Staff Accountant

HOUSING INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP:

Housing Initiative Partnership develops innovative affordable housing, revitalizes neighborhoods, and equips people to achieve their housing and financial goals. Our vision is that every person lives in high-quality affordable housing in a thriving community. HIP maintains offices in Hyattsville in Prince George’s County and Germantown in Montgomery County, Maryland.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Staff Accountant supports HIP’s financial operations, with responsibility for processing program and vendor payments, maintaining accurate financial documentation, reconciling transactions, and supporting grant and contract financial reporting.

Working closely with Finance staff and program teams, the Staff Accountant helps ensure that approved expenditures are accurately and efficiently processed, properly documented and coded, and reconciled to HIP’s accounting records. The position also assists with preparation of financial documentation for reimbursement requests, grant reporting, monitoring, and audits.

This position requires strong attention to detail, accuracy, organizational skills, and the ability to work effectively with financial records, program staff, vendors, and multiple funding sources.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• • Accounts Payable & Payment Processing: Process approved bills, rental assistance payments, utility assistance payments, and other program and organizational expenditures in accordance with HIP’s financial procedures.
  • Payment Documentation Review: Review payment packages for required program approvals, supporting documentation, vendor information, payment amounts, and other information necessary for payment processing. Follow up with appropriate program staff regarding incomplete or inconsistent documentation.
  • Vendor Records: Assist with establishing and maintaining accurate vendor records, including W-9s, payment information, addresses, and other required documentation.
  • Grant & Program Coding: Accurately code expenditures to appropriate grants, contracts, programs, accounts, and cost centers based on approved budgets and coding instructions.
  • Financial Reconciliation: Assist with regular reconciliation of payments, accounts payable records, program payment records, general ledger activity, and other financial transactions. Research and resolve discrepancies in coordination with Finance and program staff.
  • Program Payment Tracking: Maintain accurate records and tracking tools for high-volume program payments and assist in reconciling program-level payment records to accounting records.
  • Grant & Contract Reimbursement Support: Assist with preparing financial documentation for grant and contract reimbursement requests, including gathering bills, payroll documentation, payment records, general ledger information, and other required supporting documentation.
  • Financial Reporting Support: Assist with compiling and reviewing financial information for grant reports, internal financial reports, budget-to-actual reviews, and other fiscal reporting requirements.
  • Grant Documentation: Maintain organized financial records and supporting documentation by funding source to ensure expenditures are appropriately documented and readily available for reimbursement requests, monitoring, and audits.
  • Expense Review: Assist with reviewing expenditures for appropriate documentation, coding, and consistency with approved budgets. Refer questions regarding program eligibility or allowability, or grant coding to appropriate program or Finance leadership.
  • Payroll & Labor Distribution Support: Assist with maintaining and reviewing payroll and labor distribution documentation and allocating payroll expenses to appropriate grants and programs based on approved staff allocations and supporting records.
  • Credit Card & Expense Documentation: Assist with reviewing, coding, and maintaining supporting documentation for organizational credit card transactions, employee reimbursements, and other expenses as assigned.
  • Data Entry: Accurately and timely enter financial transactions and related information into HIP’s accounting and financial management systems.
  • Month-End & Year-End Support: Assist Finance staff with month-end and year-end closing activities, including reconciliations, documentation review, account analysis, and preparation of supporting schedules.
  • Audit & Monitoring Support: Assist with gathering and organizing financial records and supporting documentation for annual audits, funder monitoring, grant reviews, and other financial compliance activities.
  • Internal Controls: Follow HIP’s established financial policies, approval processes, documentation requirements, and internal controls, including appropriate separation between programmatic approval and financial payment processing.
  • Communication & Coordination: Work closely with program staff to resolve payment and documentation issues and support timely and accurate financial processing and reporting.
  • Other Duties: Perform other accounting, financial, and administrative responsibilities as assigned.

TRAINING & ONBOARDING

An initial training and onboarding period (60–90 days) will be provided by HIP's Finance staff, focused specifically on HIP's chart of accounts, fund and grant accounting structure, and grant coding practices. After this period, the Staff Accountant is expected to perform assigned duties independently, escalating only exceptions requiring senior-level review. General proficiency with HIP's accounting and financial management systems (e.g., QuickBooks, Bill.com) is expected as a baseline qualification for this role and is addressed separately under Qualifications, below.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant education and experience will be considered.
• At least two years of accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable, financial administration, or related experience preferred.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, grant-funded, government contracting, or similar environment preferred.
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and accounts payable procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately process and reconcile financial transactions.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify discrepancies in financial records and supporting documentation.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to independently learn, standard accounting and financial management software (e.g., QuickBooks, Bill.com) preferred.
• Ability to learn and effectively use HIP’s accounting, payroll, and financial management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with program staff, vendors, and colleagues.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive financial, payroll, vendor, and client information.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with Finance and program staff.

WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

• Full-time position, approximately 37.5 hours per week.
• Standard business hours, Monday through Friday; occasional evening or extended hours may be required to meet program deadlines or operational needs.
• Work may be hybrid or in-office depending on program requirements and supervisory direction.

ADA SPECIFICATIONS

This position is primarily sedentary and based in HIP’s Hyattsville offices with hybrid work opportunities, as approved. The position may require occasional bending and lifting, regular local travel to outreach events and meetings, and occasional evening or weekend work. Occasional overnight travel for conferences or trainings may also be required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary: $70,000 annual salary. HIP offers a competitive benefits package including retirement, health insurance, long-term disability, generous vacation, and sick leave.

Funding Notice: This position is supported in whole or in part by grant funding. Continued employment is subject to organizational needs and the availability of funding.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please email a cover letter and resume to Hiring Manager at employment@hiphomes.org.

Housing Initiative Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

HIP offers a competitive benefits package including retirement, health insurance, long-term disability, generous vacation, and sick leave.