Jr. Accountant

Operations Department
Reporting to:
Finance Accountant
Full-Time;
Exempt

Location:

Hybrid (Washington, D.C. or New York)
Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000

Kennedy Human Rights seeks a full-time, detail-oriented and mission-aligned Junior Accountant to support the day-to-day financial operations of the organization. Reporting directly to the Accountant, this role will primarily focus on accounts payable – processing invoices, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring accurate and timely payments – while also providing broader bookkeeping and financial support. This is an ideal position for an early career accounting professional looking to deepen their experience within the nonprofit sector and accounts payable field.

About the Operations
Department:

The Operations Department is made up of the core team which helps run the day-to-day operations that keep Kennedy Human Rights up and running. The team includes HR, IT, Finance, and Office Administration. We strive to provide an environment and services that both enhance the quality of our engagement while also improving the processes that help us reach our organizational goals.

Responsibilities:

Accounts Payable

• Process vendor invoices accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring proper coding to the correct cost centers, grants, and project codes.
• Review and verify invoices and expense reports for appropriate documentation, approvals, and alignment with organizational policies.
• Prepare and process check runs, ACH payments, and wire transfers in coordination with the Accountant and senior leadership.
• Maintain organized and up-to-date vendor files and records, including W-9 forms and contract documentation.
• Respond to vendor inquiries regarding payment status and resolve discrepancies promptly and professionally.
• Support the annual 1099 preparation process, ensuring all required vendor information is collected and accurate.
• Assist with monthly bank and credit card reconciliations under the guidance of the Accountant.
• Support the month-end and year-end close processes, including preparing journal entries and supporting schedules.
• Help maintain the general ledger and ensure accuracy of financial data in the accounting system.
• Assist in tracking expenditures against program and grant budgets, flagging variances for the Accountant’s review.
• Assists Accountant with annual audit and 990 filing; gathers necessary account information and documents to perform annual audit and 990 filing;
• Coordinate with Development Team in the review and preparation of grant applications + reporting;
• Support the preparation of financial reports for internal leadership and external stakeholders, including funders and the board.

Operations & Compliance

• Assist with documentation and record-keeping to support the annual audit and any funder-required financial reporting.
• Maintains knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), practices and procedures;
• Help maintain organized financial files (digital and physical) in accordance with record retention policies.
• Help manage and recommend updates to enhance the accounting software system (i.e. Quickbooks, Ramp, etc.) and future integrations w/ CRMs (i.e. Salesforce);
• Support the implementation of or improvement to internal financial controls and processes as the organization grows.
• Coordinate with Accountant and Director of Human Resources for filing of tax forms with federal, state, and local government agencies;
• Contribute to ad hoc financial projects and analysis as requested by the Accountant or senior leadership.

Qualifications
:

• 1-3 years of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related financial role (internships and part-time experience considered).
• Working knowledge of accounts payable processes, including invoice processing, payment workflows, and vendor management.
• Knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and financial statement preparation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets; comfort working with financial data and spreadsheets.
• Proficiency and experience working with Quickbooks or a similar accounting software;
• Experience working with online billing systems such as Ramp, or similar systems;
• Ability to read and…