Senior Accountant (2025-2026)

Senior Accountant

Description:

The Senior Accountant at Pinnacle Charter School plays a vital role in maintaining the financial integrity of the organization and ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements specific to K–12 charter schools. This position serves as a key technical expert within the Finance Team, responsible for managing complex accounting tasks, supporting monthly and annual close, preparing financial analyses, and ensuring accurate reporting across all major financial functions -including grants, payroll accounting, capital assets, and bond-related transactions.

This role requires strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment. The Senior Accountant works closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Finance staff, HR, and external partners to ensure Pinnacle’s financial operations run smoothly and transparently.

Reporting Relationship:

Reports to: Chief Finance Officer

Direct Reports: None

Application Deadline:

The application deadline for this posting is 12/19/2025

Compensation:

This is a full-time, 12-month position with a salary range of $79,602 - $115,422 annually, dependent upon experience. A detailed outline of benefits and additional compensation is provided at the end of the job description.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Core Accounting & Financial Management:

• Perform and lead complex general ledger functions, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and adjustments.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, supporting schedules, and variance analyses.
• Manage components of the month-end and year-end close process to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain fixed asset records, including capitalization, depreciation, disposals, and audit support.
• Ensure adherence to GAAP, GASB, CDE Financial Policies and Procedures, and school-specific financial regulations.
• Assist with annual audit preparation and serve as a primary point of contact for assigned audit areas.

Grant Accounting & Compliance:

• Track grant expenditures and revenues across all federal, state, and competitive awards.
• Prepare and submit Requests for Funds (RFFs) with accurate documentation.
• Maintain supporting files to ensure compliance with grant terms, allowable costs, and reporting deadlines.
• Monitor budget-to-actual trends for each grant and communicate issues proactively.
• Submit budget revisions, as necessary, to ensure proper budget allocations.

Bond & Capital Accounting:

• Prepare journal entries for bond-related transactions, including interest, amortization, and trustee activity.
• Assist with quarterly DAC financial submissions and compliance reporting.
• Support arbitrage analysis, rating reviews, and refinancing documentation as needed.

Payroll & AP/AR Accounting Support:

• Reconcile payroll accounts each pay period and ensure proper coding to grants, funds, and programs.
• Support the accuracy of payroll-related liabilities, benefits, and deductions.
• Provide backup support for accounts payable and receivable functions.
• Help maintain strong internal controls around purchasing, approvals, and expenditure classification.

Regulatory Reporting & Transparency:

• Assist with required monthly, quarterly, and annual state submissions including:
• Financial Transparency website updates
• Data pipeline financial reporting
• Required filings for Pinnacle Charter School and the Pinnacle Building Corporation
• Support compliance with PERA reporting requirements as they relate to accounting functions.

Financial Analysis & Process Improvement:

• Analyze financial trends, anomalies, and risks; present recommended solutions to the CFO.
• Participate in ongoing development and improvement of accounting processes and internal controls.
• Provide financial insight to departments, school leaders, and external stakeholders as requested.

Other Duties:

• Maintain confidentiality and accuracy of financial information at all times.
• Assist the CFO with special projects and emerging needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support financial operations.

Education, Licensing, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field required.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Experience in governmental, nonprofit, or fund accounting is preferred.
• Experience with school finance (charter or district) preferred.

General Abilities, Knowledge, Qualifications, and Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of GAAP and governmental/fund accounting principles (GASB).
• Strong technical understanding of grants, payroll accounting, and capital asset management.
• Familiarity with bond accounting or willingness to grow into it quickly.
• Proficiency with financial software systems; Abila MIP Fund Accounting preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, vlookups and formulas.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage concurrent deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts clearly.
• High level of accuracy, integrity, and professional judgment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff across departments and maintain positive vendor and auditor relationships.
• Commitment to Pinnacle’s mission, values, and diverse school community.

Working Conditions:

Exposure/Noise Level: Occasional exposure to airborne particles, fumes, and outdoor weather conditions. Normal school/office environment with moderate to high noise level.

Mental Functions: Analyze, collaborate, communicate, compare, compile data, compute, coordinate, copy, direct, evaluate, guide, interpersonal skills, present, report, synthesize.

Physical Activities: Office environment including computer interface. Bend, reach, sit, stand, stoop, talk, walk, and heavy person-to-person interaction with staff and community members.

Weight and Force Demands: Moderate physical activity (lifting, pulling, and pushing up to 25 pounds).

Other: May be required to work outside of normal working hours and travel for work related functions.

Why work for Pinnacle?

As a member of the Pinnacle PACK, you will have the opportunity to be influential every day and make an impact in the lives of our students and our larger community! Our team and school community are diverse and we embrace that diversity as an encouraging, friendly, open, and supportive team and school. We invest in our team members by providing a balanced, growth-oriented, and supportive work environment, while helping you achieve your career goals within and beyond Pinnacle. Additionally, we offer a robust, comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance and AD&D plans (100% employer paid options for the employee)
• Participation in the Colorado Public Schools Retirement System PERA (click HERE to learn more)
• PERA 401K, 403B, and Roth IRA retirement options
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to include Healthcare and Dependent Care
• Voluntary life insurance for employees and dependents
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Colonial add-ons to include accident, critical illness, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program with up to three free counseling sessions
• Paid Time Off
• Vacation
• 2 weeks for 1st and 2nd years of continuous employment
• 3 weeks for 3rd and 4th years of continuous employment
• 4 weeks for 5th and 6th years of continuous employment
• 5 weeks for 7th year or more of continuous employment
• PTO Days: 8/year
• Holiday Days: 30/year (Based on 2025-2026 school calendar)

If you want to be part of a caring, supportive community and make a difference as part of the Pinnacle PACK, apply now!

About Pinnacle:

Pinnacle Charter School has served the community for more than 20 years. Authorized by the Colorado Charter School Institute, the Pinnacle is a Title I K-12 school supporting more than 2,000 students in achieving excellence in all aspects of their lives. The K-8 building is located at 1001 West 84th Avenue, Federal Heights, CO. The high school is located at 8412 Huron Street, Thornton, CO. For more information visit https://www.pinnaclecharterschool.org/.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. Pinnacle Charter School is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a drug free work environment. We participate in E-Verify as part of our onboarding process.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.