Accountant II

Accountant II

About Us 

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restoring urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years.  

American Forests is proud to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace. These are our shared values. We welcome individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member.  

Position Summary 

The Accountant will support day-to-day financial operations, including journal entries, reconciliations, grant tracking, and compliance. The ideal candidate will bring nonprofit accounting experience, knowledge of federal grant requirements under 2 CFR 200, and a strong command of financial systems and reporting tools. Experience with Unanet is highly preferred, as it is our primary ERP system. 

How You’ll Make an Impact 

Success in your first 1-2 years will be demonstrated by: 

• Ensuring timely and accurate processing of all accounting transactions in Unanet.
• Supporting the compliance and reporting of federally funded grants and other restricted funding sources.
• Collaborating cross-functionally with Development, Programs, and Operations teams to support sound financial decision-making.
• Contributing to the successful completion of the annual audit and 990 preparation

Responsibilities 

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

General Accounting and Financial Reporting 

• Prepare and post journal entries in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit best practices.
• Reconcile bank, investment, and balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities, including preparation of the monthly close financial package.
• Maintain schedules for prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and depreciation.

Accounts Payable and Receivables 

• Process vendor invoices, staff reimbursements, and credit card reconciliations.
• Record incoming revenue, including private contributions, federal and state grants, and contracts.
• Monitor accounts receivable and follow up on outstanding balances.

Grants and Fund Tracking 

• Track restricted funds and ensure compliance with grant budgets and allowability per 2 CFR 200.
• Prepare and support grant financial reports for public and private funders.
• Collaborate with program and development teams to ensure proper grant spending and reporting.

Audit and Compliance 

• Support preparation of annual audit workpapers and Form 990 schedules.
• Maintain documentation supporting internal controls and compliance with federal grant regulations.
• Assist with ongoing compliance reviews and audit preparedness.

Other Duties 

• Collaborate with other departments to support budgeting, forecasting, and grant proposal development
• Provide back-up support to other members of the finance team as needed
• Participate in finance team meetings, organization-wide learning, and DEIA initiatives

Qualifications 

While we do not expect any one candidate to possess all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• At least 5 years of accounting experience, ideally within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and nonprofit fund accounting principles.
• Experience with accounting systems with cost structure, cost allocations and rates (Sage Intacct, DelTek, etc.) or similar, but Unanet ERP is strongly preferred.
• Experience with federal grants, including reporting and compliance under 2 CFR 200.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and data exports/reconciliations.
• Commitment to American Forests’ mission and values

American Forests’ Core Competencies 

• Attitude: Brings a positive outlook to work and helps inspire others to achieve excellence. 
• Communication: Produces strong written documents, edits documents effectively, engages in effective verbal communication—1-on-1 and small group—and conducts effective large group presentations. 
• Organization: Prioritizes tasks effectively, accomplishes tasks efficiently, follows through on all commitments, breaks down large projects to make them manageable, and effectively manages complex projects involving multiple actors. 
• Problem-Solving & Creativity: Identifies issues, effectively structures problems, analyzes data to produce insights, and generates wise, actionable recommendations. Understands the limited resources available and produces creative solutions. 
• Representing the Organization: Serves as an effective ambassador, builds connections, and maintains relationships with outside partners, vendors, and donors. Brings credibility to the organization in how they present themselves. 

Working Conditions 

• This is a fully remote position. Up to 15% of travel throughout the U.S. and/or to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington D.C. may be required. 
• The individual must be comfortable with prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

Benefits 

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. 

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/LGBTQ+ Encouraged to Apply 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience. 

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.