Staff Accountant

Overview

This role involves owning core day-to-day accounting for a growing federal government contractor, supporting recurring financial processes and ensuring month-end close stays on schedule. Responsibilities include payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts, reconciliations, and preparation of close documentation.

Responsibilities

• Own payroll processing end-to-end in Paycor, including validating timesheet data from Unanet, processing new hires, terminations, and pay changes, and reviewing payroll registers before approval.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll questions and coordinate with HR on benefits and deduction changes.
• Own the AP cycle for vendor and subcontractor invoices, including review, validation, coding, and processing in accordance with company policies.
• Record bank transactions and customer payments in Unanet accurately and on a daily basis.
• Complete bank and corporate credit card reconciliations each month by established deadlines, actively investigating and resolving variances.
• Ensure accurate general ledger coding and project/cost center allocation for all financial transactions.
• Review employee expense reports for accuracy, allowability, and compliance with company policy, FAR cost principles, and DCAA requirements.
• Coordinate with internal departments and vendors to resolve discrepancies, obtain supporting documentation, and keep processing on schedule.
• Monitor outstanding liabilities and support accounts payable aging analysis and rolling cash flow forecasting.
• Prepare reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation for monthly, quarterly, and annual close.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready financial records in accordance with internal controls and retention policies, while supporting yearly audit and year-end compliance (including IRS Form 1099 preparation and filing).
• Identify and help implement continuous improvements to accounting processes, controls, and documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited university.
• 1–2 years of accounting experience, including hands-on accounts payable, account reconciliations, and expense reporting.
• Hands-on experience independently processing payroll, including payroll reconciliations and journal entries.
• Working knowledge of GAAP and internal control principles.
• Intermediate Excel skills (e.g., lookups, pivot tables) and proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a recurring workload independently and meet deadlines consistently.
• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize workload and maintain meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in government contract accounting (DoD, DHS, or other federal agencies), including familiarity with DCAA and FAR cost principles.
• Experience with Unanet or similar project-based accounting software (e.g., Deltek Costpoint).
• Experience with Paycor, Paylocity, or a similar payroll system, including multi-state payroll processing.
• Clear professional communication and strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience working in a mid-size or growing organization with a high transaction volume.

Compensation & Benefits

• Market-competitive salary
• Generous PTO package
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• 401K
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• Training opportunities

Location

Washington, DC area