POSITION: Accounting Manager LOCATION: Hybrid to a LIFT Local Office (CHI, DC, LA, NY) REPORTS TO: Director of Finance and Accounting FLSA STATUS: Exempt SALARY RANGE: $95,000 - $105,000
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
LIFT is a national nonprofit on a mission to invest in families to break the cycle of poverty. We believe that racial and gender wealth gaps stem from structural inequities that keep them trapped in a cycle where poverty, like wealth, is passed from generation to generation. At LIFT, we interrupt the generational transmission of poverty by partnering with parents of young children to build well-being, financial strength, and social connections - or as we like to put it, Hope, Money, and Love. LIFT's one-on-one coaching program empowers parents to set and achieve goals that put families on the path toward economic mobility - such as going back to school, improving credit, eliminating debt, or securing a living wage. In addition to coaching, LIFT parents also receive direct cash infusions to reinvest in their families and goals.
LIFT is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory. We aim to scale our impact by 1) making continuous improvements to our direct service model, 2) partnering with health care, postsecondary education, early child development, and government organizations to deliver LIFT's model and influence change in those systems, and 3) influencing policy through the amplification of the voices of parents living in poverty on issues impacting their lives and communities. We are looking for team players who thrive in a growth environment of continuous improvement; are committed to LIFT's work to combat intergenerational poverty and expand opportunity for families; and uphold LIFT's values of diversity, equity, excellence, hope, and relationships.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Reporting to the Director of Finance and Accounting, the Accounting Manager plays a pivotal role in managing financial reporting and compliance in the grant lifecycle and overseeing finance and accounting operations. This role will perform various finance and accounting operations, including the implementation and management of financial systems and integrations, creating policies and procedures, processing and recording receivables, leading budget development and analysis, performing allocations, supporting the preparation of monthly and annual financial statements, audit, and tax preparation. The Accounting Manager will have the opportunity to identify new opportunities to improve efficiencies and respond proactively to other departments' and regions' needs. They will need to analyze existing processes and systems and work closely with the Director of Finance and Accounting and operations staff to streamline current systems, leverage information technology, and establish standard operating procedures that provide maximum benefit to LIFT's staff and partners.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a proactive, hands-on finance professional who brings a successful track record of creative problem-solving and strengthening infrastructure to a dynamic and growing national nonprofit.
Travel requirement: one to two days in the office per week (subject to change) in connection to any local LIFT office (CHI, DC, LA, NY), twice a year for approximately 3-4 days for LIFT's annual All Staff Retreat in one of its regional cities, and the annual Finance & Operations meeting in DC.
AS THE ACCOUNTING MANAGER, YOU WILL
- Grant Financial Management and Compliance
- Oversee the financial aspects of all grants, ensuring compliance with 2 CFR 200, GAAP, and grant terms and conditions.
- Develop budgets for grant proposals in collaboration with program managers and grant writers.
- Monitor grant expenditures and revenue to ensure alignment with approved budgets and grantor requirements.
- Provide regular financial reports to grantors and program managers.
- Stay informed about grant regulations, guidelines, and reporting requirements from various grantors.
- Prepare and analyze indirect cost rate proposals in compliance with grant regulations and organizational policies.
- Ensure adherence to grant compliance standards, including allowable costs, matching requirements, and reporting deadlines.
- Provide guidance and training to staff members on grant financial management and compliance issues.
- Coordinate with auditors and grantors during audits and reviews, providing necessary documentation and support.
- Finance and accounting operations
- Ensure that policies and procedures are in compliance with GAAP rules and standards and that a comprehensive system of internal controls are in place, continuously refining as growth requires it.
- Support the annual audit and preparation of required tax filings and registrations.
- Support the construction of the annual budget and related budget analysis in collaboration with the Director of Finance and COFO.
- Record and monitor accounts receivable and coordinate efforts with LIFT's development team to ensure timely collection of contributions.
- Support the month-end and annual close by maintaining accurate financial record keeping and reporting systems for assigned reconciliations.
- Distribute financial reports as needed.
- Communicate finance priorities and updates to the broader LIFT team, and foster strong collaboration with LIFT's development and program teams.
- Act as a member of, and collaborate with, the National Finance and Operations team at LIFT which includes Talent & Culture, Technology, and Finance.
- Provide a superior level of service to internal stakeholders and external clients.
- Systems improvement
- Maximize capabilities of existing financial management systems with a focus on Sage Intacct.
- Manage efforts to integrate financial and adjacent systems to achieve greater efficiency and workflow improvements (time and attendance, grants management, payment processes).
- Create internal systems for organizing and coordinating the team's work, leveraging the productivity and document management tools available in the Microsoft Teams platform.
- Identify systems needs and efficiency gaps and propose cost-effective recommendations.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE
- You are committed to LIFT's mission and values.
- You have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting (preferred) or commensurate experience.
- You have 4+ years of experience with nonprofit accounting and financial processes; a combination of education and government grants management and compliance experience, including Federal and State rules and regulations, that demonstrates the knowledge and ability to perform the work.
- You have 2+ years of management experience (preferred).
- You have knowledge and understanding of U.S. GAAP, 2 CFR 200, and internal accounting controls and have experience with the full accounting cycle, including month and year-end close, bank reconciliation, and accounts payable/receivable.
- You are committed to LIFT's mission and demonstrate LIFT's values: We let brilliance shine; We root change in learning; We build deep relationships; We strive for social justice; We create thriving environments.
Don't think you have everything for this role but are still interested? Please don't hesitate to apply. We'd love to hear from you. LIFT is an equal opportunity employer and believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants. LIFT's goal is for our people to reflect the communities in which we live and serve and to ensure representation of people of color, those who identify as women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our organization.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Salary Range: $95,000 - $105,000/year. LIFT's compensation philosophy is to pay competitively for our non-profit sector and ensure equity across the organization. The compensation range we offer represents a good faith estimate of what we may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as qualifications and experience, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information at the time of hire, but not based on a candidate's protected status.
- Employer-paid health care coverage (100% for employees, 75% for dependents).
- 403(b) retirement savings plan including an employer match contribution of up to 5% after one year.
- Generous paid-time-off policy starting with 4 weeks in the first year (5 weeks in years 2-4, 6 weeks at 5+ years), Federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, Cesar Chavez day, and wellness days including a one-week organization-wide paid closure over the winter holidays (the week between Christmas and New Year's Day holidays), and a one-week organization-wide paid closure over the summer fiscal year transition (the week in which Independence Day is celebrated).
- 12 weeks paid parental leave.
- Partial cell phone coverage.
- Pre-tax accounts for transit, health, and childcare benefits.
- Please see here for a more in-depth overview of LIFT's Benefits and Culture.