About the Obama Foundation

At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.

We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together.

That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation's first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home.

But that approach extends to all our work, whether it's holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity.

As President Obama has said, "we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together." So join us.

For more information, please visit www.obama.org.

Purpose of the Role

As a key member of the Finance team, the Senior Accountant will be responsible for maintaining accounting records, processes and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in compliance with US GAAP. This position manages a variety of accounting activities including general ledger preparation and reconciliation, cash receipt recording, fixed asset management, grant tracking and reporting, financial reporting, and assistance in the year-end audit preparation. The Senior Accountant will report to the Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Prepares journal entries, account reconciliations and assists with the analysis of the month-end reporting package, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded and in compliance with GAAP and ensures reconciliation discrepancies are investigated and resolved in a timely manner
• Works closely with the Development team and the Director of Accounting and Senior Accountant to record incoming pledges and contributions and cash receipts, ensuring they are properly reflected in the financial statements and reconciled to records
• Oversees debt compliance with the assistance of the Director of Accounting and Senior Accountant with our outside financial institution, while working with the Construction team and finance leadership regarding cash flow management
• Works closely with the Construction, Operations and Product & Technology departments to accurately record fixed asset and construction in progress transactions in accordance with the Foundation Capitalization policy
• Ensure all accounts payable payments are logged into bank for positive pay and that all ACH and wire transfers are input into the bank accurately on a weekly basis
• Evaluates business processes and accounting policies with the assistance of the Senior Accountant and Director of Accounting to maintain and strengthen internal controls and adopt any new accounting pronouncements
• Assist with inventory accounting for new online and future retail store
• Assists finance leadership team with annual financial statement audit and Form 990 tax filing documentation requests
• Assist in monthly and quarterly financial statement reporting preparation and maintains all back up audit support
• Performs all other job duties as assigned by the finance leadership team

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Cash receipts are entered timely and regularly and restricted cash is maintained and reported monthly to applicable departments and to the financial planning and analysis team.
• Accounts are reconciled monthly by the 8th business day after month end, all back up audit support is maintained
• Assist the Accounting Manager and Director of Accounting with preparing schedules for the audit and 990, resulting in timely reporting and no material adjustments
• Prepares updated written procedures and process flow of job responsibilities and internal controls within six months of start date

Required Qualifications

• 3-4 years experience in accounting at large organization; not-for profit experience is a plus
• Strong working knowledge of US GAAP, internal controls and financial reporting required
• Strong analytical skills and attention to details.
• Understanding of accounting general ledger systems, previous experience with NetSuite a plus
• Advanced skills with Excel or Google Sheets
• Ability to work collaboratively with all departments and levels of the organization, while maintaining a high level of confidentiality
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities without compromising quality

In the interest of employee health and safety during the pendency of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Obama Foundation is requiring that all prospective employees present proof that they are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, or seek a reasonable accommodation for religious or medical reasons, prior to their first day of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.