Jr. Staff Accountant

Who we are:

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting-edge, no-holds-barred national organization dedicated to building local power in communities of color. Centered on a movement lawyering approach, defined as community-centered racial justice lawyering, Advancement Project supports power building in grassroots organizations working to eliminate oppressive structures in our laws and institutions and shift narratives towards transformative change. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project impacts real change from the ground up. Building on more than 20 years, we continue to evolve our strategic thinking and creativity to imagine a more just world in which people of color can thrive, be safe, and free.  – and we are excited to bring on new talent to forward our vision.

The Advancement Project’s track record of success includes:

• Pioneering the school-to-prison pipeline movement, winning significant victories in several school districts across the country to reform disciplinary policies and practices and remove police from schools entirely, including building and nurturing a grassroots movement of parents and youth. This work led to federal guidance on racial discrimination in school discipline.
• Launching the National Police Free Schools Campaign with the Alliance for Education Justice, supporting local youth-led campaigns to end policing in their schools and calling for national demands for change for safety in public schools.
• Serving as legal counsel in the 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenged North Carolina’s voter suppression law, and was the founding member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that won the ballot initiative to strike down the state’s ban on voting for those with felony convictions. Supported legislative efforts to pass the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the first voting rights anti-discrimination law in the South.
• Supporting Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, secured the city’s agreement to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.
• Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were being heard in the reconstruction process.
• Partnering with Ben & Jerry's to launch a new flavor of ice cream, Justice Remix’d, the first time the company put an organization’s name on its containers.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a detailed oriented jr. staff accountant to join the accounting team. The ideal candidate will execute the overall accounts payable process including but not limited to credit card reconciliation and payroll processing.

Advancement Project is a unionized organization. This position reports to the Senior Staff Accountant and will be part of our bargaining unit with compensation determined by the bargaining unit’s compensation structure.

This position is hybrid and requires the ideal candidate to work 3 days in the office and 2 days work from home (WFH)

What you’ll do:

• Manage accounts payable:

  • Gather all the appropriate documentation and approvals from departments for processing invoices and expense reimbursements to ensure that all bills and payments are accounted for and properly posted.
  • Verify and investigate discrepancies, if any, by reconciling vendor accounts and monthly vendor statements.
  • Verify compliance with contractual arrangements when necessary and update internal worksheets.
  • Generate timely and accurate weekly unpaid batch reports.
  • Apply compliance issues around accounts payable processes (W-9, sales tax) and prepare preliminary 1099 at year-end.

• Manage organization credit card process:

  • Gather details on credit card expenditures from employees and ensure the information is coded properly in the accounting system.
  • Gather receipts and details for rental car expenses and reconcile accordingly.
  • On General Ledger, process the following transactions:
  • Post bank transfers, fees, and interest income.
  • Post donations from online platforms.
  • Post benefits entry (HRA, FSA, dependent care, and metro/transit)
  • Reconcile selected bank statements.
  • Reconcile selected general ledger accounts.

• Generate staff program allocation report monthly.

• Collaborate and support Finance, Information Technology & Operations teams in effectively meeting the accounting-related needs of the organization as a whole and assist with the implementation of department initiatives and operations.

  • Assist Finance team members with tracking and analyzing expenditures and ad-hoc projects,
  • Maintain working knowledge of internal policies and procedures.
  • Contribute to the overall success of the Finance, Information Technology, and Operations teams.
  • Other related duties, as assigned.

What you need to be considered:

• 3 years experience in a similar position, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Working knowledge of QuickBooks or other accounting information systems
• Intermediate to advanced use of Excel (pivots, formulas).
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to periodically work on weekends and evenings, as needed.
• Confidentiality and integrity.

This position pays between $70,400 and $84,500 depending on experience.