Finance Manager

About Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

Our mission is to create transformative outdoor experiences that foster personal growth, build community, and inspire a lifelong connection to the natural world. We have been leading outdoor expeditions since 1926, and currently work with hundreds of students (or “trekkers,” as we call them) each year. We use the outdoors as our classroom to explore science, culture, history, art, and adventure in New Mexico and surrounding states, all with the goal of inspiring personal growth and a strong community. We steward an active alumni base, who represent multi-generational connections to CGE. We employ around 15 year-round staff and an additional 30 seasonal staff, with an annual budget of approximately $1.8 million.

Position Summary

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions seeks an experienced accountant to provide monthly close support, financial oversight, guidance, and expertise for our organization. This role will work collaboratively with our Office Manager to ensure accurate financial reporting, compliance, and sound fiscal management practices. The role will report to the Executive Director. Cost allocation, invoicing, tuition income, and grant reporting are all significant elements of our accounting. Preference will be given to individuals or vendors who have experience delivering accounting/bookkeeping services to small nonprofit organizations.

We invite individual contractors and firms to submit proposals for providing the services listed below. Our office is located in Albuquerque, NM. Remote work is acceptable. We anticipate needing 8-15 hours per month, with additional hours during our annual audit (January-February). Proposals received by February 1, 2026, will be given first priority. Please send your proposal by email to Jordan Stone, Executive Director, jordan@cottonwoodgulch.org. You may also send an email to this address to request more information about the organization prior to sending a proposal.

Cottonwood Gulch will consider the following factors when evaluating the proposals.

• Qualifications and experience of the staff to be assigned to the project
• Ability to meet the Scope of Work
• Ability to maintain staff continuity as much as possible
• Cost of services
• Services beyond the Scope of Work

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Oversight

• Review existing processes to identify opportunities to improve accounting system efficiencies and internal controls across the organization
• Work with current outsource accounts to gather necessary information about the organization
• Oversee and review QuickBooks Online setup, chart of accounts, and ongoing data entry
• Provide recommendations for financial planning
• Oversee accounts receivable and accounts payable processes. Coordinate with Office Manager to ensure accurate coding and proper documentation of transactions.
• Maintain and reconcile all general ledger accounts including banking, credit card, investment, and petty cash accounts
• Perform other month-end close processes as needed

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations
• Help set up restricted vs. unrestricted fund accounting and reporting; review new grants and contracts and provide financial coding guidance as needed
• Support grant reporting requirements and government contract accounting compliance, including custom financial reports as required by the funder.
• Prepare monthly and annual financial statements, including budget vs actual analysis
• Prepare and file required state and local tax returns and regulatory reports
• Attend Finance Committee or Board meetings as requested

Audit and Tax Support

• Coordinate with external CPA firm during annual audit process
• Prepare audit schedules, analyses, and documentation as requested
• Implement auditor recommendations and internal control improvements
• Coordinate with external CPA firm during their preparation of annual Form 990 informational tax return
• Prepare 1099 Forms as needed annually

Advisory Services

• Provide strategic financial advice to CGE Executive Director, including recommendations to improve financial processes and internal controls
• Advise on financial implications of programmatic decisions
• Support CGE board treasurer and finance committee as needed

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in accounting or financial management
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online, including setup, chart of accounts management, and data entry oversight
• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Experience with bank reconciliations and financial statement preparation
• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, including restricted vs. unrestricted fund accounting
• Experience supporting annual audit processes and working with external CPA firms
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA certification or equivalent professional accounting credential
• Previous experience working with nonprofit organizations
• Experience with grant reporting and government contract compliance
• Experience with fund accounting and donor restrictions
• Knowledge of New Mexico nonprofit regulations and tax requirements
• Experience with Bill Spend& Expense and Patriot Payroll, or similar software
• Previous contract accounting experience

Position Details

• Contract position
• Remote work with occasional virtual meetings as needed
• Primarily monthly engagement with flexibility for additional support as required
• Increased availability during annual audit season (currently January-February).