Director, Accounting & Business Operations
The NEED Project seeks a Director, Accounting & Business Operations to lead the organization’s financial reporting and accounting practices. This position will work in the Manassas, VA headquarters with NEED’s core staff who work to bring innovative energy programs to teachers and students nationwide.
The Organization
The NEED Project, a 501c3 organization, based in Manassas, Virginia, develops and delivers balanced, educational standards-based classroom (K-12) energy curriculum units and teacher training. NEED is small but mighty with a staff that produces impactful, meaningful STEM curriculum and programming for teachers and students with a dedicated team of 22 staff nationwide. NEED’s annual operating budget, inclusive of scholarships and awards, is $11 million.
NEED programs focus on the science of energy, energy sources, electricity, transportation, and energy efficiency and conservation. Serving over 65,000 classrooms annually, with over 600 teacher workshops, NEED seeks to provide timely, accurate energy information to teachers and energy professionals nationwide. NEED curriculum is developed and designed in a collaborative process with the expertise and support of energy professionals and educators. It is an energetic, growing organization that requires team members willing to support all aspects of its programs. For more information, please visit https://www.need.org/ .
Reporting to the CEO, the Director will have direct responsibility for accounting operations, payroll, compliance, some HR functions, and other daily accounting tasks. The Director will report on the organization's diverse funding sources, including grants, donations, and prepaid scholarships while ensuring precision, compliance, and transparency on the allocation of expenses to specific funders and programs.
Responsibilities include:
- Close the accounting records on a monthly basis:
- Reconcile bank and investment accounts;
- Record revenue (primarily grants and conditional contributions);
- Identify aged receivables & coordinate follow-ups on outstanding amounts;
- Update net assets with donor restrictions schedule; and
- Record entries to document other activity.
- Prepare accounting schedules and provide support to complete the annual audit and Form 990.
- Oversee payroll and benefits coordination, to include employees in multiple states.
- Manage the organization’s insurance policies including commercial, workers’ compensation, and specialized event policies.
- Oversee grant and contract management and reporting.
- Lead financial reporting for contributors and organizational leadership.
- Manage procurement process and vendor relationships, including analysis of costs for planning purposes.
- Maintain compliance with local, state, and federal regulations through tax, employment, procurement, legal, and DOL reporting (5500).
- Coordinate with the accounts payable manager regarding accounting tasks, cash disbursements, expenses, and allocations.
- Conduct an annual inventory count at the Roanoke, Virginia distribution center at fiscal/calendar year-end.
- Manage banking, internal controls, and investment accounts.
NEED currently uses QuickBooks for accounting functions and Paychex for payroll. The organization is exploring the opportunity to implement more robust systems as the organization’s financial needs expand in volume and complexity.
The Director is expected to have a strong technical acumen for nonprofit accounting and financial reporting for organizations with numerous revenue streams. The Director must demonstrate honesty and trustworthiness as well as a strong work ethic. Additional experience in P&L management and human resources operations is desired.
The successful candidate will possess and demonstrate:
Finance & Accounting Experience
- Extensive knowledge of nonprofit accounting including revenue recognition for grants, contributions, and contract revenue (accounting of conditional contributions, net assets with donor restrictions, and releases from restrictions).
- Demonstrated experience working for an organization that receives multiple grants from various organizations, including foundations, corporations, federal and state government grants, and contracts.
- Experience issuing accurate and timely invoices to organization sponsors.
- Extensive knowledge about functional expense allocation and program accounting.
- Expertise in financial reporting, especially grants, conditional contributions, and federal funding.
- Knowledge of inventory practices, valuation, and reporting for audit.
- Expert knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; experience with Uniform Guidance requirements a plus.
Professional Skills & Attributes
- Able to manage time well, set priorities, meet deadlines, and complete work accurately.
- Comfortable working independently, taking initiative, and following through on assigned responsibilities.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work with detailed financial and operational information.
- Able to communicate clearly with staff, leadership, vendors, funders, and other partners; able to provide direction to a supervisor, peers, and direct reports.
- Able to explain accounting information and financial reports in a clear and practical way.
- Willing to learn NEED’s programs, operations, and funding requirements to support accurate accounting, reporting, and planning.
- Willing to help with day-to-day office, HR, and business operations needs in a small organization.
- Able to work well as part of a team while remaining self-motivated and dependable.
- Professional, collegial, and approachable style, with a good sense of humor.
Credentials
- Expert knowledge of QuickBooks, Microsoft Office; and proficiency in Salesforce and Excel pivot and lookup tables a plus.
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business administration, or related field preferred.
Salary will be commensurate with experience within the range of $95K-$105K. NEED offers a benefits package that includes 403b with a 6% match after probationary period, Paid Time Off (PTO) hours accrued, and most federal holidays, additional holidays, and floating holidays.
The Director is expected to work 5 days per week in the office located in Manassas, VA. NEED provides a casual and comfortable office environment. The Director will join a team of talented, dedicated professionals and will demonstrate a collaborative, hands-on management style.
To apply, send a detailed resume and cover letter stating your interest in the position to [email protected].