Staff Accountant

Our Core Values

Our core values define who we are as an organization and serve as the foundation of our code of ethics. Arbor Research expects all employees to embody and demonstrate in our day-to-day work.

• Collaborative Spirit: We expect each staff member to learn from and teach one another and ask each to exhibit curiosity and respect for the contributions of others.
• Creativity: We strive to cultivate a challenging, stimulating, and supportive environment where our employees are expected to be inquisitive, take the initiative, and demonstrate ingenuity.
• Credibility: Our employees are smart, thoughtful, and objective in their work. We expect them to be technically solid in their area of expertise and for those researching to demonstrate scientific rigor.
• Dedication: Our team achieves success because of our dedication to carrying out high-quality work and delivering trusted results.

Position Summary

The Staff Accountant is responsible for supporting the organization’s general ledger accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, and accounts payable functions within a government contracting or federally funded environment. This role prepares journal entries, performs balance sheet reconciliations, analyzes financial results, maintains accounting records, and supports budget-to-actual reporting to ensure accurate and timely financial information in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

The position also supports project accounting, labor cost distribution, revenue recognition under ASC 606, and contract billing across various contract types, while partnering with the Accounting Manager, program managers, and other departments to maintain strong financial controls and meet reporting deadlines.

The role oversees key accounts payable activities, including reviewing and processing vendor and subcontractor invoices, validating charges against purchase orders and receiving documentation, reviewing employee expense reports in Unanet, coordinating weekly payment runs, and maintaining vendor records. Additional responsibilities include reconciling accounts payable balances, managing accruals, preparing annual Form 1099 filings, and resolving invoice and payment discrepancies. The Staff Accountant also supports internal and external audits, including requests from the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), and external auditors, while helping ensure compliance with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements, indirect cost principles, and other federal contracting regulations.

• Prepare and post journal entries, including accruals, prepaid amortization, depreciation, and reclassifications, in accordance with GAAP.
• Perform monthly balance sheet account reconciliations, including cash, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and fixed assets.
• Support the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close process within established deadlines.
• Prepare support schedules and financial statement analyses, including budget-to-actual and variance reports for overhead and general and administration department owners.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and organizational structure in coordination with the Accounting Manager.
• Support labor cost distribution, timekeeping compliance, and labor reconciliations between timekeeping, payroll, and the general ledger.
• Assist with project setup, revenue recognition (ASC 606), and billing across cost-reimbursable, time-and-materials, and firm-fixed-price contracts.
• Prepare documentation and respond to requests from DCAA, DCMA, cognizant federal agencies, and external auditors, including Single Audit (Uniform Guidance)…