Overview

The Staff Accountant role is responsible for tax-related and various general ledger tasks and responsibilities. The Staff Accountant’s responsibilities include assisting with federal, state and local tax returns, assisting in audits, month end reconciliations, and the timely recording and closing of the company’s monthly accounting books, which provides dual support between tax and general accounting. The successful candidate will also assist the accounting department with special accounting projects as requested. To be successful as a Staff Accountant, the role requires that the individual is up to date with the latest technologies which assist in accounting duties, preferably experience with NetSuite, and have excellent communication skills. Ultimately, a top-notch Staff Accountant should have strong analytical skills, pay attention to detail, and the ability to manage their time efficiently.

Context 

Strada Education Foundation is a national nonprofit social impact organization that supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between education and employment in the U.S., with a special focus on helping those who have faced the greatest challenges securing economic opportunity through postsecondary education or training (PSET). Our new strategic plan focuses on five strategic pillars: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordable PSET, work-based learning, and employer alignment. 

We work with partners in education and training, nonprofit organizations, industry, startups, and public policy. We leverage strategic philanthropy, investments, research, communications, advocacy, and collaborating organizations as tools to help advance equitable pathways to opportunity. Strada aspires to be a nonprofit partner of choice working with education and training providers and leaders, policymakers, and peer organizations. Strada offers a dynamic, collaborative, and inspiring professional environment that provides learning and professional development opportunities, both within the organization and with external partners. 

Key Responsibilities:

Ensure state and local tax compliance. (25%)

• Complete property and sales tax returns on a monthly, quarterly, and/or annual basis.
• Supervise and promptly address inquiries, aiming to minimize tax assessments and optimize professional fees.
• Supporting state and local audits as required.
• Researching tax laws.
• Offer support with payroll filings in additional locations.
• Collaborate with the legal department to ensure registrations and regulatory filings are finalized.
• Maintain records of all financial tax-related affairs.

Ensure federal tax compliance. (25%)

• Help in compiling federal and state income tax documents for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, ensuring compliance with tax regulations during the filing process.
• Support in the annual preparation of Form 990 by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Help in preparing federal tax returns for for-profit entities, collaborating with both internal and external resources.
• Supervise and promptly address inquiries, aiming to reduce tax assessments and optimize professional fees.
• Providing support for federal audits as required.

Provide general accounting assistance. (50%)

• Accountable for multiple general ledger responsibilities, including maintaining the fixed asset subledger, posting monthly depreciation and amortization, managing lease liabilities and reconciliations, and overseeing sales tax liability accounts.
• Complete month-end reconciliations as required.
• Help ensure month-end close is completed accurately and on time.
• Work closely with operational sales and revenue teams to assess revenue streams for sales tax applicability, which includes managing the sales tax process within NetSuite.
• Provide support in preparing tax provisions for financial statements.
• Support any requests during financial statement audits.

Additional job duties:

• Offer thorough analyses and explanations for all transactions.
• Create documentation for external auditors.
• Complete special projects or additional tasks as requested or assigned.
• Prepare tax payments.
• Forecast and monitor tax filings.
• Submit quarterly and annual tax filings.
• Compile essential documents for tax payments and filings.
• Provide financial information to the accounting department.
• Monitor industry trends and keep track of tax-related changes, particularly for nonprofit organizations.
• Produce routine tax expenditure reports for management.
• Utilize software tools for managing company accounting tasks.

Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Taxation, or related field required.
• One (1) - Two (2) years or more of related accounting work experience.
• Analytical abilities and research capabilities.
• Adept at operating in a high-speed and ever-changing environment.
• Capable in a hybrid tax and accounting position.
• Understand and implement statutory and regulatory guidelines and requirements.
• Robust technical expertise, communication prowess, organizational abilities, and writing proficiency.
• Deep understanding of tax accounting principles.
• Expertise with Excel and Google Sheets required.
• Expertise and experience in nonprofit taxation.
• Proficiency in comprehending, analyzing, and interpreting various types of documents including general and financial materials, manuals, journals, and reports.
• Keep abreast of regulatory changes and evolving practices in the financial and accounting industry sectors.
• Proficiency in handling multiple abstract and concrete variables while maintaining a keen focus on detail.
• Proficiency in identifying problems, gathering data, verifying facts, and drawing accurate conclusions.
• Effectively present information to management, customers, and peers."
• Compose standard business letters and reports.
• Handle multiple tasks, establish objectives, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Comprehensive grasp and expertise in change management principles, implementation, and the ability to positively impact change through experience.