Teach For America - Contracts and Grants Staff Accountant

Teach For America Staff Opportunity
Contracts and Grants Staff Accountant, Finance Team

Location
New York

Start Date
Immediately

About Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates - of all academic majors and career interests - who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools in the nation's lowest-income communities and become lifelong leaders for expanding educational opportunity. Our mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort.

In the 2006-2007 school year, 4,400 first and second year corps members are teaching in 25 urban and rural areas across the country, collectively reaching more than 375,000 students. The corps members work relentlessly to put their students on a level playing field with those growing up in more affluent areas. At the same time, corps members gain the insight and conviction necessary to be lifelong leaders in the pursuit of fundamental change. More than 12,000 Teach For America alumni are providing critical leadership within education and social reform, and they are also marshalling support for change from positions in business, law, medicine, and other sectors.

In October 2005, we launched an ambitious five-year plan to grow to scale, maximize the impact of our corps members and alumni as a force for change, and build an enduring American institution. By 2010, we aim to field a corps of 8,000 members who have a significant impact on the academic achievement of 700,000 of our nation's most disadvantaged students. At that point, we will be among the nation's top employers of top recent college graduates, building an unprecedented pipeline of civic and educational leadership to foster the fundamental reforms needed to realize our vision of educational opportunity for all.

Summary
The contracts and grants staff accountant plays a critical role in an evolving grants/contracts management infrastructure. The staff accountant maintains the integrity of the general ledger and ensures that accounting processes are in compliance with GAAP and private and government funding regulations. This person applies and reviews rational costing methodologies to ensure that direct, allocated, and matched costs are necessary, reasonable, and consistently treated as per grant/contract provisions. This person works closely with the accounting team to ensure that restricted and unrestricted revenues are property documented, tracked, and reported. The staff accountant prepares internal analytical and external financial statements, and assists in educating Teach For America national and regional staff on internal controls and general financial management policies and procedures. The contracts and grants staff accountant reports to the grants director, fiscal compliance and the contracts director, fiscal compliance.

Teach For America seeks individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for the position.
REQUIREMENTS
Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

•Assisting with grant budgeting process, configuring report templates, and providing analytical documentation to guard against potential cross-funding
•Reviewing all expenses coded against unrestricted and restricted funding streams, which includes ensuring: direct expenses tagged to grants/contracts are allowable under contract/grant provisions, consistent costing methodologies are used for allocated costs, and expenses tagged to match shares are correctly calculated across multiple government contracts
•Working closely with the accounting, payroll, and development operations teams to review funded position salary allocations and alert appropriate managers to inconsistencies in codings and reporting
•Preparing daily cash deposits, and coordinating the cash receipting process with the development operations team
•Preparing the grant/contract budget to actual variance reports and funder financial status reports for management review
•Assisting in mentoring and training staff members on contract provisions and Teach For America fiscal policies, procedures, processes; conducting periodic site audits at regional offices to ensure efficient fiscal internal controls
•Helping to ensure a constant state of annual fiscal and funder audit readiness, and working closely with accounting and development operations staff members to prepare audit workpapers and in resolution of corrective actions

Qualifications
•Bachelors degree in accounting, business, or finance
•CPA certification preferred, but not necessary
•Min. 3-5 years experience in government contracts or private grants management or heavy cost accounting
•Proven experience in a rapidly growing environment; ability to design, create, and implement analytical systems, policies, and procedures
•Excellent customer service skills; ability to effectively communicate in writing, over the phone, and in person
•Strong work ethic; appreciation for deadlines and adherence to project plans
•Proficient in Excel, accounting software packages commonly used within medium and large organizations, and Internet based technology solutions
•Positive attitude, desire to be a part of a diverse team, and commitment to Teach for America’s mission

Compensation
Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included.

Apply Now
Please apply online at our website at http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TEACHFORAMERICA&cws=1&rid=400