Grant Accountant

Organizational Overview

At the California Black Power Network, we build Black political power and work to create systemic change to impact the lived realities of Black people in California. The network comprises local and regional grassroots, community-based organizations in key regions of the state. It aims to increase the power-building capacities of member organizations, encourage growth and collaboration within the ecosystem of Black-led organizations across the state, and make substantial, measurable progress on key issues. Whether it is homelessness and gentrification, mass incarceration and criminalization, deep educational inequities, rampant health disparities, the widening economic and wealth inequality gap, or tax policy inequities, Black communities across California are disproportionately impacted. At the heart of these conditions is persistent and enduring systemic and anti-Black racism. A key question is what will make this moment different in addressing the longstanding issues of systemic and anti-Black racism.

Position Overview

The Grants Accountant plays a critical role on the Operations Team and reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented finance professional passionate about accuracy, organization, and process improvement. The Grants Accountant will support day-to-day accounting functions across the organization, with a particular focus on grants management, budget tracking, accounts payable, and system coordination. This role will assist in maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring that transactions are correctly categorized and aligned with organizational budgets and grant restrictions.

CBPN is a fully remote organization. The ideal candidate is tech-savvy and comfortable navigating accounting and project management systems, including QuickBooks Online Advanced (QBO), Microsoft Excel, Bill.com, Expensify, Monday.com, and Google Workspace Apps. This is a hands-on role with significant responsibility for tracking grant expenditures, managing the accounts payable process, supporting budgets and internal audits, and helping ensure monthly and year-end close processes run smoothly.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Grant Accounting
   1. Own the grant financial management process from pledge to completion. Including customer & pledge setup in QuickBooks, expense coding, monthly budget updates, spend tracking, and funder financial reporting.
   2. Ensure every expense is properly assigned to its grant, track spending against the approved budget, and flag potential overages or compliance issues to support responsible stewardship of funds.
   3. Update the grant spending tracker in the project management system monthly.
   4. Prepare and submit fiscal reports to funders as required, ensuring adherence to deadlines, accuracy, and compliance with funding guidelines.
   5. Coordinate with leadership and program managers to support the proper and timely expenditure of grant funds in compliance with applicable guidelines and budget deadlines.
   6. Maintain an organized and up-to-date repository of all grant agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and related contractual documents for each grant award.
   7. Track key terms, deliverables, reporting deadlines, funding periods, and restrictions in QuickBooks and the project management system.
2. Accounts Payable Processing
   1. Process and track vendor invoices, regrants, and stipends in Bill.com & Monday.com to ensure timely payment.
   2. Maintain vendor records, including onboarding, W-9 collection, bill.com account creation, and periodic updates.
   3. Assist in resolving invoice disputes, clarify terms, and get approval for payment from program leaders when necessary.
   4. Track 1099-eligible vendors and coordinate year-end filings in compliance with IRS requirements.
   5. Maintain organized records of invoices, contracts, grant agreements, and approval trails.
3. Budgeting Support
   1. Meet with program staff to monitor program budgets and reconcile program expense tracking and the finance office expense tracking.
   2. Identify and flag budget variances or unusual spending for the Chief Operating Officer & Accountant to review.
   3. Provide grant budget tracking support to the Senior Management Team and program managers.
4. Monthly & Year-End Close
   1. Assist in gathering, uploading, and coding receipts, invoices, and other documentation in our financial systems.
   2. Support GL detail review and help ensure grant expenditures are coded correctly.
   3. Update the budget-to-actuals report and spreadsheet monthly.
5. Audit Support
   1. Support the preparation of annual financial audit documentation, including assembling workpapers and financial records.
   2. Help maintain and organize historical audit files, board financial approvals, and internal financial policies.
   3. Ensure audit documentation is consistently named, formatted, and securely stored for both internal and external review.

Qualifications & Skills

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
2. Minimum 3 years of experience in non-profit accounting, bookkeeping, or grant financial management.
3. Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
4. Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reconciliation.
5. Demonstrated experience with QuickBooks Online Advanced (QBO) and related accounting systems
6. Technology Skills: Demonstrated success leveraging technology independently in a fully remote environment and proficiency in Google Workspace, Zoom, Monday.com, Expensify, Bill.com, and other tools.
7. High level of accuracy in data entry and managing financial records across multiple systems.
8. Exceptional attention to detail, especially in reviewing and approving expenses and invoices.
9. Ability to analyze financial data and identify inconsistencies or anomalies.
10. Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
11. Clear written and verbal communication skills for cross-team collaboration.
12. Commitment to financial compliance, data integrity, and audit-ready documentation.
13. Experience in audit preparation, fund accounting, and financial policy implementation is a plus.
14. Deep commitment to racial justice and social equity, with a passion for advancing Black political power and systemic change.

The full benefit package has an estimated value of around $24,700 and includes the following:

• Eligibility to participate in the organization’s 401K plan with an employer match of up to 6%
• Full-time remote work with occasional travel, including bi-monthly (every other month) in-person team meetings and special events
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance costs are covered 100% by the employer.
• Access to HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care Benefits
• Paid leave based on years of service (10 PTO days and 10 Sick days for 1-3 years of service, with opportunity for limited annual carryover)
• 2 weeks paid time off during the end-of-year holiday season
• Staff development allowance of $2,500 per year