Job Announcement: Staff Accountant

September 2024

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Job Title: Staff Accountant
Organization: International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
Location: Washington, D.C.
Start date: October 2024

 

Organization:

The International Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights (Race and Equality) is a human rights organization created in 2014 working in partnership with local activists in Latin America to build grassroots movements that promote and protect the rights of populations marginalized because of gender, ethnicity, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

 

Race and Equality has a dynamic capacity-building approach to promote human rights and combat discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Our work largely focuses on the rights of Afro-Latinos, LGBTI people, indigenous peoples, women, and other marginalized communities. Using a combination of litigation, community mobilization, human rights reporting, research, and advocacy methodology at the domestic and international level, we join our partners in developing and implementing strategies for change.

 

We work with our partners to combat racial discrimination and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) through a holistic, multi-faceted approach. Critical to this work is expanding the role of NGOs representing marginalized communities at the regional level. Hence our program includes building the capacity of our partners for advocating for the full incorporation of discrimination issues at the Organization of American States (OAS) and litigation within the Inter-American Human Rights System, in coordination with domestic litigation, policy advocacy, and community mobilization. Using the Universal System is crucial for the advancement of human rights, in particular the Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures Mandates, and the Universal Periodic Review. Race and Equality works extensively in the UN system.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Working in close with the Finance manager and the Senior Accountant, the Staff Accountant will prepare and analyze Race and Equality’s financial records.
  • Oversee daily accounting activities, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash disbursements and receipts, and proper coding of transactions to the general ledger.
  • Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and bank statements.
  • Review budgets and compare with actual results with a view to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate.
  • Maintain internal control and safeguards for receipt of revenue, costs, and program budgets and actual expenditures.
  • Ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions.
  • Process the monthly closing and account reconciliations in a timely manner.
  • Support Race and Equality in the development of financial reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the board, funders, and auditors.
  • Proactively identify trends, variances, and potential risks.
  • Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Coordinate and assist with annual audits, Prepared By Client (PBC) schedule, and ensure timely and accurate reporting.
  • Assist the Race and Equality finance manager in the annual budgeting and planning process.
  • Ensure compliance with restricted funds, including grant agreements and related reporting requirements.
  • Responsible for financial, project/program, and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period; collate financial reporting materials for US government and foundation grants.
  • Assist in the preparation of restricted funds and grant proposals and budgets.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting field.
  • 2-4 years of accounting experience, with non-profit accounting experience preferred.
  • Knowledge of GAAP and fund accounting principles.
  • Strong accounting software (QuickBooks) experience preferred.
  • Experience in MS Office, with intermediate to advanced knowledge of Excel.
  • Strong time management/organization skills; strong attention to detail; deadline oriented. Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Familiarity with federal and state regulations governing non-profits (e.g., Form 990, grants, and donor-restricted funds).
  • Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of Spanish is a plus.

 

Salary: Commensurate with experience and scale in non-governmental organizations.

Apply: Send cover letter and resume by email to jobs@raceandequality.org. No calls please.

 

Afro-descendants, women and LGBTI persons are encouraged to apply.

Race and Equality is an equal opportunity employer.

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