Staff Accountant

About Food & Water Watch:

Food & Water Watch is working to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust, clean drinking water and a livable climate. Making this happen requires involving people in the pressing issues of our time at the local, state, and federal level, building on one win after another, as we develop a larger movement that has the political power to make our democratic process work. 

About the position:

The Staff Accountant will report to the Accounting Manager. This position ensures accurate and timely recording of financial transactions, supports grant and contract reporting, and helps maintain compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and organizational policies.

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 annually, dependent upon experience 

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Washington, DC Metropolitan area 

Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Audit

• Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes, including:
  • Bank Reconciliation and other financial accounts.
  • Credit Card Reconciliation
• Ensure accurate recording of all financial activities including Journal entry preparation in Sage Intaact (accruals, prepaid expenses, and allocations prepared by senior finance staff.)
• Assist with monthly Financial Statement preparation and analysis.
• Assist with monthly General Ledger review and reconciliation.
• Assist with annual budget preparation.
• Ensure financial reporting complies with GAAP and other federal and state regulations.
• Assist with Fiscal Year End Audit preparation and fieldwork.
• Assist with preparation and filing of tax returns and other regulatory reports.
• Assist in compiling schedules and documentations for the annual audit and IRS form 990 filings.
• Ad hoc projects and analysis.

General Support

• Contribute to the preparation of special event and canvassing expenses reconciliation.
• Prepare and file quarterly and semi-annual lobbying reports.
• Maintain well-organized electronic and paper records.
• Help develop and document accounting policies and procedures.
• Provide new hire orientation on behalf of the finance department.
• Support our culture of philanthropy by understanding the essential role of members and donors, representing FWW/FWA as an ambassador, and contributing to donor engagement opportunities.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Process vendor invoices and employee reimbursements in compliance with organizational policies.
• Monitor A/P aging and ensure timely payments.
• Process A/R invoices and track receivables, including donor contributions and grants.
• Prepare reconciliation of vendor and customer account statements to identify discrepancies and analyze trends.
• Record international wire payments in Bill.com.
• Review budget for new and renewal vendor submissions.
• Reconcile vendor records and prepare annual 1099 filings.

Payroll & Benefits Support

• Assist with payroll processing, reconciliations, and journal entries.
• Partner with HR to ensure accurate benefit allocations and reconciliations.
• Provide support for payroll compliance across multiple states.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA candidate preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of accounting experience (nonprofit experience strongly preferred).
• Solid understanding of GAAP; knowledge of nonprofit fund accounting a plus.
• Proficiency in accounting software (Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, or similar).
• Familiarity with payroll systems and expense management tools (e.g., Bill.com, Paycor, Paychex).
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Familiarity with remote collaboration platforms (e.g., SLACK, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google docs) for cross-functional teamwork.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong analytical and organizational abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines consistently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; collaborative work style.
• Commitment to Food & Water Watch’s core values of justice, human dignity, fair treatment, and equity.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse racial, ethnic, class, age, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds.​
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.

• Experience with grant reporting and compliance.
• Knowledge of IRS Form 990 and audit preparation processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP and other data analysis tools.

Food & Water Watch provides an excellent benefits package for full-time employees. This includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision plans for staff; 403b retirement plans with employer contribution after 1 year; 12 weeks paid parental leave; 3 weeks vacation for new employees; 12 sick days and 5 personal days; paid federal holidays and winter break (December 24 – January 1).

Please include as one combined document your resume and cover letter to be considered. Position open until filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

We will review your application and if we feel that your knowledge, skills and abilities are potentially a good match for our organization, we will be in contact with you. 

Food and Water Watch is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other members of underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Food & Water Watch (FWW) is committed to the health and safety of its staff members. Moreover, FWW, as an organization, promotes science-based policy. Science clearly shows that unvaccinated populations drive the spread of the coronavirus and the emergence of new variants, and that unvaccinated people are more likely to contract COVID and experience severe symptoms. FWW requires new staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, subject to availability, unless they receive an approved religious or medical accommodation.