Senior Accountant

WHO WE ARE

At Make-A-Wish Illinois®, we are more than a great place to work:  our work is life-changing.  Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.  Nearly 40 years ago, the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy’s with to be a police officer.  Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,00 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.  We typically serve over 700 children per year with the goal to double our impact across our communicates.  The diversity of our team of staff and volunteers, and our board, are of critical importance for us as it positions us to reach every child eligible for a wish with an equitable, high quality and impactful wish experience.

The Illinois chapter of Make-A-Wish is one of the largest chapters in the Make-A-Wish enterprise.  It has a reputation for being an innovator and often is a collaborator on national opportunities, co-creating solutions for all chapters to adopt.

THE ROLE

The Senior Accountant executes general accounting functions, including but not limited to timely, complete and accurate processing of bank deposits, accounts payables, accounts receivable, wish in-kind gift entry, payroll, and monthly ledger account analysis and reconciliation. This role supports financial reporting and analyses. The role additionally supports all financial compliance functions, including but not limited to, external and internal audits and corporate tax filings. This role collaborates closely with the Accounting Manager and Senior Director of Finance to support day-to-day accounting operations and contribute to the organization’s financial stability and transparency.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manages timely, complete, and accurate processing of all bank deposits, accounts payable, & accounts receivable.

• Journalizes business transactions and reconciles related ledger accounts to independent sources of information, including but not limited to, financial account statements, vendor account records, and payroll registers.

• Prepares wish in-kind gift import files, reconciles to independent sources of information, including but not limited to, donor invoices and receipts, and reconciles wish in-kind between the financial and CRM systems.

• Supports audit and tax compliance including preparation of required tax forms for vendors and other tax filings as assigned.

• Prepares financial reports and analyses as assigned to support financial management of the organization.

• Leads optimization of payment systems, processes, and workflows.

• Maintains internal controls to safeguard assets, ensures compliance with financial regulations, and prevents fraud & financial misstatements.

• Fosters accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement within oneself, with staff and volunteer teammates, and with external partners.

Requirements

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as an accountant who has performed ledger close, ideally within the nonprofit sector or a similar environment.

• Proficiency in advanced financial systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skill is required; experience with Oracle’s NetSuite, Salesforce, and/or donor management systems is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and financial reporting requirements.

Additional Attributes

• Ability to focus on the tasks and details relevant to the position and the organization, while also switching quickly between tasks

• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and take ownership of decisions.

• Ability to think on a broad, systems-level relative to the scope of the position.

• Ability to work independently and self-manage to achieve goals while being a strong team player.

• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately.

• Ability to cope with and embrace change, risk, and uncertainty.

• Ability to develop strong relationships within a collaborative setting that values diverse opinions; enthusiasm for helping drive change to become a more data-driven organization.

Other: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodat