Staff Accountant

Description

Ellis Early Learning (“Ellis”) is a vibrant Boston-based nonprofit founded in 1885. Ellis provides high-quality early education and care to more than 300 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers each year across three centers in the South End and Jamaica Plain. Ellis is NAEYC-accredited and operates four Universal Pre‑K classrooms in partnership with Boston Public Schools. We are proud to serve one of the most socioeconomically, racially, and culturally diverse communities in Boston.

Ellis is growing and strengthening the systems and infrastructure that support its mission. The Finance team plays an important role in this work by providing reliable financial information, sound stewardship, and efficient operations. This position offers an opportunity to learn, contribute, and build broad accounting experience in a collaborative, mission-driven organization.

ELLIS VISION: Every child thrives, and every educator flourishes in an inclusive and equitable learning environment.

ELLIS MISSION
:
Ellis partners with families to provide high-quality early childhood education in a warm, nurturing environment. A recognized leader in our field, we support children across the socio-economic spectrum, treasure diversity in all forms, and celebrate the joy of childhood.

Learn more isearlylearning.org.

Ellis is seeking a detail-oriented, collaborative, and mission-driven Staff Accountant to join its Finance team. The Staff Accountant will gain hands‑on experience across a broad range of accounting and financial operations, including general accounting, accounts payable, payroll support, grants and government programs, audit preparation, and financial reporting. The position will play an important role in maintaining accurate and timely financial information, strengthening internal controls, and supporting the effective operation of a growing organization.

The ideal candidate will have strong accounting fundamentals, excellent attention to detail, and an interest in improving systems and processes. This role is well suited to an early‑career accounting professional who wants to build broad nonprofit accounting expertise and see how their work directly supports Ellis’s mission and continued growth.

• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, prepare journal entries, and support the timely and accurate monthly financial close.
• Prepare schedules and reconciliations for month‑end and year‑end reporting.
• Perform bank and cash reconciliations and assist with cash management activities.
• Help identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, improve accuracy, and strengthen internal controls.

• Manage accounts payable activities, including vendor setup, invoice review and coding, approval workflows, payments, and vendor reconciliations.
• Support payroll accounting, including payroll, benefit, and deduction reconciliations; journal entries; and payroll processing.
• Coordinate the administration and accounting of employee transportation benefits.
• Record donations, grants, tuition payments, and other cash receipts.
• Reconcile donations and other charitable contributions with the Development team and donor records.

• Support grant accounting, reporting, restricted fund reconciliations, and financial documentation for grant and reimbursement requests.
• Prepare reconciliations and supporting schedules for government contracts, grants, and reimbursement programs.
• Collaborate with Program and Development colleagues to obtain complete and timely documentation supporting grant and government revenue.

• Prepare audit schedules, respond to auditor requests, and assist with the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Support compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, internal controls, organizational policies, and grant requirements.
• Assist with the development, documentation, and consistent application of Finance policies.

• Collaborate with Program, Enrollment, Development,…