Senior Accountant, Finance Department

BDS is a multi-disciplinary defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our expertise lies in the intersection of these legal systems that disproportionately impact poor, Black, Latine, and immigrant communities.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers, and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. BDS is a public defense office where staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families, and communities in Brooklyn.

The majority of BDS’s funding comes through New York City and State government contracts, and in addition to handling BDS’s financial and management accounting, the Finance unit is responsible for preparing and submitting contract budgets and invoices, tracking revenue and expenses for the contracts, ensuring compliance with the funder’s fiscal policy, and collaborating with the funding agencies to answer budget-related questions and resolve issues.

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Controller, the Senior Accountant supports the Assistant Controller of Billing and Revenue in managing the day-to-day grant accounting operations of Brooklyn Defender Services. This role is responsible for preparing grant budgets and modifications, recording monthly financial activity, monitoring grant revenues and expenses, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, and providing accurate financial reporting to funding agencies and internal stakeholders. The Senior Accountant also assists with audits and special projects related to grants and financial operations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit accurate monthly and quarterly invoices to funding sources.
• Record monthly grant revenue and indirect cost allocations in Sage Intacct.
• Record cash receipts related to grant activity in Sage Intacct.
• Prepare annual grant budgets and budget modifications in accordance with funder guidelines.
• Record personnel reclassifications between funding sources, including maintaining detailed knowledge of organizational salary structures.
• Monitor grant revenues, expenses, recoupments, and cash receipts to ensure accuracy and timeliness in recordings.
• Review monthly expenses against approved budgets, identify variances, and communicate potential budget issues to the Assistant Controller of Billing and Revenue.
• Prepare monthly expense-to-budget analyses and financial projections for grant programs.
• Ensure compliance with grant agreements, contractual obligations, and applicable funding regulations.
• Maintain accurate and complete financial records and supporting documentations for each assigned funding source.
• Follow up on outstanding billing and grant payments as needed.
• Assist with annual independent audits and ongoing grantor audits including but not limited to preparing audit schedules, account analyses, and supporting documentation.
• Perform special projects and other related duties as assigned.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing government and/or nonprofit grants.
• Experience working with funding agencies such as MOCJ, DYCD, DSS, OCA-JCLS, DCJS, and HRA.
• Strong knowledge of grant compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Experience with Sage Intacct or similar accounting systems preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Position Information

This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’s offices, located in Downtown Brooklyn.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position, there is a salary range from $85,000 -$95,000 based on the applicant's experience and education. BDS also offers comprehensive benefits including health and dental insurance, short-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, pre-tax commuter benefit, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and above-average vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

 Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. We recommend you submit your application by July 12, 2026.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace@bds.org

BDS also offers comprehensive benefits including health and dental insurance, short-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, pre-tax commuter benefit, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and above-average vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.