[Remote] Accounting Manager

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Clean Energy Counsel is a mission-driven law firm focused on renewable energy. The Accounting Manager leads day-to-day accounting operations, including financial close and reporting, accounting controls and systems, and supervision of accounting staff.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the day-to-day execution of the Firm’s accounting operations
• Maintain the general ledger and ensure transactions are accurately, consistently, and timely recorded
• Prepare and post routine and approved adjusting journal entries
• Manage the monthly accounting close process and ensure required activities are completed according to established deadlines
• Prepare and/or review balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules
• Review general ledger activity and account balances for accuracy, completeness, and unusual or inconsistent activity
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and reconciling items
• Maintain appropriate documentation supporting accounting transactions, account balances, and reconciliations
• Escalate significant or unusual accounting matters requiring additional judgment to the Director of Finance
• Maintain accurate accounts receivable accounting records following the posting of client invoices
• Manage the accounting and application of client payments, credits, write-offs, adjustments, and other accounts receivable activity
• Research and resolve unapplied cash and accounting discrepancies in coordination with Billing personnel
• Maintain appropriate accounting documentation supporting accounts receivable activity
• Provide accurate accounts receivable balances and supporting financial information to the Director of Finance and Billing function as needed
• Manage day-to-day accounts payable operations and established payment processes
• Ensure invoices and employee reimbursements are properly documented, approved, coded, and processed
• Review vendor account activity and resolve discrepancies
• Maintain appropriate vendor records and supporting documentation
• Monitor payment deadlines and established cash-disbursement controls
• Review accounts payable work performed by accounting staff for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established procedures
• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and controls over cash disbursements
• Maintain accurate accounting records for the Firm’s operating cash accounts
• Prepare or review bank and credit card reconciliations
• Research and resolve outstanding or unidentified transactions
• Maintain accurate records of cash receipts, deposits, transfers, and other banking activity
• Monitor outstanding checks and other reconciling items and ensure timely resolution
• Prepare cash balance and activity information for review and cash-flow analysis by the Director of Finance
• Assist with operational banking administration as assigned
• Manage or oversee recurring trust/IOLTA account reconciliations
• Maintain complete and accurate trust accounting records and supporting documentation
• Ensure trust transactions are properly recorded and processed in accordance with established Firm procedures
• Monitor trust balances and identify unusual, aged, or unreconciled items for review
• Maintain appropriate accounting controls over client and third-party funds
• Support compliance with applicable trust accounting requirements
• Promptly escalate trust accounting discrepancies or potential compliance concerns to the Director of Finance
• Manage accounting activities associated with payroll processing
• Review and reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts
• Ensure payroll activity is accurately recorded in the Firm’s accounting system
• Research payroll accounting discrepancies and coordinate corrections as necessary
• Maintain payroll-related accounting schedules and supporting documentation
• Provide payroll expense information and supporting data to the Director of Finance for financial reporting, budgeting, and analysis
• Own and coordinate the monthly accounting close process and close calendar
• Establish close deadlines and ensure required accounting activities are completed timely
• Prepare and review account reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and supporting schedules required for close
• Review account balances and financial activity for accuracy, completeness, and unusual trends
• Resolve accounting discrepancies before completion of the close
• Prepare preliminary monthly financial statements and supporting schedules for review by the Director of Finance
• Coordinate accounting activities associated with the year-end close
• Prepare year-end reconciliations and supporting schedules
• Record approved year-end and tax adjustments and maintain appropriate supporting documentation
• Identify opportunities to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and efficiency of the close process
• Prepare recurring financial statements, management reports, schedules, and supporting financial information for review by the Director of Finance
• Ensure financial reports reconcile to the general ledger and underlying accounting records
• Maintain recurring reporting schedules and supporting documentation
• Prepare budget-to-actual reports and supporting account-level detail
• Provide historical financial information and accounting data used by the Director of Finance in budgeting and forecasting
• Research financial reporting discrepancies and ensure source data is complete and accurate
• Prepare accounting schedules, reconciliations, and supporting workpapers required for tax preparation and external audits
• Compile financial information requested by the Director of Finance, CPA, tax advisors, or auditors
• Prepare year-end tax workpapers and supporting accounting schedules
• Maintain documentation supporting tax payments and filings as directed
• Research accounting questions or discrepancies identified during tax preparation or audit activities
• Record approved audit and tax adjustments
• Execute and monitor accounting controls, policies, and procedures established in coordination with the Director of Finance
• Ensure accounting staff consistently follow established processes, approval requirements, and segregation-of-duties controls
• Document recurring accounting procedures and maintain current process documentation
• Identify control weaknesses, accounting risks, inefficiencies, or process gaps and recommend improvements to the Director of Finance
• Implement approved accounting process and control improvements
• Periodically review accounting workflows to ensure controls remain appropriate as the Firm grows
• Serve as the operational lead for the Firm’s accounting systems
• Maintain accounting system data and oversee routine accounting-system administration
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting workflows, accuracy, efficiency, automation, and documentation
• Participate in implementation, testing, and training associated with new or modified financial systems
• Coordinate with the Billing function where billing-system activity interfaces with accounting records
• Assist the Director of Finance with finance-related technology and process improvement initiatives
• Provide day-to-day supervision and direction to designated accounting personnel, including accounts payable, accounts receivable/cash receipts, payroll accounting, and other accounting staff as assigned
• Establish work priorities, responsibilities, and recurring accounting deadlines
• Review staff work for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures
• Train, mentor, and develop accounting staff
• Establish and maintain appropriate cross-training and backup coverage for critical accounting functions
• Maintain clear documentation of departmental processes and responsibilities
• Identify staffing, training, workflow, and resource needs and communicate recommendations to the Director of Finance
• Foster accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and professional development within the accounting team

Skills

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably including supervisory or team-lead responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, month-end and year-end close, accounts payable, accounts receivable accounting, cash management, and financial statement preparation
• Working knowledge of GAAP and internal accounting controls
• Experience with accounting and legal billing software such as QuickBooks, Clio, Elite, Aderant, or similar systems
• Strong Excel skills and ability to work effectively with complex financial data
• Demonstrated ability to manage recurring deadlines and multiple priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to effectively supervise, train, and develop accounting staff
• Strong operational and technical accounting knowledge
• Financial accuracy and attention to detail
• Accountability and ownership
• Organization and deadline management
• Analytical and problem-solving ability
• Effective staff supervision and development
• Process improvement mindset
• Sound judgment and appropriate escalation
• Strong communication and collaboration
• High integrity and commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• Law firm or professional services accounting experience
• Experience with law firm billing and trust accounting
• Experience with trust/IOLTA accounting

Benefits

• Annual merit bonuses
• Fully remote work environment with annual in-person retreat
• 401(k), including firm profit-sharing matching
• Dental/Health/Vision/Rx insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays

Company Overview