Senior Nonprofit Accountant (part-time)

OVERVIEW

Are you an experienced accountant or CPA who’s passionate about fighting racism, poverty, and climate change? Do you love partnering with mission-driven nonprofits to build strong, equitable financial systems? Are you excited by the idea of providing high-level financial leadership on a flexible schedule from anywhere in the United States? If yes, read on!

This is an exciting opportunity to partner with The CANOE Collective (CANOE), a creative start-up organization that’s filling a critical need in the nonprofit sector. We’re looking for a seasoned Senior Accountant to support our nonprofit partners with strategic financial oversight, high-quality accounting, and system improvements. Our ideal candidate is someone who thrives in both the weeds and the big-picture—someone who can close the books accurately while also helping an organization think big about budgets, cash flow, compliance, and long-term sustainability.

You’ll be a contractor to start, working anywhere from 5 to 15 hours per week at a rate of $66 to $82/hour. The number of hours may increase depending on the strength of our collaboration and the growth of our partnerships with nonprofits. Bonus points if you are interested in working for us full-time one day! This is a virtual position, and you can work from home from anywhere in the United States.

ABOUT CANOE

CANOE is a women-led collective of operations professionals who fiercely believe that nonprofits must be strong from the inside out in order to make a significant impact on the world. We partner with nonprofits on building the equitable and inclusive processes, infrastructure, and systems necessary to grow and thrive.

We use the following values to guide our work:

• Transformative strength: We approach organizational challenges with curiosity and compassion, supporting the development of transformative strategies that build strength from within. We champion strong foundations and internal infrastructure as core necessities for positive change in the world. We strive to build and continuously improve sustainable systems that both address current challenges and prepare for the needs of tomorrow.
• Justice Centered: We uphold the principles of equity, anti-oppression, and accountability in all our actions and decisions, promoting a just, fair, and ethical world for everyone. We stand with all people subject to abusive systems of power and privilege.
• Dedication: We are dedicated to the missions of the partners we serve and deliver high quality operations work that enables partners to focus on impact.
• People First: We place people at the center of everything we do. We prioritize the well-being and development of individuals and build inclusive, accessible, and empowering environments where everyone can thrive.
• Community: We foster a culture of mutual respect and strong connections where different identities are welcomed, and collaboration is encouraged to achieve common goals. We aim to advance the improvement of nonprofit operations by connecting operations-focused professionals through knowledge sharing and learning.
• Collaborative Leadership: Our leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, where every voice is valued and diverse perspectives contribute to our collective success. We empower individuals to take initiative, fostering a collaborative environment where leadership is a shared responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Accounting & Finance

You will support one or more nonprofit partners through tasks that may include:

• Maintaining accurate and timely financial records in QuickBooks Online, Xero, Intacct, Ramp.com and other financial systems.
• Overseeing and/or carrying out monthly close, including reconciliations, journal entries, and accruals
• Preparing monthly and quarterly financial reports, dashboards, and management-level summaries
• Developing and maintaining budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow models
• Conducting financial analyses to guide decision-making and long-term planning
• Reviewing and improving chart of accounts, internal controls, and accounting workflows
• Managing payroll review and recording (processing if applicable)
• Ensuring appropriate grant and contract tracking, reporting, and compliance
• Supporting annual audits, reviews, and financial statement preparation
• Preparing or supporting preparation of Form 990, 1099s, and other required filings
• Overseeing vendor payments, receivables, invoicing, and accounting processes
• Identifying areas for efficiency, streamlining, and automation across systems
• Providing supervisory support for a bookkeeper carrying out day-to-day financial tasks

Possible Fractional CFO Support

Depending on your experience and comfort level, you may also help nonprofits with the following:

• Advising nonprofit leadership on financial health, sustainability, and organizational risks
• Creating financial models for scenario planning, growth, or new programs
• Supporting leaders in communicating financial information to boards, funders, and stakeholders
• Guiding organizations toward policies, tools, and practices that are equitable, transparent, and mission-aligned
• Recommending financial technologies, integrations, and process improvements

Additional CANOE Responsibilities

• Collaborating with other CANOE team members on ensuring all clients are thrilled with our services through timely and effective communication, delivery on deadlines and stellar financial support;
• Brainstorming and helping to create tools, guidance, trainings, and other information to help nonprofits strengthen and make more just, equitable and inclusive their internal operations;.
• Staying current on nonprofit financial standards, regulations, best practices, emerging tech and other trends to make make informed recommendations to nonprofit partners:
• Supporting CANOE’s internal administrative and financial needs as requested

ABOUT YOU

• You have a demonstrated commitment to fighting racism, poverty, and/or climate change.
• You have at least 5 years of nonprofit accounting experience, including experience filing 990s and 1099s.
• You are a CPA, CMA, or experienced senior accountant/CFO-level consultant
• You’ve provided support for at least 1 small nonprofit (under $1M in revenue) with setting up and/or strengthening their financial operations.
• You are extremely comfortable using Quickbooks Online for nonprofit accounting, as well as accounts payable platforms like Ramp.com. Experience using Sage Intacct and/or Xero is a plus.
• You’re able to quickly learn and become proficient in new software and online applications.
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• You are extremely organized and attentive to detail.
• Your availability may vary, but we’d prefer that you can attend at least 4 meetings per week during regular business hours (9am-5pm ET). We also prefer that you can respond within 5 hours to emails and Slack messages during normal business hours.
• You’re interested in potentially working full-time for CANOE as a salaried team member.
• You live somewhere in the United States and have everything you need to work virtually.
• You’re deeply curious about nonprofit management and how strong internal systems can help nonprofits grow and strengthen their impact on the world.

Small nonprofits facing disproportionately high barriers to growth and success often are those run by BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, folks from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and members of other marginalized groups. Because we believe that members of such communities must be centered in our work, if you identify with one or more of these groups, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Please let us know what accommodations you might need when applying or if invited for an interview.

IMPORTANT QUALITIES

CANOE aims to be an employee-owned, democratically managed company. In order to ensure optimal partnership and collaboration, we hope you have the following qualities:

• Initiative. You think proactively about tasks and try to fill in the gaps on a project before being asked. You ask questions as needed to learn what needs to be done, and you take action independently.
• Collaborative. You believe strongly in the power of sharing ideas, celebrating / building upon the ideas of others, and working in partnership towards a shared goal. You enjoy working on a team to jointly complete a project.
• Flexible. You are not overly set in your ways and are ready to change course as needed. You enjoy reflecting on what’s going well and not going well, and you continuously look for better ways of doing things.
• Dependable. You almost always do what you say you’ll do. You can easily juggle multiple projects at once without compromising quality. If you run into challenges and/or can’t get something done, you give people a heads up and take ownership of any changes that need to be made.
• Responsive. You rarely miss an email or message that needs a timely and thoughtful response. You provide great customer service and follow up to ensure people’s needs are being met.
• Empathetic. You have a huge heart and very easily feel and express sympathy.
• Imaginative. You think creatively, love brainstorming, and can easily imagine a better future. You actively seek different perspectives and incorporate new ideas into your work and life.
• Fun. You don’t take yourself too seriously and appreciate doing dumb, silly stuff on a regular basis. You bring joy to your work and the folks you work with.
• Humble. You rarely brag. You easily share the spotlight or move it to shine on other people, in particular folks with less privilege, confidence, and/or experience. You don’t mind doing boring tasks that may be below your “pay grade.”
• Straightforward. You don’t beat around the bush and, when appropriate, you say what’s on your mind. You speak clearly, simply and honestly.
• Positive. You rarely complain. When challenges arise, you focus on finding solutions, rather than griping about the problems.

COMPENSATION

You’ll be a contractor to start, working anywhere from 5 to 15 hours per week at a rate of $66 to $82/hour. The number of weekly hours will vary with the potential to increase based on the success of our collaboration and the growth of our nonprofit partnerships.