Senior Payroll Accountant

Position Location: Flexible
Apply By: August 1 3 , 2026

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star:

By 2033,75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influencepolicyand action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than
200 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.

We’reon a pathtoongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $70million, andwe’refunded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.

JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star ,we hire based on qualifications, and experience, and we are committed to fair opportunity for all qualified candidates – including those without a 4-year degree or formally incarnated individuals.

Reporting to the Director of Accounting, the Senior payroll accountant is a key member of the Finance team. This role is responsible for leading core payroll and payroll-accounting functions while supporting broader accounting operations, including reconciliations, month-end and year-end close, audit preparation, financial reporting, and compliance activities.

The ideal candidate brings strong payroll expertise , sound accounting judgment, close attention to detail, and a service-oriented approach to working with colleagues, external vendors, and regulatory stakeholders. This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional who thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment and enjoys improving processes while maintaining accuracy and compliance.

• Lead bi-weekly payroll processing in partnership with JFF’s third-party payroll provider to ensure timely and accurate payroll execution.
• Ensure timely timesheet collection, review, and approval in alignment with internal controls and payroll processing deadlines.
• Manage payroll tax and year-end processing activities, including 941 reconciliations, quarterly wage and tax adjustments, W-2 coordination, and maintenance of payroll records and files In partnership with a third-party payroll provider.
• Partner with People and Culture, Total Rewards, and external vendors to coordinate payroll, benefits, and related reporting requirements.
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and ensure accurate recording of wages, taxes, benefits, and related accruals.
• Prepare wage reports and other ad hoc payroll reporting needed for quarterly reporting, unemployment claims, audits, and compliance requirements.
• Review and improve payroll standard operating procedures and related processes to strengthen efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness across the organization.
• Monitor internal controls related to payroll processing, employee record maintenance, benefit payments, and other payroll-related activities.
• Maintain payroll-related employee data and controls in ADP and Net Suite, including updates for new hires, tax jurisdictions , direct…