Accountant (TEMPORARY)

Temporary Accountant

Position Type: Temporary / Project-Based, with potential for Temp-to-Permanent
Department: Finance
Reports To: Controller/CFO
Location: New York, NY/In Person
Organization Type: Nonprofit

Position Summary

The Temporary Accountant will provide immediate hands-on accounting support to the Finance Department during a period of transition and increased workload. This position will help maintain timely and accurate day-to-day accounting operations, support the monthly close, and ensure that financial records and reconciliations are current, accurate, and properly documented.

The ideal candidate will have strong technical accounting knowledge, excellent attention to detail, and significant hands-on experience with NetSuite. Nonprofit accounting experience is preferred but not required.

This is a highly hands-on position requiring someone who can quickly assess accounting issues, work independently, identify discrepancies, and bring transactions, reconciliations, and other accounting activities up to date.

Key Responsibilities

General Accounting & Month-End Close

• Perform day-to-day accounting activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expenses, and other general ledger functions.
• Prepare and post accurate journal entries with appropriate supporting documentation.
• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes.
• Review general ledger activity for accuracy, completeness, and proper account coding.
• Research and resolve discrepancies and unusual transactions.
• Assist with adjusting and correcting entries as needed.
• Maintain organized and complete accounting support and documentation.
• Help ensure that accounting records are current and audit-ready.

Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable

• Process and review accounts payable transactions, including invoice coding, approvals, and payment support.
• Assist with accounts receivable recording, cash receipts, deposits, and outstanding receivables.
• Reconcile AP and AR subledgers to the general ledger.
• Investigate and resolve outstanding or aged items.
• Support accurate and timely processing of vendor and customer transactions.

Bank & Balance Sheet Reconciliations

• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts, including cash, credit cards, prepaid expenses, accrued liabilities, payroll-related accounts, and other assigned accounts.
• Investigate reconciling items and ensure timely resolution.
• Maintain reconciliation schedules and supporting documentation.

NetSuite

• Perform accounting transactions and reporting within NetSuite.
• Utilize NetSuite for entering and recording invoices, general ledger activity, journal entries, AP/AR, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Review transactions and troubleshoot coding or posting issues.
• Assist with improving the accuracy, completeness, and organization of NetSuite accounting records.
• Follow established accounting policies and internal controls when processing transactions.

Payroll & Other Accounting Support

• Assist with payroll-related accounting, including payroll journal entries and reconciliation of payroll liabilities and benefits.
• Assist with 401(k), benefits, and other payroll-related reconciliations as needed.
• Support accounting for credit cards, employee reimbursements, and other operating expenses.
• Provide backup support for other finance functions as needed.

Audit Support

• Assist with preparation for the organization's annual financial statement audit.
• Prepare account reconciliations and schedules requested by the auditors.
• Locate and organize supporting documentation.
• Research accounting questions and provide documentation to the Controller.
• Help ensure that the general ledger and supporting schedules are current and audit-ready.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge. 3-5 years experience.
• Hands-on experience with general ledger accounting and month-end close.
• Demonstrated experience preparing journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Strong hands-on experience with NetSuite, with the ability to quickly become productive in NetSuite.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Ability to identify accounting issues, research discrepancies, and resolve problems independently.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a hands-on, technically strong accountant who can step into an active finance department and immediately contribute.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Technically strong in accounting.
• Highly proficient in NetSuite.
• Comfortable performing hands-on accounting work.
• Able to work independently and prioritize effectively.
• A strong problem-solver who can identify and resolve accounting discrepancies.
• Detail-oriented while maintaining awareness of deadlines.
• Comfortable working in a nonprofit environment.
• Able to communicate accounting issues clearly to the Controller.
• Willing to roll up their sleeves and perform the work rather than simply supervise others.

Assignment

The initial assignment will focus on stabilizing day-to-day accounting operations, supporting the monthly close, bringing reconciliations and accounting records current, and providing additional accounting capacity to the Finance Department during a period of transition.

The position may be extended or converted to a permanent position based on organizational needs and performance.

Estimated Start: Immediate

Compensation: Hourly rate $40-$45 an hour commensurate with experience and qualifications.