Accounting Associate for Nonprofits (Hybrid in Chicago, IL; Durham, NC; or Washington, DC)
In this entry-level role on our Partner Solutions team, our team needs dynamic and enthusiastic individuals that can jump in and support our accounting needs. If you want the opportunity to work with a fast-growing and entrepreneurial team reshaping the charitable sector, then this job is for you. We incubate new and innovative nonprofit projects, and the accounting associate helps our clients manage their resources for positive societal impact. We need you to be highly organized and have a demonstrated ability to manage several projects simultaneously. Our accounts payable team processes over 2,500 expense transactions a month. The work is fast-paced and mission-driven.
Essential Responsibilities
- Review payment requests and expense reimbursement reports for required invoice, appropriate supporting documentation and approvals
- Record expense items thoroughly and accurately, in accordance with company policy and accepted accounting practices
- Prepare re-classing and adjusting journal entries accordingly
- Assist with month-end close
- Reconcile and process monthly credit card statements and payments
- Reconcile and process employee expense reimbursements
- Reconcile vendor statements; research and correct discrepancies
- Respond to all vendor inquiries
- Assist with annual Form 1099 reporting and associated record-keeping requirements
Other Responsibilities
- Assist with preparation of entity and/or donor audits
- Assist with tax reconciliation schedules
- Assist the team with general ledger reconciliations and special projects as needed
To Be Successful in This Role, You’ll Need
- Associate's/Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, or related field
- One to three years of work experience in an accounting role
- Basic knowledge of accrual accounting
- Proficiency with basic Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Experience or familiarity with accounting software
- Must have a strong work ethic, be well-organized and a self-starter
- Strong problem-solving skills, documentation skills, data analysis, research and resolution skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to report on complex data in an easily understandable manner
- Ability to work independently and within teams in a fast-paced and high-volume environment with an emphasis on accuracy and timeliness
- Ability to manage and make progress on multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to perform mathematical computations such as percentages, fractions, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division quickly and accurately
- Strong entrepreneurial spirit and resourcefulness that spurs innovation and problem solving
Other Highly Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management and/or business
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics GP
- Experience or familiarity with Salesforce, Concur Solutions and Adobe
- Intermediate Excel skills
Our Core Competencies
- Ability to provide excellent, reliable service, including the ability to efficiently and independently address routine service matters, to suggest effective client-centered solutions when elevating challenges or concerns, and to understand how the team can operate to maintain high-quality service
- The ability to complete complex tasks, to use a work plan to undertake projects, and to understand how those projects impact the client, team, and/or firm’s objectives
- The ability to understand stakeholders’ perspectives and circumstances, and to build and manage strong relationships that reflect that understanding.
- The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally, including the ability to adapt style, tone, and content to various audiences; to make technical information assessable to broader audiences; and to collaborate with others to produce strong written deliverables
- The ability to work cooperatively and inclusively with others to achieve shared goals, including knowing when and how to compromise, being willing to proactively help colleagues, and sharing knowledge in various mediums
- An enthusiasm for taking on stretch and development opportunities, including the ability to accept feedback and use it to improve performance
- The ability to take ownership and be creative and solutions-oriented when encountering challenges that don’t have obvious answers, including knowing when to elevate challenges along with possible solutions
Working with Us
This position is open to candidates who wish to be based out of our office locations in Durham, NC, Washington DC, Chicago, IL, and we work in a hybrid environment.
We reopened our offices in Summer of 2022 and work with a hybrid workplace strategy to ensure continued flexibility for our staff, while deepening our strong culture rooted in collaboration and in-person interactions between colleagues. We expect that after their initial onboarding, all Arabellans will have the choice of two hybrid schedules. Our hybrid schedule options include Flex, with 1-2 days per week in the office, or Office-based, with 3+ days per week in the office (or more if preferred) and the remaining days working at home/remotely. We will make reasonable accommodations under the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
We are committed to having a passion-driven, inclusive, transparent, collaborative, healthy, and fun culture. We invite you to visit our careers page to learn more.
About Arabella Advisors
Arabella Advisors helps foundations, philanthropists, and investors who are serious about impact achieve the greatest good with their resources. We work on issues ranging from the social and economic advancement of women and girls, and conservation of our climate and planet, to reducing poverty and inequity in the United States and around the world. Our staff members are mission-driven and action-oriented and have a unique combination of experience in philanthropy, business, nonprofits, government, finance, law, and other fields. We combine creative, strategic thinking with knowledge and networks developed through decades of hands-on experience. The fastest-growing philanthropic advisory firm in the nation, Arabella is also a certified B Corporation.
About Arabella’s Partner Solutions Team
The Partner Solutions Team provides operations and back-end services and support to fiscally sponsored projects housed at multiple 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations. Projects range from new and innovative public interest organizations to donor collaborative initiatives to grants administration programs and cover a diverse range of focus areas. Candidates are highly encouraged to research fiscal sponsorship prior to better understand the complex infrastructure and role of our team.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Advancing DEI within our firm and in our work with partners is critical to our mission. To be effective partners to philanthropists, nonprofits, and communities impacted by philanthropic dollars, we need to have a highly diverse staff, a workplace where individuals are encouraged to retain their uniqueness and can feel a sense of belonging, and a nuanced understanding of the racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, and other disparities that undergird the issues we engage in and the interactions we have with one another. For us, equity means that our staff members, our clients, and the people they serve can experience the same level of success, no matter their starting place. We expect all our employees to share this commitment, and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. Click here to learn more about DEI at Arabella and read our official DEI statement.
Total Rewards (Compensation and Benefits)
This is a full-time position. We offer a competitive and holistic total rewards package that includes salary, bonus, and benefits. Our compensation ranges are based on salary ranges for similar sized organizations in the professional services sector and adjusted for local labor market rates and differentiated by geography.
Annual Pay Ranges for This Position -
Durham: $52,000 - $58,000
Chicago: $55,000 - $60,000
DC: $57,000 - $64,000
All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package on their first day of employment:
- Health insurance - On average Arabella pays 86% of the medical premium, 80% of the dental premium, and 100% of the vision premium
- Paid time off - 16 days of vacation, 10 personal days, 11 company holidays (7 federal and 4 more from a list of inclusive cultural and religious holidays and your birthday), 20 hours volunteer leave, 8 weeks parental leave
- 401(k) retirement plan - Arabella will match up to 4% of your contributions. There is no waiting or vesting period; all funds are yours to keep on day 1
- Reimbursements for your personal cell phone plan and fitness
- Pre-tax withholding for transportation and parking
- Bonus incentive opportunities
- Access to professional development opportunities
We are committed to having a passion-driven, inclusive, transparent, collaborative, healthy, and fun culture. We invite you to visit our careers website to learn more.
How to Apply
Submit a resume and a one-page cover online. The cover letter should address why you’re excited to work at Arabella and why you’re qualified for this specific job.
We value diversity and inclusion and encourage all qualified people to apply. If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know.
While Arabella is open to individuals from various locations applying to join our team, please note that we generally are unable to pay for relocation expenses, and all applicants must already be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of application to be considered for this position.
We will review applications as they are received and look forward to hearing from you.