Accounts Payable Specialist

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY or Remote

WORK SCHEDULE: 40 hours per week

EMPLOYMENT/JOB TYPE: Regular Full-time

DEPARTMENT: Finance

SUPERVISING MANAGER

• Grants Accountant

DIRECT REPORTS:

• n/a

TEAM:

• US Finance Team
• US Administrative Team
• Peru Administrative Team

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About Rainforest Foundation US

For over 30 years, Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) has worked to address climate change and safeguard biodiversity by promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and supporting their efforts to protect and defend their rainforests. Science shows that forests managed by indigenous peoples are healthier, suffer less deforestation, capture more carbon, and contain more biodiversity than forests managed by private or public entities--including nationally protected areas. What’s more, scientists tell us that protecting forests is as important as reducing greenhouse emissions if we hope to stem the tide of ecological collapse.

RFUS works in partnership with indigenous communities and their representative organizations to protect tropical rainforests by supporting their efforts to secure rights to their lands, strengthen monitoring and land security, influence laws and policies that protect their resources, and build strong and sustainable community leadership. By investing directly in indigenous communities, RFUS connects the people rooted in the land with the tools, training, and resources to be effective advocates and protectors of the forests they call home. RFUS currently operates four country programs in Brazil, Guyana, Panama, and Peru, and hosts a number of regional partnerships in Central America, the Amazon Basin, and across the tropical belt.

About the Position

The Accounts Payable Specialist is a newly created role for our growing organization and is responsible for the efficient and accurate processing of all of the organization’s domestic and international payments across various platforms, including Paypal, Bill, Expensify, StoneX, and Citibank Business Online.  The A/P Specialist will work closely with the Grant Accountant to review payments for accurate coding and recording in Quickbooks Online and manage clear and organized filing in our cloud-shared filing system. The role will also work closely across departments to ensure that travel reports, credit card reports and reimbursement requests are accurate, complete and processed, and reviewed timely.  This position will be important in shaping policy and procedure in the finance department and will collaborate on future department initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Receive, review, process, allocate and categorize invoices due for payment in an efficient and timely manner

• Record expenses accurately to GL accounts, departments, and projects by analyzing invoice and expense reports

• Onboard new vendors, maintain vendor master file, and monitor contractual arrangements, where applicable.

• Respond to department and vendor inquiries and requests in a timely manner, be proactive in anticipating and resolving potential problems

• Perform weekly vendor disbursements via ACH payments, wires, internet payment providers, and checks

• Prepare and review expense reports, travel reports, and advance requests

• Monthly reconciliation and analysis of credit card activity with follow-up on delinquent accounts

• File, maintain, and distribute documents thoroughly and accurately in accordance with organizational policies and generally accepted accounting principles

• Provide support for month-end closings and year-end audit preparation

• Ensure Form 1099 reporting requirements are met and adhered to, including accurate recording of taxpayer ID, vendor name, and address.

• Perform other duties, including but not limited to processing transactions, preparing journal entries, reconciling GL accounts and sub-ledgers, and engaging in other accounting responsibilities as required

• Provide trainings on systems and processes for new employees and as needed

• Assist in drafting internal policies and procedures and actively contribute to process improvements and new systems implementation

Requirements

• Deep commitment to core values ​​and ability to model those values ​​in relationships with RFUS colleagues and partners.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in accounts payable and accounting, with preference for experience in the international NGO sector
• Experience working with multiple restricted funding sources
• Experience in managing multiple payment platforms and sending international wire transfers
• Able to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural team environment
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and multitask efficiently under pressure and with little supervision
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent skills in MS Word and Excel
• Experience with Quickbooks Online, online ACH payments, online credit card platforms and international wires

Language

• Full professional proficiency in English is required
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish is strongly desired

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: Compensation for this position is commensurate with experience and ranges between $55,000 - $65,000 USD annually.
• Benefits: Full-time employees (40+ hours a week) are entitled to full health, vision, and dental insurance, 20 days of vacation leave, 10 days of wellness leave, and 2 personal annually. RFUS offices are also closed from Christmas to New Year’s Day. Beyond this, employees are entitled to 5 days for bereavement leave per event, up to 12 weeks of parental leave, and accommodations for additional time off under extraordinary circumstances.

Workplace Culture & Conditions

Rainforest Foundation US prides itself on providing a flexible, equitable, family-friendly, and inclusive work environment that values work-life balance. Our offices are pet friendly and located in a historic downtown Brooklyn neighborhood that is easily accessible by public transit and boasts many restaurants and services.

Commitment to Equality & Equity

​​Rainforest Foundation US does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Black, indigenous, and people of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

• RFUS aims to fill the position immediately.
• Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early and advised to carefully study the job description to ensure they meet the requirements and skills we are looking for.
• Applications will not be considered without the submission of a resume and cover letter.
• Please note that the position will be listed as open until filled. Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be contacted.
• The candidate must possess the legal requirements to work in the United States; Rainforest Foundation US will not sponsor visas for international candidates.