Senior Accountant

Job Description

CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all. For over 30 years, CALSTART has worked to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all.

CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.

This position will serve as the subject matter expert to ensure compliance and consistency in adhering to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and funding agency regulations/guidelines such as the “Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” (Uniform Guidance or 2 CFR 200), or state and local funding agencies. This role will entail significant cross-functional interactions with project management and business development, more specifically serving in the capacity of the dedicated financial partner for the Clean Mobility Options Pilot Program (CMO), with main duties to include monitoring subrecipient and program beneficiary (Awardees) fiscal activities in accordance with agreement terms and conditions, prime funding agency terms and conditions, and CALSTART accounting policies and procedures.

Additionally, this role includes performing financial analysis and business support in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and business needs, while improving systems, processes, and transparency across the program. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex financial requirements into clear, actionable guidance for non-accounting stakeholders, including community-based organizations and program awardees.

• Review funding contracts to ascertain: the presence of federal funding; cost reimbursement vs. milestone-based vs. time and materials billing terms; contract/project reporting requirements.
• Monitor and communicate contract compliance issues that impact project operations to appropriate personnel.
• Manage contract billings in accordance with funding contract terms and conditions.
• Review subcontractor/subrecipient agreement billing submissions in accordance with terms and conditions of subcontract/subaward.
• Monitor subcontractor/subrecipient compliance with subcontract/subaward terms and conditions.
• Quarterly reporting on Federal contracts.
• Liaison with funding agency and/or subcontractors/subrecipients regarding contract finance and other issues.
• Monitor contract finance (billings/costs v. budget) and communicate contract financial status with appropriate personnel.
• Monitor contract status (contract term/period of performance, reporting requirements, etc.) and advise appropriate personnel.
• Assist with preparation project budgets, budget modifications and contract amendments.
• Update and monitor contract log to advise program managers of contract status.
• Ensure completion of grant close-out processes.
• Drafting contracts and contract amendments as needed.
• Perform general accounting duties such as journal entries, particularly as they relate to contract billings and subcontractor/subrecipient billings.
• Ensure prompt payments of subrecipient/awardee payment requests: ensure efficient workflows for processing payment requests; timely review of payment requests, ensuring submissions are in accordance with agreement terms and conditions; timely and efficient communication with subrecipient/awardee on non-compliance issues and concise instructions on how to bring in compliance; timely follow-up on communications.
• Partner with CMO Project Managers to process payments and improve workflows.
• Maintain tracking across Salesforce, Excel, and Airtable.
• Translate financial concepts into plain language.
• Participate in weekly and monthly program meetings.
• Improve accounting procedures and tools for voucher implementation.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited college/university (Minimum).
• 5+ years of relevant accounting experience, particularly with government contracts/grants accounting and compliance. Nonprofit experience helpful.
• Working knowledge of auditing standards, particularly as they relate to cost verification.
• Knowledge of government contracting and government funding regulations such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and other regulations specific to government contracting.
• Experience in reporting requirements and procedures related to federal, state, other agencies, cost accounting, government accounting and auditing.
• Advanced abilities in Microsoft Excel and document management applications such as Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Ability and initiative to identify issues and research optimal…