Senior Staff Accountant

As a Senior Staff Accountant at Newsela, your main responsibilities will include managing the month-end close process, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and enhancing internal controls. You'll also be instrumental in driving improvements in our accounting operations and processes, with a particular focus on revenue analysis and software capitalization.

To apply for the Senior Staff Accountant role at Newsela, you'll need a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business with a focus on Accounting. Additionally, having over 3 years of experience in public accounting or corporate accounting, ideally with Big 4 experience, is essential. A strong understanding of US GAAP and internal controls, along with proficiency in NetSuite, will also be beneficial.

Important skills for a Senior Staff Accountant at Newsela include strong technical accounting skills, excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in managing internal controls. Being detail-oriented and organized will also help you thrive while driving process improvements within the organization.

While a CPA designation is preferred for the Senior Staff Accountant role at Newsela, we also welcome candidates who are actively working towards their CPA. Your commitment to professional development and your accounting capabilities will be top considerations in your application.

As a Senior Staff Accountant at Newsela, you will have an immediate impact by refining our month-end close processes and ensuring operational efficiency in our accounting functions. Your efforts will directly contribute to the scalability of our business and our ability to provide quality educational content to K-12 students and educators nationwide.

When answering this question, detail specific experiences you’ve had managing month-end closes. Highlight the key responsibilities you handled, any challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Emphasize any process improvements you initiated that led to a more efficient close.

Focus on your understanding of US GAAP and any practical applications you’ve had in your previous roles. Keep examples at the forefront, explaining how you adhered to GAAP principles in financial reporting and decision-making.

Be prepared to discuss tools you've worked with, particularly NetSuite if applicable, and any other accounting software. Explain how these tools helped in previous roles and your adaptability to learn new ones.

Your answer should reflect a methodical approach to financial reporting. Discuss your attention to detail, how you ensure accuracy, and how you meet deadlines. Providing an example of a reporting project you managed would strengthen your response.

Share a specific instance where you identified inefficiencies in an accounting process. Discuss what steps you took to reform it and the outcomes of your efforts, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration where applicable.

Offer strategies you employ for time management, prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. Discuss a scenario where you successfully managed multiple priorities and how your organizational skills contributed to your success.

Discuss specific internal controls you've established or improved in previous positions, explaining the rationale behind each and the benefits to the organization, such as risk mitigation and operational efficiency.

Your response should reflect your commitment to continuous learning. Share how you keep informed about changes in accounting regulations, whether through professional development courses, webinars, or industry publications.

Discuss your knowledge of revenue recognition principles and provide specific examples from past roles where you applied these principles, particularly in complex scenarios that required careful consideration.

Share your passion for accounting by highlighting what aspects of the role you find most rewarding. Whether it’s problem-solving, analyzing data, or contributing to strategic decisions, allow your enthusiasm to resonate in your answer.