Accounting Specialist
Strada Education Network
Accounting & Finance
Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posted on Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Overview
The Accounting Specialist is responsible for monitoring clients' payments, tracking financial transactions, and resolving billing discrepancies and reconciliations. The incumbent will release invoices and collect payments from outstanding debts. The Accounting Specialist will work in collaboration with other accounting department team members in support of carrying out the department’s goals and objectives.
Context
Strada Education Foundation is a national nonprofit social impact organization that supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between education and employment in the U.S., with a special focus on helping those who have faced the greatest challenges securing economic opportunity through postsecondary education or training (PSET). Our new strategic plan focuses on five strategic pillars: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordable PSET, work-based learning, and employer alignment. We work with partners in education and training, nonprofit organizations, industry, startups, and public policy. We leverage strategic philanthropy, investments, research, communications, advocacy, and collaborating organizations as tools to help advance equitable pathways to opportunity. Strada aspires to be a nonprofit partner of choice working with education and training providers and leaders, policymakers, and peer organizations. Strada offers a dynamic, collaborative, and inspiring professional environment that provides learning and professional development opportunities, both within the organization and with external partners.
Key Responsibilities
Four core responsibility areas, listed below with the approximate time required for execution.
Revenue transactions analysis and recording including sales orders, invoices, payments, credit memos, and related revenue recognition arrangements, plans and journal entries.
Review and preparation of backup and documentation to support revenue and accounts receivable transactions recording. Assists in the reconciliation of balance sheet accounts related to the revenue recognition cycle.
Prepare monthly revenue and related reports as needed for accounting, management, financial planning & analysis, and internal & external audit. Prepares accounts receivable aging, collections and related reporting; assists collaborating organizations management in resolving customer disputes and collection activities.
Assist with the revenue portion of Phase II redesign of NetSuite and related accounting and finance systems; continue working on the transition to NetSuite; continue to fill gaps in coverage during the extended transition period as we continue to coordinate and build out Shared Services across Strada.
The Person: Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field required; master’s degree and/or other advanced degree a plus, but not required.
- At least five (5) years of related accounting experience in revenue accounting, G/L, A/R and other accounting functions.
- Ability to work 2 days a week in office.
- Strong knowledge of revenue accounting principles.
- Excellent analytical, organization and communication skills.
- Expertise with Excel and Google Sheets required.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret general and financial documents, manuals, journals and reports.
- Ability to remain abreast of changes in regulations and practices in financial and industry areas.
- Ability to deal with several abstract and concrete variables and to pay careful attention to detail.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to effectively present information to management, customers, and peers.
- Ability to write general business correspondence and reports.
- Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people.
- Ability to work on multiple tasks, set goals, prioritize and meet deadlines.
- Overall understanding and knowledge of change management principles and execution along with experience positively influencing change.
- Demonstrated project and problem solving skills, with ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects.
- Ability to cultivate strong interpersonal coworker relationships and work effectively cross functionally.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal & communication skills, both oral and written.
- Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, and sexual orientation, and to treat each individual with respect and dignity.
- Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality in handling complex and confidential information.
- Ability to work well with ever-changing priorities and or situations.
- Ability to exercise independent and appropriate judgment.
- Ability to respond well under pressure.
- Conducts job functions in a manner, which consistently promotes a high level of customer service to both internal and external customers, models and supports the company’s core values and basic principles. This includes but is not limited to maintaining constructive and professional relationships with peers, supervisory personnel and internal and external customers, facilitating change and serving as a role model, and proactively meeting customer’s needs in a timely fashion.
Mission and Values Alignment: Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through PSET, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers. Demonstrated alignment with Strada's guiding values, commitment to building a strong and healthy workplace culture, and working in a collaborative environment.
DEI Commitment: Commitment and professional experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within an organization, including incorporating stakeholder perspectives in the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic efforts.
Relationship Building and Collaborative Capabilities: Demonstrated ability to cultivate, grow, and manage positive, mutually beneficial relationships at all levels of an organization and with partners outside the organization. Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills—including identifying and working through challenges—underscored by strong judgment and emotional intelligence—a proven collaborator, able to work with colleagues at all levels in the organization.
Personal Attributes: Excels under pressure, in a fast-paced, high-profile work environment. Enjoys meeting needs/deadlines of internal and external stakeholders. Operationally-minded manager, who can identify and capture efficiency, quality, and effectiveness improvements. Relationship builder, motivator, and team player. Positive attitude and energetic. Sound judgment and impeccable character.
Travel Requirements
Position does not require business travel.
Typical Physical & Mental Demands
Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching; eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports. Also requires moderate to intense concentration due to complexity and/or need to meet deadlines, and flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.
Security is Everyone’s Responsibility
In order to protect Strada’s personnel, affiliates, customers, assets and mission, security is the responsibility of every employee. To maintain security, employees are required to read, understand, and follow company security policies including but not limited to the ISPP andEmployee Handbook. In addition, security training supporting those policies is required at least annually.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to Strada’s organizational vibrancy, employee experience, and mission. Strada is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace-certified by Diversity for Social Impact, a strategic professional and organization development company dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion to drive social impact worldwide. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities, members of the LBGTQIA+ and gender nonconforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We believe every member on the team enriches our workplace by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver critical insights and solutions.