Staff Accountant

Job Description

Staff Accountant | The Fund for American Studies

The Tone:
This is a full-time, in-person Staff Accountant role at The Fund for American Studies, located in Washington, D.C. The Fund for American Studies is an educational nonprofit that builds courageous leaders inspired to protect and advance individual liberty, personal responsibility, and economic freedom. This position is vital for the Administration & Finance team, providing essential support in managing all accounting cycle activities and ensuring the financial health and compliance of the organization’s mission-driven programs.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Washington, DC
• Pay: $60000–$65000 yearly
• Team: Administration & Finance, reports to the Senior Accountant
• Mission: Manages essential accounting cycle activities to ensure accurate financial records and support organizational goals.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams), Stripe, Paypal, Freshbooks, Sales Force, Sage Intacct, Bill.com

What You’ll Actually Do
• Record Weekly Cash Receipts: Download activities from bank accounts and prepare cash receipts journal entries including all backup documents, coordinating with the Development Operations Team for documentation and the Admin & Finance Team for remote bank deposits, also serving as backup for remote deposits.
• Record General Ledger Journal Entries: Draft and enter general journal entries for cash receipts, investments, fixed assets, accounts payable, and other various balance sheet and income accounts in the Sage Intacct General Ledger System, serving as backup for Accounts Payable bill entry.
• Perform Monthly Bank Account Reconciliations: Reconcile the company’s bank accounts on a monthly basis using the online automated bank reconciliation module.
• Complete General Ledger Account Reconciliations: Reconcile select Balance Sheet and Income Statement accounts as needed on a monthly basis, including investments and fixed assets.
• Manage Government Reporting Compliance: Handle filings with state government agencies to ensure compliance with fundraising activities.
• Assist with Budget Preparation and Financial Audits: Support the Senior Accountant and CFO in preparing the annual operating budget by analyzing general ledger accounts and preparing budget-to-actual reports, and assist with preparations for the annual financial audit by compiling audit workpapers.

The Must-Haves
• Background: A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Business is preferred, indicating a foundational understanding of accounting principles necessary for this early-career position within a non-profit environment.
• Experience: 1–2 years of direct accounting experience is required, with a preference for candidates who have prior experience in non-profit accounting, including relevant college internships.
• Skills: Demonstrated strong organizational skills, very high attention to detail, effective interpersonal and communication skills, and a proactive eagerness to learn about the financial operations of the organization. Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams, is also essential.
• Bonus: Prior CRM experience, especially with Sage Intacct, is a valuable asset. Candidates should also possess an appreciation for and commitment to the core mission and values of The Fund for American Studies.