Department: HQ – Headquarters

Salary: TBD

Location: Washington, D.C.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Controller, the Assistant Controller participates as a senior member of the unit responsible for Carnegie’s financial reporting and operations. Major functions include: preparing financial statements on a quarterly basis; providing guidance and support to divisional business offices and HQ colleagues; performing research and general ledger maintenance; reconciling accounts; ensuring the integrity of the general ledger by helping in the preparation and review of complex accounting applications; and prepares complex journal entries such as reconciling custodian reports and recording endowment investment activities. Carnegie has complex accounting and financial reporting responsibilities, including a major endowment with significant alternative investments; substantial gifts in a variety of forms and purposes; partnering arrangements with other institutions; major federal and private grants; capital projects; decentralized operations; and certain revenue-producing activities.

Essential Functions:

• Prepares quarterly financial statements and assists with annual financial statement preparation including the treatment of complex transactions through footnotes and other reporting mechanisms, such as investments; property and equipment; partner contributions; and employee benefit plans.
• Directly manages the HQ staff and senior accountants; indirectly provides support for the divisional business offices
• Prepares and/or reviews accurate and timely journal entries related to revenue recognition, fixed assets; capitalization of construction-in-progress; investments; receivables; and health care charges.
• Serves as a resource for technical accounting issues; Assists Controller in assessing the impact and planning for impending accounting standard changes
• Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of Carnegie’s general ledger and how it functions. Manages account reconciliation process. Responds quickly and accurately to requests for information in the general ledger.
• Reviews and approves account payable transactions, including travel expense reports.
• Acts as primary liaison for various external reports including Form 990, various State information returns, Personal Property tax returns, and census.
• Serves as a primary liaison during financial and single audits, prepares supporting schedules, reviews submissions, and coordinates auditor requests using a ticketing system.
• Represents the office and the Controller as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Either Bachelor’s degree and/or Masters degree in Accounting
• CPA candidate required; license strongly preferred
• Minimum of eight years of work experience with increasing responsibility in the matter(s) described above, with account research and reconciliation experience being mandatory
• Experience working within a non-profit or research institution is preferred.
• Knowledge of accounting best practices
• Able to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
• Able to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and provide high-quality service to a range of internal and external clients
• Demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset
• Ability to understand and conduct detailed transactions/processes but also understand the contextual impact of such transactions.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience managing staff
• Strong ability in the original writing and in editing, including the presentation of complex scientific material in language understandable to laypersons.

Additional Skills Required:

• Demonstrated strong skills and experience with SaaS-based accounting software packages; Carnegie uses Netsuite, Pyango and eXtendTech
• Demonstrate at least intermediate Excel and Microsoft Office skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or MS in Accounting
• Experience with big 4 auditing firms
• Experience with Netsuite, Pynago, and eXtendTech
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and implement new systems and applications
• Experience using technology to improve productivity
• Ability to adapt and implement new systems and applications
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate effectively
• Ability to build collaborative relationships and effective work-groups
• Ability to deliver difficult messages with tact and diplomacy and encourage or compel compliance and good citizenship