Accounting Manager

Position Summary – Accounting Manager

Reports to: Director of Finance

Department: Finance / Administration

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: Remote

Position Overview

Clean Energy Counsel, a mission-driven law firm dedicated to accelerating the world’s transition away from fossil fuels, seeks to hire a highly qualified accounting manager to join our firm.  The Accounting Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of the Firm’s accounting operations under the direction of the Director of Finance. This position is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the Firm’s financial records and ensuring that general ledger activity, account reconciliations, accounts payable, cash receipts and accounts receivable accounting, trust accounting, payroll-related accounting, month-end and year-end close activities, and financial schedules are completed accurately and timely.

The Accounting Manager serves as the operational leader for the accounting function, establishes and maintains consistent accounting workflows, supervises designated accounting staff, maintains appropriate supporting documentation and internal controls, and prepares financial statements and supporting information for review and analysis by the Director of Finance.

The position requires a hands-on accounting professional who can independently manage recurring accounting processes and deadlines, identify and resolve accounting issues, develop staff, and identify opportunities to improve accounting processes and controls.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & General Ledger

• Own and manage the day-to-day execution of the Firm’s accounting operations.

• Maintain the general ledger and ensure transactions are accurately, consistently, and timely recorded.

• Prepare and post routine and approved adjusting journal entries.

• Manage the monthly accounting close process and ensure required activities are completed according to established deadlines.

• Prepare and/or review balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.

• Review general ledger activity and account balances for accuracy, completeness, and unusual or inconsistent activity.

• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and reconciling items.

• Maintain appropriate documentation supporting accounting transactions, account balances, and reconciliations.

• Escalate significant or unusual accounting matters requiring additional judgment to the Director of Finance.

Accounts Receivable Accounting & Cash Receipts

• Maintain accurate accounts receivable accounting records following the posting of client invoices.

• Manage the accounting and application of client payments, credits, write-offs, adjustments, and other accounts receivable activity.

• Research and resolve unapplied cash and accounting discrepancies in coordination with Billing personnel.

• Maintain appropriate accounting documentation supporting accounts receivable activity.

• Provide accurate accounts receivable balances and supporting financial information to the Director of Finance and Billing function as needed.

Accounts Payable & Expense Administration

• Manage day-to-day accounts payable operations and established payment processes.

• Ensure invoices and employee reimbursements are properly documented, approved, coded, and processed.

• Review vendor account activity and resolve discrepancies.

• Maintain appropriate vendor records and supporting documentation.

• Monitor payment deadlines and established cash-disbursement controls.

• Review accounts payable work performed by accounting staff for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established procedures.

• Maintain appropriate segregation of duties and controls over cash disbursements.

Cash & Bank Accounting

• Maintain accurate accounting records for the Firm’s operating cash accounts.

• Prepare or review bank and credit card reconciliations.

• Research and resolve outstanding or unidentified transactions.

• Maintain accurate records of cash receipts, deposits, transfers, and other banking activity.

• Monitor outstanding checks and other reconciling items and ensure timely resolution.

• Prepare cash balance and activity information for review and cash-flow analysis by the Director of Finance.

• Assist with operational banking administration as assigned.

Trust Accounting

• Manage or oversee recurring trust/IOLTA account reconciliations.

• Maintain complete and accurate trust accounting records and supporting documentation.

• Ensure trust transactions are properly recorded and processed in accordance with established Firm procedures.

• Monitor trust balances and identify unusual, aged, or unreconciled items for review.

• Maintain appropriate accounting controls over client and third-party funds.

• Support compliance with applicable trust accounting requirements.

• Promptly escalate trust accounting discrepancies or potential compliance concerns to the Director of Finance.

Payroll Accounting

• Manage accounting activities associated with payroll processing.

• Review and reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts.

• Ensure payroll activity is accurately recorded in the Firm’s accounting system.

• Research payroll accounting discrepancies and coordinate corrections as necessary.

• Maintain payroll-related accounting schedules and supporting documentation.

• Provide payroll expense information and supporting data to the Director of Finance for financial reporting, budgeting, and analysis.

Month-End & Year-End Close Management

• Own and coordinate the monthly accounting close process and close calendar.

• Establish close deadlines and ensure required accounting activities are completed timely.

• Prepare and review account reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and supporting schedules required for close.

• Review account balances and financial activity for accuracy, completeness, and unusual trends.

• Resolve accounting discrepancies before completion of the close.

• Prepare preliminary monthly financial statements and supporting schedules for review by the Director of Finance.

• Coordinate accounting activities associated with the year-end close.

• Prepare year-end reconciliations and supporting schedules.

• Record approved year-end and tax adjustments and maintain appropriate supporting documentation.

• Identify opportunities to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and efficiency of the close process.

Financial Reporting Preparation

• Prepare recurring financial statements, management reports, schedules, and supporting financial information for review by the Director of Finance.

• Ensure financial reports reconcile to the general ledger and underlying accounting records.

• Maintain recurring reporting schedules and supporting documentation.

• Prepare budget-to-actual reports and supporting account-level detail.

• Provide historical financial information and accounting data used by the Director of Finance in budgeting and forecasting.

• Research financial reporting discrepancies and ensure source data is complete and accurate.

Tax & Audit Support

• Prepare accounting schedules, reconciliations, and supporting workpapers required for tax preparation and external audits.

• Compile financial information requested by the Director of Finance, CPA, tax advisors, or auditors.

• Prepare year-end tax workpapers and supporting accounting schedules.

• Maintain documentation supporting tax payments and filings as directed.

• Research accounting questions or discrepancies identified during tax preparation or audit activities.

• Record approved audit and tax adjustments.

Internal Controls & Accounting Procedures

• Execute and monitor accounting controls, policies, and procedures established in coordination with the Director of Finance.

• Ensure accounting staff consistently follow established processes, approval requirements, and segregation-of-duties controls.

• Document recurring accounting p