Staff Accountant II

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION:

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) is a non-profit leader dedicated to advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. A key driver of SFI's success is its ability to engage diverse communities to deliver across its 4 pillars:
Standards, Conservation, Community, Education. At SFI, we aim to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered, and supported in advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaborations.

ABOUT THE FINANCE TEAM:

The Finance Department serves as the backbone of the organization's fiscal integrity and operational efficiency. It is responsible for safeguarding the organization's financial resources, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, and providing accurate, timely, and transparent financial information to leadership, governance, and external stakeholders.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Staff Accountant supports the accounting and operations functions of SFI and provides internal/external customer service by fielding accounting related questions as the first level of support in the US headquarters office in Washington, DC. Reporting to and working closely with the Controller, the Staff Accountant also collaborates with Human Resources, IT, and the fractional Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Accounts Payable (A/P): (25%)
  • Process vendor invoices accurately and promptly, ensuring proper approvals and coding.
  • Verify that all expenditures are properly authorized and supported with appropriate documentation.

Process A/P funded by Federal Award Payments

• Monitor grant expenditures to confirm they are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under Uniform Guidance.
• Maintain detailed documentation and audit trails for all federal award transactions.

• Prepare and process electronic payments, ACH transfers, and check disbursements.
• Vendor File Maintenance:
  • Verify and collect required documentation from all vendors, including W-9 forms, executed contracts, and proof of insurance where applicable.
  • Review vendor information for accuracy before activation and regularly update vendor data (e.g., addresses, tax IDs, banking details).
  • Ensure vendor setup complies with internal control policies, procurement standards, and federal grant regulations under OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Accounts Receivable (A/R): (25%)
  • Record and reconcile incoming payments, including grant reimbursements, donor contributions, and other receivables.
  • Prepare and submit invoices to funding agencies and clients in accordance with contract and grant requirements.
  • Track outstanding receivables and follow up on delayed payments or discrepancies.
  • Process and record all federal award drawdowns and reimbursements, ensuring compliance with award terms and federal cash management regulations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (cont.):

• General Ledger and Reconciliations (25%)
  • Prepare journal entries, adjusting entries, and closing entries as needed.
  • Support month-end and year-end closing processes.
  • Perform regular bank reconciliations and ensure all transactions are accurately reflected in accounting records.
  • Reconcile credit card and balance sheet general ledger accounts monthly.
  • Identify, investigate, and correct discrepancies promptly.
• Compliance (25%)
  • 1099 Reporting:
    • Prepare and issue annual Form 1099-NEC/MISC to vendors in compliance with IRS regulations.
    • Maintain accurate vendor records to ensure timely and accurate year-end reporting.
  • Audit and Reporting Support:
    • Provide accurate schedules and reconciliations to auditors and management as requested.
    • Assist with annual audits, single audits (if applicable), and other financial reviews.
    • Support the Finance Department in preparing accurate schedules, reports, and grant-related reconciliations.
  • Regulatory and Standards Compliance:
    • Ensure all accounting activities and records comply with S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
    • Adhere to all applicable rules and regulations set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other relevant state and federal authorities.
    • Maintain awareness of changes in accounting standards, tax…