The Legal Aid Society has an immediate opening for a Director of Accounting position with a highly regarded, mission-driven organization in New York City. The Director of Accounting will report to and work closely with the CFO to implement the financial vision for the organization, which is primarily funded by city and state grants. The position will provide strategic oversight and management of the accounting team, including daily, monthly, and annual reporting, audits, AP/AR, grants accounting, and banking relationships. The Director will lead, mentor, and train a team of approximately fifteen. A strong leader and a team-player who promotes an equitable and respectful work environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the accuracy, timeliness, and compliance of all daily, monthly, and year-end accounting functions and processes, such as accounts payable and accounts receivable, cash management, general ledger review, reconciliations for various bank and investment accounts, corporate credit card, and fixed asset accounts
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for the CFO, Senior Management Team, and the Board of Directors
• Monitor and maintain adherence to financial policies, procedures, and internal controls, and review for efficiency and effectiveness and modify as necessary
• Maintain and update Chart of Accounts
• Build necessary structures to cultivate and maintain relationships with the Society’s bank, investment managers and external, vendors
• Collaborate with the CFO and Finance leadership team, and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and build strong working relationships
• Ensure timely and accurate recording of restricted grant revenues and receivables from government grants and contracts and private foundations, and individual donations government grant and contract revenues, and receivables on a monthly, quarterly, and year-end basis
• Ensure compliance with Society’s cost allocation policies, and that transactions are recorded in compliance with uniform guidance code
• Coordinate and manage projects and initiatives of the Finance team to ensure alignment with organizational and programmatic goals
• Collaborate with other divisions within the Finance team on budget related matters
• Serve as lead contact for all program and year-end audits
• Lead and review timely preparation of audit schedules including the annual financial statement audit, the Single Audit (A-133), as well as individual program audits
• Prepare draft financials, Form 990, and CHAR 500, along with supporting schedules for external audit reviews
• Support members of the General Accounting team in understanding audit requirements, and in the preparation of various audit schedules
• Provide strategic perspective on the organization’s finance and accounting needs
• Work across all teams to build processes that support all the programs and ensure compliance with the various funding granting agencies
• Lead the administration and periodic review of accounting financial software systems and tools; maintain the integrity of accounting tools and manage user access; troubleshoot issues with accounting systems. Increase productivity by automating processes
• Provide orientation and training on relevant financial systems for staff at all levels
• Assist all strategic initiatives undertaken by the Society’s finance team

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior non-profit experience is required
• 10+ years of experience in accounting with a strong knowledge of GAAP
• Bachelor's required, Master's and/or CPA preferred
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills, Demonstrated experience with nonprofit fund accounting concepts and experience handling program and year-end audits
• Successful meeting deadlines
• Demonstrable experience leading, developing, and mentoring finance professionals, growing future leaders and inspiring high performing teams
• Experience with Financial Edge a plus
• A proven ability to identify and drive impactful financial outcomes, and to manage complex projects across multiple teams
• A proven ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and to build strong working relationships

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if, an offer is made.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

COVID VACCINATION INFORMATION

The Legal Aid Society is taking precautions and implementing safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with New York City's requirements concerning Covid-19. All members of the Legal Aid community have a shared responsibility to support and comply with policies and protocols to protect the health and safety of our community. Learn more about our COVID-19 policy by visiting our website.

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth; one’s gender identity may be male, female, neither or both, e.g., non-binary), gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not be distinctively male or female and may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.