Evangelical Covenant Church Looking for Senior Staff Accountant at Chicago, IL, USA Full Time

Description:

SUMMARY

The Senior Staff Accountant is responsible for engaging in the daily activities and operations of the overall general accounting functions. The position will prepare and review accounting records (journal entries, vouchers, investments, liability reports, etc.) and perform general ledger account reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and conformity to generally accepted accounting principles and reporting. The role will provide broad general ledger support to the accounting team, including month-end close journal entries, A/P and A/R processes, monthly expense accruals, fixed or prepaid assets, and audit processes.

The Senior Staff Accountant is a key participant in the overall month-end close deliverables in preparing, processing, reviewing, and facilitating the accuracy and validity of the input elements across the organization. This position will have a clear understanding of how General Ledger {GL) accounts ultimately flow into monthly financial statements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Prepares, examines, or reviews accounting records (vouchers, bank reconciliations for multiple accounts, investment reports, journal entries, etc.), and financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to generally accepted accounting principles, reporting and procedural standards.

• Processes transactions and reconciles various general ledger accounts (various assets, liabilities, and other financial transactions).

• Supports the financial statement preparation and month end/quarter end/year end closing through these key accurate data inputs and reconciliations.

• Engage in a professional, hospitable, and courteous manner in electronic, phone and in-person communication with constituents.

• Process inquiries from ministry constituencies; respond and/or direct to the appropriate person according to need and on a timely basis.

• Continuously seeks to collaborate with mission areas to help promote automation and process efficiencies

• Contributes to the development and implementation of new procedures and features to enhance the workflow of the team, even as any changes are implemented.

• Prepares and reviews various investment transactions in conjunction with preparing quarterly reports.

• Responds to inquiries from various parties regarding financial results, special reporting requests and serves as an additional resource for staff regarding the handling of non-routine reporting transactions.

• Collaborates to ensure a clean and timely year end audit.

• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Accounting and/or Executive Director of Finance.

Requirements:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or business-related field or equivalent professional experience. Minimum two to three (2-3) years of experience across core accounting activities including but not limited to general bookkeeping, month end close, general ledger account reconciliations, and related financial reporting, and financial controls. An understanding of general ledger systems and operating finance/bookkeeping computer systems and applications (Great Plains, Raisers Edge, Word, Excel, et c.).

Preferred: Some working knowledge of accounts payables/receivables, expense processing, and how they impact the financial reporting. Working knowledge of DocuWare, or ability and willingness to learn new programs/applications as necessary to adapt to processes, systems and sub-systems of the finance area.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

• Excellent knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Demonstrate appropriate understanding/ working knowledge of accounting principles and internal controls, and how to apply them.

• Ability and aptitude to identify opportunities for process improvements.

• Strong work ethic, and able to always operate with discretion and confidentiality.

• Knowledgeable of economic and accounting principles and practices, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

• Detail-oriented, strong organization, prioritization and time-management skills are essential.

• Excels in attention to detail with high level of accuracy in the preparation of entries, reports and execution of efforts, activities, or projects.

• Works well to accomplish multiple tasks, with conflicting priorities and timelines.

• Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Furnish reports and business correspondence and effectively present information and respond to questions from stakeholders

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, social and communication skills to facilitate stakeholders’ engagements in a professional manner.

• Maintains flexibility in approach and adjusts actions when appropriate.

• Uses critical thinking skills, applying logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to address challenges.

• Self-starter, with the ability to work independently to define and drive reporting and research projects to completion.

Environment Conditions

Able to work well in professional office setting and in remote locations. Occasional work on evenings and weekends. Must be versatile and able to work for prolong segments sitting or standing. Must engage frequently with office tools and equipment, such as: computer, copier, phone, web-conferencing equipment, cell communication, printers, etc. Must be able to occasionally lift or move items, less than 35lbs.

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