Senior Director, Accounting

Overview

This role involves leading accounting operations, audit readiness, and nonprofit accounting compliance. The Senior Director, Accounting maintains the financial integrity of the organization by owning the monthly close process, managing the external audit process, overseeing the organization’s Form 990 filing, and providing day-to-day accounting controllership.

The position is based out of a home office located anywhere within the contiguous United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones) or United States territories that fall within the Atlantic time zone.

This role reports to the Senior Executive Director, Finance.

Responsibilities

Accounting, Audit & Compliance

• Oversee internal accounting operations to ensure compliance with GAAP, updating internal processes as needed in alignment with new accounting pronouncements and IRS updates
• Review and approve all journal entries, cash receipts, and account reconciliations
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts in the organization’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including fund structures, division/department coding, and intercompany transactions
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual closing processes; research and correct discrepancies according to GAAP
• Maintain organizational readiness for Single Audit compliance as applicable for federal funding under Uniform Guidance
• Manage multi-entity entries and eliminations to ensure aligned reporting
• Establish and maintain internal controls over the procurement lifecycle
• Oversee fixed asset accounting, including capitalization, depreciation schedules, and adherence to the organization’s capitalization policy and thresholds
• Provide oversight of accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring accuracy, timely processing, and appropriate internal controls
• Manage the annual external audit process, interfacing with external auditors, responding to requests and inquiries, and coordinating across teams to collect and provide accurate information in a timely manner
• Partner with the Senior Executive Director, Finance to enforce finance policies, procedures, and internal controls, including analyzing, maintaining, and documenting updates

Revenue & Student Accounting

• Oversee revenue recognition under ASC 958, ASC 606, and other applicable standards
• Manage, record, and reconcile all financial entries related to the organization’s higher education partnerships across programs
• Manage student-level detail for programs to ensure accurate recording in alignment with IHE data
• Work with external IHE partners to reconcile student accounting records
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, applicable grant agreements, program partner policies, and revenue share agreements governing higher education partnership programs
• Work cross-functionally with Program teams to ensure accurate and timely student data

Reporting & Grant Management

• Ensure completion of timely and accurate organizational and segmented financial statements
• Oversee grant accounting and reporting
• Manage restricted funds and ensure proper releases of restricted net assets against grants
• Produce accounting-related reports for the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive Director, Finance, as requested
• Lead preparation of the organization’s annual Form 990
• Manage preparation and submission of the annual indirect cost rate proposal to the federal government
• Support the Senior Executive Director, Finance in analyzing financial performance against grants and restricted funds tied to the accounting close
• Provide proactive analysis to improve financial decision-making and accounting operations

Team & Process Leadership

• Advise the Senior Executive Director, Finance and Chief Financial Officer on the accounting, compliance, and reporting implications of new initiatives, partnerships, and funding structures to inform organizational strategy

• Provide training and guidance to Finance team members and other staff on accounting procedures, district and higher education partnership accounting, and applicable systems

• Serve as the organization’s primary technical accounting resource

• Identify opportunities to streamline accounting processes and strengthen financial controls, collaborating on implementing improvements

• Communicate effectively with senior leadership on the status of accounting operations, audit readiness, and higher education partnership accounting

• Serve as a strategic partner across departments and with external stakeholders to support timely, accurate, and aligned work products

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred
• CPA certification or progress toward certification required
• Minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience required, including a minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit accounting, audit management, or controllership

General Qualifications

• Experience managing or directly supporting Form 990 preparation and annual external audits
• Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), with an emphasis on Not-for-Profit revenue recognition
• Experience with higher education, grant, or revenue-share accounting strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of fund accounting principles
• Proficiency with accounting/ERP software required; NetSuite experience strongly preferred
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong understanding of internal controls, compliance, and risk management
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high-performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Travel may be required on occasion aligned to the organization’s Travel and In-Person Activities policy

Role-Specific Competencies

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across a variety of backgrounds and experiences; results-driven while maintaining a collaborative and inclusive leadership style
• In-depth expertise in finance and accounting principles
• Ability to lead team initiatives
• Demonstrated ability collaborating with senior leadership by providing in-depth research and opportunities that drive strategic direction

Compensation & Benefits

• Salaries vary based on geographical location; candidates are offered a non-negotiable salary based on geographical location
• Employees may be eligible for merit awards and/or bonuses depending on role, organizational guidelines, and individual performance
• Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week may be eligible to participate in benefits, including:
  • Wellness program
  • Medical plan options, dental care, and vision
  • 401(k) plan
  • Generous paid-time-off (PTO) benefits

Location

Home office located anywhere within the contiguous United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones) or United States territories that fall within the Atlantic time zone.

Application Deadline

January 2026. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and evaluates applicants on qualifications, merit, and work-related criteria without discrimination based on protected characteristics. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination.