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.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Activities and Working Conditions: The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This position is typically performed in an interior, environmentally controlled office setting. The duties of the job require extended periods of time being stationary and manipulating a computer (keyboard, monitor, mouse), and other standard office equipment including, but not limited to printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals.

HIRING RANGE $66,000-$70,000

Work Schedule and Location:

Hybrid Schedule – Tuesday and Thursday in-person at the corporate office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60606) and M/W/F are remote. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule and team member is expected to be able to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement.

Time Off:

• 15 PTO days
• 8 Sick Days
• 8 Paid Holidays + 3 Floating Holidays
• Last Week of Year Off (12/24 – 1/1)
• 1 Employee Appreciation Day per year
• 4 Professional Development Days for continuous learning and growth
• 1 Make-A-Wish Volunteer Day per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefit package:  Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical, Vision, Dental, and Wellness
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Options
• Medical Leave Bank
• Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D Insurance
• Additional Insurance Plans:  Accident and Pet Insurance through SPOT Pet
• Additional Benefits:  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Commuter Benefits
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with 25% match on 1st 6% of contributions
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Milestone Benefit Program
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets

HOW TO APPLY

We know interviewing can be challenging, so our goal is to make it as positive of an experience as we can, which includes keeping you informed across the process.

Here’s what you can expect if invited to participate in the interview process:

1)     30-minute Human Resources video screen (typically less than 30-minutes to complete)

2)     60-minute virtual Hiring Manager interview

3)     45-minute onsite/in-person panel interview with team members

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Make-A-Wish Illinois is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. 

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