Accounting Manager

Overview

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact‑based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

The Accounting Manager is a hands‑on, highly analytical individual with a strong foundation in not‑for‑profit and/or public accounting that leads our daily accounting operations while ensuring appropriate accounting compliance and control. The Accounting Manager bridges the gap between technical GAAP compliance and day‑to‑day operational excellence. The Accounting Manager oversees the general ledger, drives month‑end close cycles, and ensures our organization is always “audit‑ready.”

This position is responsible for supervising the organization’s general accounting functions and manages three direct reports, an Accounting Supervisor and two Staff Accountants. The Accounting Manager interacts with individuals on all levels within the organization and provides accounting support to ensure compliance with agency and programmatic requirements.

The Accounting Manager must be a disciplined, analytical thinker who instinctively looks beyond the “what” of the numbers to investigate and understand the “why.” This individual must be able to identify underlying trends and anomalies and translate and communicate them into a cohesive, actionable narrative.

• Maintain general ledger by monitoring and ensuring accuracy of accounting transactions, journal entries, and reconciliations performed by the Accounting Supervisor, Staff Accountants, Senior Accounts Payable Coordinator, and Senior Revenue Coordinator.
• Lead the close operations of the accounting team, ensuring that the team adheres to a prescribed close calendar.
• Oversee Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets subledger close.
• Lead monthly departmental review meetings to analyze variances, establish accruals, and document corrections in preparation of monthly financial reporting.
• Partner in preparation of monthly financial statements and variance analysis for CEO financial reporting package.
• Lead accounting support and ensure readiness for CPM’s annual financial audit, tax filings, and regulatory and grantor reporting.
• Assist with corporate sponsorship financial operations, as needed.
• Participate in ACH approval and initiate wire transfers, as needed.

• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting
• Proficiency in Sage Intacct, Limelight, and MS Excel (advanced skills)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization
• Intellectual curiosity, initiative, and strong work ethic
• Positive team player who embraces collaboration
• Strong attention‑to‑detail and ability to assess accuracy and data integrity
• Fast learner who likes to solve problems in a dynamic environment
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• High level of discretion to maintain confidentiality

10+ years of not‑for‑profit and/or public accounting experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including management of direct reports.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or…