracy prior to processing
• Act as office credit card reviewer & reconciler
• Review and process employee reimbursements for payment in a timely manner in compliance with ARA policies.
• Enter AP/PO vouchers and Journal Entries into the CostPoint accounting system
• Create and submit Purchase Requisitions for approval
• Provide solutions to accounting issues as they arise
• Act as a liaison in accounting matters to appropriate corporate departments on behalf of the division.
• Investigate and provide feedback on accounting irregularities
• Assist with Division budget planning, tracking and projections.

Requirements Of a Staff Accounting Analyst

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent or a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• 2-4 years of related experience in performing accounting duties.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Willingness to learn new programs and policies.
• Must be able to work independently and take ownership of individual tasks.
• Excellent analysis and critical thinking skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Must be a team player, build relationships and work collaboratively with team members.

Preferences

• Experience with CostPoint
• Experience with General Ledger Codes
• Experience with Journal Entries
• Experience with Accounts Payable
• Experience with budgets and forecasting
• Experience with SharePoint

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay Ranges: From $75,500 - $90,000 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position.

Company Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership generates greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com