2027] Staff Accountant

Description

ABOUT THE POSITION:

KIPP North Carolina seeks a detail-oriented and dependable Staff Accountant to support the organization’s day-to-day accounting operations. Reporting to the Accounting Manager, the Staff Accountant will play a key role in maintaining accurate accounting records and supporting efficient financial operations across KIPP North Carolina. The position will have significant responsibility for accounts payable processing, transaction entry, credit card accounting, account reconciliations and schedules, journal entries, and other recurring accounting activities. The Staff Accountant will work closely with members of the Finance Team to ensure transactions are processed accurately, completely, and timely across KIPP North Carolina entities. This role is designed for an accounting professional who is comfortable working with detailed financial information, managing recurring transactional responsibilities, and developing a strong understanding of organizational accounting processes and systems. Over time, the Staff Accountant will assume increasing ownership of recurring accounting processes as they become familiar with KIPP North Carolina’s chart of accounts, schools and departments, financial systems, internal controls, and monthly accounting calendar.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Accounting Operations & Accounts Payable

• Supports the accounts payable process across KIPP North Carolina entities, including receiving, organizing, entering, and maintaining vendor invoices and supporting documentation.
• Enters and processes invoices and other accounts payable transactions within the organization’s accounts payable and expense management system (currently Ramp).
• Enters applicable accounting transactions into the organization’s accounting information system (currently LINQ) accurately and consistently across KIPP North Carolina entities.
• Monitors Finance Team accounts and systems for invoices, statements, and other documentation requiring Finance action.
• Retrieves invoices, statements, and supporting documentation from vendor portals and other external systems and uploads documentation into the appropriate financial system.
• Maintains complete and organized supporting documentation for accounts payable transactions.
• Supports vendor record maintenance and assists with annual Form 1099 preparation and reporting.
• Researches and helps resolve routine accounts payable questions, discrepancies, and documentation needs.
• Supports timely and accurate processing of recurring vendor obligations and other accounts payable activities.

Credit Card & Expense Accounting

• Performs accounting and coding activities related to organizational purchasing and credit card transactions.
• Reviews transactions for appropriate account, department, school, entity, and other applicable financial coding.
• Reconciles credit card activity and supports resolution of missing, incomplete, or inaccurate transaction documentation.
• Works with Finance Team members and budget owners to resolve routine coding and documentation questions.
• Supports consistent application of KIPP North Carolina purchasing, expense management, documentation, and internal control procedures.

General Accounting

• Prepares and posts routine journal entries with appropriate supporting documentation and review.
• Assists with recurring accounting entries, adjustments, and other general ledger activities as assigned.
• Applies a working understanding of debits and credits and the relationship between balance sheet and income statement accounts when processing transactions.
• Researches transaction-level questions using the accounting information system, account history, financial reports, and supporting documentation.
• Assists with maintaining accurate financial records across KIPP North Carolina entities.
• Supports monthly, quarterly, and year-end accounting processes as assigned.

Account Reconciliations & Financial Schedules

• Assists in preparing a recurring balance sheet, income statement, and other accounting schedules.
• Prepares and maintains assigned schedules, including prepaid expense schedules and other recurring account analyses.
• Retrieves account history, invoices, transaction reports, and supporting documentation needed for reconciliations and accounting schedules.
• Assists Finance Team members with gathering and organizing information needed for monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting processes.
• Maintains organized workpapers and supporting schedules in accordance with Finance Team standards.
• Assists with researching and resolving discrepancies identified through account reconciliations and financial review processes.

Finance Team & Operational Support

• Completes recurring accounting responsibilities according to the Finance Team’s monthly accounting calendar and established deadlines.
• Develops a strong working knowledge of KIPP North Carolina’s chart of accounts, entities, schools, departments, accounting processes, and financial systems.
• Partners with Accounting and Finance Team members to identify opportunities to streamline and standardize recurring transaction-processing activities.
• Supports documentation and continuous improvement of Finance Team procedures and internal controls.
• Assists with gathering financial documentation, transaction detail, reports, and schedules for audits and other compliance activities as needed.
• Provides accounting support for Finance Team projects and recurring reporting requirements as assigned.
• Takes on additional accounting responsibilities as knowledge of KIPP North Carolina’s systems and processes develops.

Requirements

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• A deep commitment to the mission of KIPP North Carolina and a desire to support schools through strong financial operations.
• An Associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or a comparable combination of accounting education and relevant experience. A bachelor’s degree is welcomed but is not required.
• Prior accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable, or related financial operations experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of fundamental accounting principles, including debits and credits, journal entries, balance sheet accounts, and income statement accounts.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to process and maintain financial information accurately.
• Ability to manage recurring and high-volume transactional responsibilities while meeting established deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain complete, accurate, and accessible financial documentation.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, research transaction-level issues, and escalate matters requiring additional accounting judgment.
• Ability to learn and effectively use accounting and financial technology systems.
• Experience preparing and posting journal entries preferred.
• Experience with an accounting information system, particularly LINQ or a comparable governmental, school, or fund-accounting platform, preferred.
• Experience with an accounts payable and expense management system, particularly Ramp or a comparable platform, preferred.
• North Carolina charter school, public school, governmental, or nonprofit accounting experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and comfort working with spreadsheets, account histories, transaction reports, and financial schedules.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with Finance Team colleagues and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and sound judgment when handling financial information and organizational resources.
• Ability to work independently within established processes while seeking appropriate guidance when transactions require additional judgment.
• A commitment to continuous learning and willingness to take on increasing responsibility as knowledge of KIPP North Carolina’s accounting processes develops.

LOCATION: North Carolina (remote)