Staff Accountant

Job description

About Us Skift is the leading business intelligence and media company in travel, delivering news, research, and global events that power smarter decisions across the industry. We convene senior leaders and innovators who rely on Skift for clarity, insight, and meaningful connection in a fast-moving global market. The Opportunity Reporting to the CFO, we’re looking for a sharp, fast-moving Staff Accountant who brings energy and absolute ownership to every corner of our finance function. This isn't a maintain-the-status-quo role—we want a proactive builder who sees inefficiencies and fixes them, who uses AI tools to work smarter, and who treats the month-end close as a standard of excellence, not just a deadline. If you are the type of professional who builds your own Excel tools before anyone asks and gets a little too excited about a fast but flawless reconciliation, this is your moment. We are looking for candidates who are based in the greater New York tri-state area who are available to commute into Manhattan at least twice per month. Why This Role Matters Skift operates a fully remote team across 17+ countries, producing intelligence, media, and events that shape the future of global travel. Our finance function is the backbone of that operation. You are the critical link that keeps a lean, fast-moving company compliant, solvent, and highly strategic. Because our finance team touches everything—from media and global payroll to payment platforms and live events—you will be the person who holds it all together, upgrades manual processes, and makes complex global accounting look easy. Some of What You’ll Do Daily Operations & Cash Management Monitor daily cash positions and bank balances, flagging unusual movements for CFO review. Prepare weekly cash flow forecasts to feed the treasury report. Prepare payment runs and supporting documentation for CFO approval; initiate wire transfers once approved when payment limits are reached. Prepare and post routine journal entries, including accruals and corrections, for CFO review. Manage the finance inbox, resolving vendor queries and routing escalations promptly. Maintain AR/AP aging reports and follow up on outstanding items to support a healthy DSO. Compile vendor invoices above threshold with backup for CFO approval. Process payroll exceptions for review, sync US payroll reports to QuickBooks, and reconcile intercompany transactions. Pick up mail from the New York post office box and deposit checks. Liaise with bank representatives and external tax accountants. Month-End Close & Financial Reporting Execute the month-end close checklist end to end, partnering with the Finance Clerk to keep the timeline on track. Prepare the P&L and balance sheet with rigorous variance analysis against budget, and support budget vs. actual discussions with department heads. Perform bank and payment-processor reconciliations (Stripe, Braintree), researching and clearing exceptions. Manually code global payroll (Multiplier EOR) into QuickBooks and reconcile against source reports. Reconcile event COGS with the Events team, and maintain the fixed asset register and depreciation schedules. Review recognized revenue with Sales and ticket sales activity with Marketing. Update the monthly "hill to climb" tracking file. Prepare expense report submissions for CFO approval, and prepare recurring indirect tax filings (GST/VAT/BAS) for review and submission. Annual Compliance & Strategic Finance Coordinate the annual budget cycle — collecting inputs across departments, consolidating submissions, and preparing the package for CFO review. Prepare commission calculations for CFO sign-off. Support the annual external audit: assemble schedules and workpapers and respond to auditor requests. Prepare annual financial statements alongside our external accountants in the U.S. and U.K. Complete annual payroll reconciliations, 1099 processing, and year-end tax filings with our external advisors. Maintain finance policies and SOPs, updating documentation as processes change. Manage finance software contract renewals and prepare a comparison matrix of alternate vendors and platforms. What You’ll Bring 2+ years of accounting experience, including hands-on responsibility for a full monthly close cycle. (Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance required). Technical Mastery: Strong proficiency in QuickBooks Online is required , alongside advanced Excel skills and fluency with payment platforms like Stripe, Braintree, Emburse, and Wise. Global Complexity: Deep comfort operating in a multi-entity, multi-currency, global payroll environment (experience with Questco, Multiplier, or similar PEO/EOR platforms is highly preferred). AI & Process Automation: Active, hands-on use of AI tools (Claude, Claude Code, Gemini or similar) in your daily workflow (for drafting, analysis, or automation) and a proven track record of identifying manual processes and building better ones. Proactive Communication: The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences, building credibility fast across time zones and cultures. Agility & Ownership: A self-starting mindset that thrives in a fast-paced, remote-first environment. You bring urgency without burning out, treat async communication as a skill, and are flexible with your hours to meet critical financial deadlines. Success Metrics Close Efficiency: A fast, flawless, and highly organized month-end close that sets a standard for accuracy rather than just meeting a deadline. Process Improvement: Tangible upgrades to manual finance workflows through automation, AI integration, and proactive process design. Cash & Compliance: Impeccable management of cash flow, AR/AP, and seamless execution of annual audits and year-end tax obligations. Cross-Functional Trust: High credibility with leadership and department heads, successfully managing budget vs. actuals reviews and communicating financial health with clarity and confidence. How We Work Skift's culture is diverse, cohesive, and full of people who love what they do and bring the best of themselves to work. We are remote but very connected and caring about each other. How To Apply If this role sounds like a fit, we’d love to hear from you. PLEASE SEND US A COVER LETTER ALONG WITH YOUR RESUME sharing why you’re interested and how your experience aligns with Skift's mission Skift is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of travelers around the world. We welcome applicants from all life experiences and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Here’s what you can expect next If selected to interview, a Skift team member will reach out to schedule next steps.