Manager, Staff Accountant

Job description

Position Overview: The Staff Accountant is a key member of KIPP NYC's Finance Team, responsible for supporting accurate and timely accounting operations and maintaining the integrity of the organization's financial records and general ledger. Reporting to the Senior Director of Accounting & Audit, the Staff Accountant supports the monthly and year-end close processes, prepares journal entries and account reconciliations, maintains financial documentation, and contributes to audit readiness and financial reporting across the organization. Through accurate and reliable accounting practices, this role helps ensure KIPP NYC remains a financially strong and sustainable organization equipped to serve students, families, and schools. This role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented, and analytical professional who takes ownership of their work, enjoys solving problems, and thrives in a collaborative environment. The Staff Accountant will work closely with colleagues across the Finance Team and Shared Services Team while continuing to build expertise in full-cycle accounting and nonprofit financial operations. This is a full-time position with a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of three in-person days per week based out of our KIPP NYC Midtown Manhattan office. The role also includes travel to KIPP NYC campuses across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The cadence and frequency of school visits will be determined by your leadership team. Duties and Responsibilities: General responsibilities include (but are not limited to): General Ledger & Financial Close Prepare and post recurring and routine journal entries, ensuring transactions are accurately classified and supported by appropriate documentation. Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes to ensure financial information is complete, accurate, and recorded on time. Maintain assigned general ledger accounts, which may include cash, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accounts receivable, accruals, and other balance sheet accounts. Review account activity and investigate discrepancies or unusual transactions, escalating complex issues as appropriate. Support the continuous improvement of close processes, accounting procedures, and financial workflows. Account Reconciliations & Data Integrity Prepare timely and accurate balance sheet account reconciliations and supporting schedules. Research and resolve reconciliation discrepancies in partnership with Finance colleagues and other stakeholders. Maintain organized and complete supporting documentation for accounting transactions and reconciliations. Help strengthen reconciliation schedules and processes as accounting needs and organizational complexity evolve. Maintain a high degree of accuracy and data integrity across accounting systems and financial records. Financial Reporting & Analysis Run and review standard financial reports from KIPP NYC's accounting systems to support monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting. Assist with investigating account variances and provide supporting analysis for Finance leadership. Support the preparation of internal and external financial reporting by ensuring underlying accounting records are accurate and complete. Identify trends, discrepancies, and potential accounting issues and proactively partner with the team to resolve them. Audit & Compliance Support Support annual financial audits by gathering, organizing, and preparing requested documentation, reconciliations, and supporting schedules. Maintain accounting records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), KIPP NYC policies, and internal controls. Respond to audit and documentation requests accurately and within established timelines. Support Finance leadership in maintaining strong accounting practices and an environment of audit readiness throughout the year. Team & Stakeholder Partnership Partner collaboratively with Accounts Payable, Financial Planning & Analysis, school-based teams, and other Shared Services Team functions to research and resolve accounting questions. Provide responsive, solutions-oriented support to internal stakeholders while maintaining strong financial controls. Contribute to Finance Team initiatives, system improvements, and special projects as needed. Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning by seeking feedback, building technical expertise, and identifying opportunities to improve accounting processes. Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required. Minimum of three years of relevant accounting experience. Strong foundational knowledge of general ledger accounting, financial statements, and core accounting principles. Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Experience preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting month-end or year-end close processes. Experience in nonprofit, education, charter school, or other mission-driven organizations preferred. Experience with an accounting or ERP system such as Sage Intacct, NetSuite, or a comparable platform. Strong Microsoft Excel skills and comfort working with large data sets and financial reports. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy. Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Collaborative and customer-service-oriented approach with the ability to build productive working relationships across teams. Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, sound judgment, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Deep commitment to KIPP NYC's mission and belief that strong financial stewardship helps create the conditions for students, families, and schools to thrive. Demonstrates KIPP NYC's core values of zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor. Compensation and Benefits: KIPP NYC offers a salary ranging from $80,340 - $100,940 per year. Salary ranges at KIPP NYC are standardized based on role level and role function. Individual salaries are determined through a lens of equity, accounting for years of experience relevant to the role and scope of responsibilities, and are benchmarked against others within the same salary band. KIPP NYC offers a generous benefits package, including, but not limited to, the following: Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision. 403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match after 6 months. Generous Time-Off aligned with the school calendar Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave. Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder care. Employer-paid Life Insurance and Short-term/Long-term disability. Employee incentives include 8 Weeks paid Sabbatical after 10 years, annual professional development funds, and tuition reimbursement. This description is intended to describe the type of work being performed by a person assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the employee. This is a full-time, in-person role based in New York City and will require travel to our schools. If you are not in a school-based position, the cadence and frequency of travel to schools is determined by your leadership team. If you relocate outside of a commutable distance or out of the state of NY, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. It is important that you notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate. KIPP NYC LLC does not offer visa sponsorship or work authorization. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to creating a welcoming environment that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving students and families throughout New York City. KIPP NYC LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. About KIPP NYC: Founded in 1995, KIPP NYC Public Schools is a non-profit network of 18 free, public charter schools located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We partner with families and communities to create joyful, academically excellent schools where every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. From our first middle school, KIPP Academy in the Bronx, to today’s network of eight elementary schools, nine middle schools, and one high school, KIPP NYC provides students with engaging academics, arts, athletics, and social–emotional learning that prepare them for college, career, and beyond. Our commitment doesn’t end at graduation. Through KIPP Forward, we continue to support our alumni as they navigate college, career, and life, helping them define success on their own terms and pursue the paths that align with their goals and sense of purpose. Together, we serve more than 9,400 students, support 4,700 alumni, and employ over 1,100 dedicated team members who bring passion, expertise, and commitment to our mission every day.