Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper (part-time)

Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper (part-time)

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper to join us in carrying out Prairie Flower Children Center’s mission of providing learning experiences that strengthen connections with the natural world. This person will be essential in ensuring smooth operation of our childcare center by providing comprehensive administrative support.

The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills, proficiency in office management and bookkeeping, and the ability to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and the board.

This is a part-time position for 15 hours per week, to be worked mostly onsite at the center’s administrative office. The exact schedule will be arranged with the center director, but working 4-5 days each week, Monday-Friday, is preferred.

As the Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper, you will:

• Manage application, enrollment, re-enrollment, and registration processes for families enrolling their children in the center’s programs
• Manage invoicing for all programs
• Manage processes for receiving CCA (childcare assistance) payments from Iowa HHS, for families who qualify
• Manage processes for receiving ASSET payments from Ames, Story County, and United Way Funders
• Respond to incoming email messages and phone calls
• Do bookkeeping tasks including writing checks to pay bills, reimbursing staff for expenses, and reconciling and categorizing transactions in QuickBooks
• Assist Board Treasurer in preparing financial reports monthly or as requested
• Assist with the hiring process for new teaching staff, including posting job ads to job boards and scheduling candidates for interviews as chosen by the Director
• Maintain staff and student files, in compliance with HHS regulations
• Ensure necessary data is being collected (e.g. complete check-in/check-out attendance data is being recorded) that is needed for annual grant applications and reporting requirements
• Keep office area organized
• Update website throughout the year as needed
• Other administrative tasks as needed to support the Center Director

Qualifications and Characteristics

• Proven experience in an administrative or bookkeeping role is preferred
• Candidates who want to stay in the role long-term, longer than one school year, are preferred
• QuickBooks experience is preferred
• Proficient in Google office suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail)
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask effectively
• Thorough attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills
• Proactive in completing tasks and in identifying ways to streamline and improve processes
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills – able to communicate courteously and clearly with other teachers, children, parents and other people connected with center affairs
• Appreciation for and commitment to Prairie Flower’s mission

About Prairie Flower

Prairie Flower is an independent, nonprofit nature-based early childhood education center in Ames, Iowa, that has been serving families for over 25 years. We offer a year-round co-op nature preschool program for children ages 3-6, an after-school program and summer camps for children ages 5-12, and a parent-child playgroup for children ages 14 months-3 years.

Our programs are nature-based, play-based, and child-led. Our philosophy is that exploration and play in nature lead to learning, and that children are most engaged in learning when they can follow their own curiosities and interests. What makes us unique in Ames is that nature is the setting for most of our activities - we spend as much of the day as possible outside - and also our main object of study. For preschool, we use an emergent curriculum approach to plan learning activities around children’s specific interests about nature, centered around the seasonal rhythms of our area. In addition, we learn to care for and protect nature.

We are located at 1517 Northwestern Ave. in central Ames, which isn’t a far walk from nearby woods. We rent two classrooms from (but are otherwise not affiliated with) Bethesda Lutheran Church.

Prairie Flower has recently grown and expanded: from one classroom to two; from school-year-only to year-round; from morning-only preschool to full-day. We have also recently become eligible to receive funding via CCA, and via the Story County ASSET funding process. All these changes have increased our administrative needs, making this role essential to helping us grow into this next phase.

How to Apply

This is a part-time, hourly position based in Ames, Iowa, with a pay rate of $16 per hour.

The Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper will have time off during school-scheduled holiday breaks (same holidays as Ames Community School District, plus July 4 and July 13-17). The position reports to the Prairie Flower Children’s Center Director and the Board Treasurer.

Applications close July 1st and we will begin reviewing applications after. To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to Center Director, Monica Marcomb at director@prairieflowercc.org.

Questions? If you have questions about any aspect of the position or application process, please contact Monica Marcomb at director@prairieflowercc.org.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Experience:

• Bookkeeping: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $16