Director of Accounting

UCAN is seeking a Director of Accounting to lead and manage our accounting operations, including direct oversight of accounting staff, financial reporting, accounting systems and internal controls in a complex, mission-driven, grant-funded environment. This role serves as the organization's technical accounting authority, with responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of all financial records and statements.

Reporting to and working in close partnership with the CFO, the Director of Accounting plays a critical role in agency-wide financial decision-making, compliance, audit readiness, and continuous improvement of systems and controls. This is a hands-on leadership role ideal for an experienced accounting professional who enjoys building strong teams, improving processes, and ensuring financial excellence in a nonprofit setting.

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. These duties are a representative example of position expectations. Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.

• Lead and manage all core accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, general ledger, fixed assets, and grant accounting.
• Own the month-end and year-end close process, including close schedules, reconciliations, accruals, and review of journal entries. Ensure financial statements and reports are complete, accurate, and review-ready for CFO approval.
• Supervise and lead accounting staff, including assigning work, setting priorities, reviewing work product, enforcing deadlines, and fostering a culture of accountability for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Develop and mentor accounting staff to build organizational capacity and continuity by ensuring the accounting team has the tools, guidance, and capacity needed to meet organizational demands.
• Implement, monitor, and enforce internal controls related to accounting, procurement, revenue recognition, and expenditure processing. Identify risks and recommend corrective actions to mitigate risk and strengthen audit outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, Uniform Guidance, Head Start requirements, and other federal, state, and funder regulations. Analyze and resolve technical accounting issues and document accounting decisions. Lead continuous improvement of accounting systems, workflows, and reporting processes to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Design, implement, and enforce internal controls; identify risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Serve as the primary accounting lead for the annual audit and other fiscal monitoring activities, coordinating schedules, documentation, and responses to findings.
• Manage and maintain fixed asset records and oversee inventory processes to ensure accurate tracking, proper capitalization, depreciation, and safeguarding of assets.
• Monitor program and funding-source expenditures, ensuring accurate cost allocation and alignment with approved budgets.
• In coordination with the CFO, present and explain financial statements, variances, and accounting activity to the Finance Committee and other governance or leadership bodies as requested.
• Support the CFO by providing accurate accounting data, technical insight, and execution-level perspective related to financial statements, audits, compliance, internal controls, and allocation methodology. Serve as the primary accounting decision maker, escalating material or policy-level issues to the CFO.
• Maintain and update accounting procedures, templates, and documentation to ensure consistency, clarity, and compliance with agency policies and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas.
• Drive a company vehicle in the performance of job duties. Driving will be required to travel to multiple UCAN facilities, board meetings, and other locations to perform essential functions as needed.
• Complete designated job tasks, special projects, and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department, and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.

Drive a company vehicle in the performance of job duties. Driving will be required to travel to multiple UCAN facilities, board meetings, and other locations to perform essential functions as needed.

Complete designated job tasks,…