Team Lead, Accounting

The Team Lead, Accounting role at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center primarily involves overseeing the work of staff accountants, preparing monthly balance sheet and income statement analyses, and ensuring timely completion of the financial closing process. This position also includes assisting in the preparation and review of financial statements, coordinating with various departments, and providing cross-coverage assistance within the General Accounting department.

To be considered for the Team Lead, Accounting position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of accounting experience, with public accounting experience being a plus. It’s also advantageous to have supervisory experience and knowledge of not-for-profit accounting and tax law as it applies to such organizations.

The Team Lead, Accounting at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center enjoys a balanced work schedule of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday. Moreover, this position operates in a hybrid model, allowing for a majority of remote work with occasional on-site presence in New York.

In the role of Team Lead, Accounting at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, you will directly contribute to our mission by ensuring financial accountability and accuracy that supports operational functions. This financial integrity is essential for sustaining our specialized care teams and research initiatives aimed at ending cancer for life.

Success in the Team Lead, Accounting position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center hinges on strong accounting knowledge, excellent communication skills, and the ability to build robust relationships with team members and other departments. Leadership experience, project management skills, and proficiency in problem-solving are also key components that contribute to effective team management and departmental success.

In answering this question, focus on specific experiences where you prepared and analyzed financial statements, discussing the processes you followed and the outcomes achieved. Detail any software or tools you used, and ensure to mention how your work contributed to financial decision-making and reporting accuracy at your previous positions.

When responding, illustrate your approach to task prioritization by detailing how you assess team workload, set deadlines, and delegate responsibilities. Discuss any tools or methods you use to keep track of progress and ensure that tasks are completed on time, while also highlighting how you maintain team morale during busy periods.

Explain your understanding of accounting standards such as GAAP and any experience you have with compliance initiatives. Discuss how you stay updated on regulatory changes and the importance your role plays in ensuring adherence to these standards within your team and organization.

Describe a specific situation where you identified a discrepancy, the steps you took to investigate the issue, and how you resolved it. Highlight your analytical skills and attention to detail, focusing on the communication and collaboration with team members involved in the reconciliation process.

Use this opportunity to showcase your leadership style by describing how you provide guidance, feedback, and training to junior accountants. Discuss the importance of fostering an environment of learning and how you create opportunities for your team to enhance their skills and grow in their roles.

Mention the accounting software you have experience with—such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle—and provide specific examples of how you have used these tools for tasks like financial reporting, reconciliations, or budget preparation. Highlight how your proficiency has improved efficiency or accuracy in your previous roles.

In your response, detail your involvement in the budgeting process, including how you gather data, analyze trends, and create forecasts. Discuss any specific methodologies or tools you used and share the outcomes of your budgeting efforts in terms of supporting financial planning and decision-making.

Convey your strategies for managing time effectively, such as creating a detailed closing timeline, assigning responsibilities to your team, and implementing processes to streamline the closing activities. Share examples where you successfully met deadlines while maintaining accuracy.

Discuss your approach to cross-departmental collaboration, including how you initiate communication, schedule regular check-ins, or utilize collaborative tools. Share the positive outcomes that have arisen from maintaining these relationships, especially in relation to financial reporting and operational efficiency.

Provide an overview of key aspects of not-for-profit accounting, such as fund accounting and donor restrictions. Emphasize your understanding of how these principles apply to MSK and how they ensure transparency and accountability to stakeholders, enhancing the mission of the organization.