Senior Accountant [GT956]

The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation with offices in Los Altos and San Francisco. The Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people. In 2018, the Foundation awarded more than $100 million. Since its first grant in 2007, the Foundation has awarded more than $400 million.

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant is a member of the Foundation's administration team and is responsible for a variety of complex accounting activities and will participate in the accounting for the Heising-Simons Action Fund, a sister 501(c)(4) organization to the Foundation. The Senior Accountant reports to the Director of Finance and supervises the Accounting Assistant. This full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt (salaried) position can work in either our Los Altos or San Francisco, CA office.

Primary Responsibilities

1. General Accounting
   • Oversee and manage income and expense classifications.
   • Reconcile bank statements, investment accounts, petty cash, and credit cards.
   • Review/prepare journal entries for accruals and reclassifications.
   • Recommend systems for improved accounting procedures and financial controls.
2. Reports & Documentation
   • Assist in year-to-date analysis of budget versus actual on a monthly basis.
   • Assist in quarterly board reports.
   • Assist in financial analysis support and other tools for management.
3. Capital Assets
   • Capitalize assets according to accounting policy.
   • Write-off assets when assets are disposed of or donated.
   • Prepare monthly schedules for depreciation.
4. Year-End
   • Prepare information for annual audit.
   • Prepare information for annual tax return (990-PF).
   • Prepare contractors' 1099 forms for distribution.
5. Manage Accounting Assistant
   • Develop goals, oversee tasks, and ensure the quality of work and contributions to the Foundation meet our high standards.
   • Review invoices, credit card expenses, and other bills entered in QuickBooks.
   • Review and/or pay invoices via check, wire, or credit card.
6. Other
   • Track contracts for payment limits.
   • Participate in various surveys (Compensation, Investments, Administration, Census Bureau, etc.).
   • Help the Foundation promote and maintain environmentally friendly office practices.
   • Participate in Foundation-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion work, internal culture-building, and process-improvement activities and initiatives.
   • Pursue ongoing professional development opportunities and participate in Foundation-wide training sessions.

Requirements

• Experience in QuickBooks.
• Advanced skills in Excel.
• Able to manage and prioritize a large volume of tasks and deadlines with attention to detail.
• Able to read, write, and produce professional written materials in English.
• Able to communicate and work effectively with people of different backgrounds, internally and externally, to achieve shared goals.