Columbia Legal Services (CLS) is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that advances social, economic, and racial equity for people living in poverty. We support communities and movements by bringing deep legal expertise that is grounded in – and strongly guided by – an understanding of race equity.
We seek systemic solutions by bringing class action lawsuits, using cutting edge legal theories, engaging in policy advocacy, and supporting communities in building their own power. We have a special responsibility to serve people whose access to free legal services is restricted, due to institutionalized or immigration status.
At CLS we seek a team that reflects our organizational values of community, race equity, and justice. This includes hiring staff with connections to the communities we serve whenever possible, and a commitment to strive for justice and equity in our hiring practices and in our staff culture.
Position Summary
Columbia Legal Services seeks a part-time Senior Accountant to lead our day-to-day accounting operations and support our organizational sustainability and growth. This is a part-time position (21 hours per week), with flexible scheduling. The Senior Accountant is based in our Seattle office and reports to the Finance Director. All CLS staff have the ability to complete some work remotely; however, this position will require some physical presence at the office.
Responsibilities
Accounting Operations & Financial Data Management:
- Review and ensure accurate and timely maintenance of the general ledger, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and other data entry into the accounting system.
- Provide backup support for processing invoices, reimbursements, fund requests, vendor payments, and receivables.
- Perform monthly reconciliations of financial transactions, including bank accounts, credit cards, payroll benefit accruals and deductions against carrier billings.
- Manage accounting software to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data.
- Oversee on-going monthly and annual closing of books.
- Manage regular amortization, depreciation, and pre-pay processing quarterly.
Audit & Compliance Support:
- Lead internal preparation for annual audit.
- Prepare IRS 990 form with external tax firm support.
- Review and recommend updates to Accounting Department templates, procedures, and processes annually to ensure they are up-to-date and compliant with GAAP.
- Ensure accuracy and compliance with organizational financial policies.
Grant Reporting & Development Support:
- Categorize grant revenue and ensure proper accounting for restricted and unrestricted funds.
- Prepare financial information for grant applications and grant reporting.
- Maintain calendar with all grant reporting deadlines and collaborate with Development and Communications staff to ensure timely reporting and funds receivable for all grants.
- Works with Development and Communications staff to create timely revenue reporting process and monthly reconciliation between financial and relationship management systems.
Additional Duties:
- Provide training and support to program accounting personnel.
- Monitor and make recommendations for asset retirement and replacement.
- Prepares yearly lease valuations as required by GAAP.
- Collaborate with the IT Manager to conduct quarterly security checks to ensure the confidentiality and protection of CLS financial information and CLS funds.
- Provide detailed financial data and insights to the Finance Director to assist in strategic financial planning and decision-making and the development of reports for the Organizational Management Team and/or Board.
- Assist the Finance Director with the development, monitoring, and maintenance of the annual budget.
- Prepare ad hoc analysis, reporting, and projects as requested by the Finance Director.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee, and others may be assigned.
CLS requires that all employees adhere to our COVID-19 vaccine mandate through proof of vaccination or by requesting a medical or religious accommodation. Staff are also required to follow CLS COVID-19 protocols while engaging in in-person work in our offices and in the community.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have all or most of the experience below, or have a combination of comparable experience where they have demonstrated similar skills or responsibilities.
- A minimum of 5-years of accounting experience
- Bachelor’s degree and/or certification in accounting, finance, or a related field. A combination of experience and education will be considered.
- Commitment to racial, social, and economic justice and an ability to build collaborative relationships with colleagues.
- Strong working knowledge of GAAP and IRS and financial reporting standards for nonprofits.
- Keen organizational and detail-oriented skills to ensure the accuracy of financial reports and compliance.
- Fluent technology and computer skills, advanced knowledge of accounting software.
- Strong understanding of internal control systems to prevent fraud and ensure financial integrity, ideally including experience with nonprofit audits.
Preferred, but not required
- Nonprofit experience and/or experience with multiple funding source- or cost center-based accounting systems.
- Certification or degree in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related field.
- Experience in a law firm or regulatory setting.
- Knowledge of tracking, reporting, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements and restrictions.
- Experience in developing and managing annual budgets, multi-year financial forecasts, and financial models to support the organization's strategic goals.
CLS brings its core values of community, race equity, and justice into all aspects of its work, and we seek an individual for this role who aligns with these values.
Compensation and Benefits
The 2024 annual salary range for this part time Senior Accountant position with 5-10 years of experience is $43,300 to $52,800 (part time prorated from the full-time salary range of $80,500 - $88,000).
This part-time, exempt position is a confidential role and is not eligible for representation by Washington Legal Workers, our in-house labor union.
Columbia Legal Services is committed to providing an equitable work environment, including a commitment to pay equity. As part of this commitment, all employees’ pay is based on years of experience in their role or in previous roles doing substantially similar work and set on a standard pay scale for their position, rather than on negotiations, which have been shown to contribute to pay disparities.
CLS has a 35-hour workweek (for full-time employees) and offers a comprehensive compensation package including the following (please note these will be pro-rated for a part-time schedule, benefit premium coverage covered as indicated below):
14 paid holidays annually
- Winter Break office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
- 12 sick days annually
- 15-21 paid vacation days annually (based on years of experience)
- 3-5 personal days annually (based on years of experience)
- Early office closure the first Friday of the month
- Paid parental and family medical leave benefits
- Paid sabbatical every 7 years
- Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program (for employees with less than 10 years’ experience)
Additionally, we pay 100% of employee premiums for excellent health, vision, and dental benefits plus 50% of the maximum out-of-pocket deductible and offer heavily subsidized family premiums.
We also offer a 403(b) retirement benefit with employer contribution and a match, disability and life insurance, a subsidized transit pass, and an employee wellness program.
To Apply
Submit an application with a cover letter and resume in PDF format through our application portal in BambooHR. We accept and review applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received before November 8, 2024. We will remove the position from our website once it is filled.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email the Human Resources Department at careers@columbialegal.org.
We are committed to an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, and equal opportunity for all employees, and strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, people who have been affected by mass incarceration, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe in building and sustaining an organization that is reflective of the communities we serve, and is diverse in work background, experience, education, race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental and physical abilities. We believe that the resulting diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.