Staff Accountant Jobs

Child Trends is currently looking for a detail-oriented and analytical Staff Accountant to join our accounting team. In this role, you will be primarily responsible for preparing project budgets, assisting with various payroll tasks, and supporting full cycle accounting tasks. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of accounting principles, exhibit exceptional attention to detail, and demonstrate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. This is a full-time, remote position with permanent employment and comprehensive benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Budget Preparation:

• Review and analyze budget variances, identifying and addressing any discrepancies.
• Collaborate with project managers to develop accurate and comprehensive budgets.
• Provide regular reports, including spend-down templates and updates on project budget status to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that project budgets align with financial guidelines and organizational objectives.

Payroll Assistance:

• Aid in preparing and recording payroll journal entries.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies.
• Serve as a backup to process semimonthly payroll.
• Reconcile payroll and benefits accounts monthly.
• Prepare monthly labor and other administrative reports.
• Collaborate with the HR team by reviewing payroll changes to ensure accurate and timely payroll data entry.
• Support payroll processing activities, including verifying timecard charges, and addressing payroll inquiries.

Full Cycle Accounting Support:

• The preparation and submission of invoices to funders
• Register Child Trends in required jurisdictions, as needed.
• Assist in maintaining the general ledger by recording journal entries and reconciling accounts.
• Contribute to the month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• The processing of expense reports, honorarium, credit cards and vendor bills
• Review and verify financial transactions, invoices, and payments including:
  • The preparation and submission of invoices to funders
  • The processing of expense reports, honorarium, credit cards and vendor bills
• Other

Team Collaboration and Adaptability:

• Work both independently and as part of a team to accomplish accounting goals and meet deadlines.
• Adapt to changes in priorities, tasks, and responsibilities, demonstrating flexibility and resilience.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues across different departments, such as project managers and HR personnel.

Qualifications/Skills & Knowledge Requirements:

• Excellent attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
• Integrity and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Previous experience in project budgeting and full cycle accounting is highly desirable.
• Ability to work efficiently in a remote setting, demonstrating self-motivation and time management skills.
• Two or more years of accounting experience in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, and regulations (federal).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in accounting software and MS Excel, advanced, is a plus.

Locations: Flexible Remote Work; Child Trends’ offices are based in Bethesda, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Minneapolis, MN. Many Child Trends staff work remotely, and while we are set up to hire remote staff in many states, we are not yet operating everywhere in the US and do not have any overseas operations. We are currently approved to hire full-time staff in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, and WI. The organization will require time to assess additional set up requirements (e.g., employment and tax law) for locations outside of areas where we are currently approved to hire. Individuals who would like to work from areas outside of the currently approved states, if offered the position, should indicate this preference as early as possible in the application process.

Benefits:
For all full-time and part-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, we offer generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays; optional individual/domestic partner/family medical, dental and vision benefits effective first day of employment; optional pet benefits; pre-tax reimbursement funds (FSA, HSA, Commuter); life insurance; short/long term disability, basic life and AD&D coverage paid for by Child Trends; paid family leave; paid bereavement leave; professional development and tuition reimbursement allowance; and 403(b) retirement plan with immediate vesting and Child Trends contributions after 1 year of employment. To learn more, go to https://www.childtrends.org/about-us/careers and click " Benefits."

How to Apply:

Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload resume, please upload one document that includes your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references. Materials must be combined into one document in order to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process please email the requested materials to recruitment(at)childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls please!

Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Bethesda, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators, and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org

Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child’s race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.

Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.