About the role

Staff Accountant managing finance operations at Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Supports accounting functions, vendor payments, and compliance documentation in a nonprofit setting.

Responsibilities

The Staff Accountant supports the accounting and operations functions of SFI and provides internal/external customer service by fielding accounting related questions as the first level of support in the US headquarters office in Washington, DC.
Process vendor invoices accurately and promptly, ensuring proper approvals and coding.
Verify that all expenditures are properly authorized and supported with appropriate documentation.
Monitor grant expenditures to confirm they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under Uniform Guidance.
Maintain detailed documentation and audit trails for all federal award transactions.
Prepare and process electronic payments, ACH transfers, and check disbursements.
Record and reconcile incoming payments, including grant reimbursements, donor contributions, and other receivables.
Prepare and submit invoices to funding agencies and clients in accordance with contract and grant requirements.
Support month-end and year-end closing processes.
Perform regular bank reconciliations and ensure all transactions are accurately reflected in accounting records.

A./B.S. degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college or university required.
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required, including coursework that meets the eligibility requirements for professional accounting certification.
Minimum 2 to 3 years of progressive accounting experience required, preferably in a nonprofit, or public accounting environment.
Demonstrated experience in general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, and supporting audits required.
Familiarity with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and standard financial practices required.
Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Sage Intacct, NetSuite, or similar ERP systems) preferred.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis tools preferred.
Understanding of internal controls and their application across all accounting and financial processes preferred.
Ability to research, interpret and apply federal regulations and funding terms to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
Interest or background in nonprofit management, forestry, forest products, natural resources, sustainability, or environmental education a plus.
French, Spanish, or other language proficiency a plus.

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
Retirement plan with generous employer contribution and additional matching contribution up to 11% of your salary, provided you also contribute 4%.
Paid Time Off – generous vacation policy ranging from 2 weeks to 5 weeks, increasing with experience, all federal holidays, plus 4 floating holidays annually that may be used to observe additional religious, cultural, or traditional occasions that are meaningful to you, and 12 sick days annually.
Educational assistance and investment in professional development.