Accountant Needed for Start-up, Growth Nonprofit

Staff Accountant

The Accountant reports to the ORRAA Inc. Director, Finance and Administration.

A resilient, Net Zero and economically secure world is not possible without a healthy, regenerating ocean. Heating, leading to extreme weather events, sea level rise, and adverse ecosystem changes as well as pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing, rising levels of acidity and biodiversity loss all jeopardize ocean health. Rebuilding and restoring ‘blue nature’ means protecting the critical impact buffers and biodiversity reservoirs that provide food, social and economic security to billions of people and businesses across the world.

Immediate and scaled action is needed to build resilience to change. ORRAA’s mission is to drive at least $500 million of investment into coastal and ocean natural capital and surface at least 50 novel finance products by 2030, positively impacting the resilience of at least 250 million climate vulnerable people in coastal areas around the world. We are the only multi-stakeholder alliance working in ocean finance that brings insurers, banks, governments, academia, and civil society together. We work across geographies – with a focus on the Global South – pioneering, piloting, and scaling innovative finance products that invest in coastal resilience.

The Accountant will provide day-to-day leadership on all accounting and payment platforms as well as providing support for staff and consultant payments.

ORRAA Inc. team members are focused on establishing practices and setting standards throughout ORRAA Inc. that build an ecosystem of like-minded funding partners, service providers, and professional service firms. Through our values-focused partnerships, this internal ORRAA Inc. ecosystem will underpin and help drive the long-term viability of the Alliance’s Theory of Change: To drive at least $500 million of investment into coastal and ocean resilience with a focus on nature-based solutions, through finance and insurance products by 2030, building the resilience of at least 250 million climate vulnerable coastal people.   **Summary of Responsibilities **   Finance Management  The Accountant is responsible for leading all aspects of the organization’s financial transaction recording and reporting. The portfolio includes supporting the development of the operating budget for the Alliance, as well as for ORRAA Inc., which houses the Secretariat. It also includes ensuring transactions are properly recorded for grant budgets as well as subgrants, working closely with leadership, programme, and development team members to support the organizations global activities.

Month-end Close -          Lead month-end close activities ensuring all transactions have been properly recorded and reconciliations are complete and accurate -          Ensure accurate revenue recognition standards are applied for all US and international grants, Alliance membership donations—including in-kind contributions—private foundation, corporate partnerships, and other revenue sources -          Ensure accurate accrual-based expense recognition for all subgrant payment schedules, vendor invoices, and other expenses -          Coordinate with outsourced accounting vendor to ensure all journal entries are properly recorded, including data synced from peripheral platforms -          Oversee vendor records and ensure accounts payable transactions are processed timely and all approvals and workflow policies have been followed -          Ensure all payroll registers are properly recorded for each pay cycle as reported via professional employer organization (PEO) -          Track foreign currency exchanges rates

Financial Reporting -          Support the preparation of annual, quarterly, and monthly financial and Board reports -          Develop forecasts and projections for operating and grant budgets -          Provide cash management and other forecasts to support operational activities -          Develop detailed grant budgets for grant proposals and track budget v. actual against the budget once awarded, leading review discussions as part of the month-end close process to ensure accuracy -          Track grant milestones and reporting schedules to ensure financial reporting requirements are met according to grant requirements

Budgeting -          Provide support to the annual operating budget process -          Lead the development of all grant proposal budgets -          Track budget v. actual activity throughout the fiscal year

Audit Readiness -          Lead the development of finance processes and policy to ensure accuracy and segregation of duty -          Lead the development of guidance for staff to ensure accurate record keeping and segregation of duties -          Support the development and maintenance of strong internal controls -          Support the preparation of the organization’s audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 tax returns -          Remain current on all relevant FASB guidance for the accurate presentation of financial information

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. A Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, CPA preferred
2. Three to five years’ experience in an accounting, or finance and operations leadership role with a nonprofit organization
3. Knowledge of both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards

1. Knowledge of the following platforms preferred:
   1. QuickBooks Online (general ledger and reporting)
   2. Bill.com (accounts payable and vendor records)
   3. Microsoft Office Suite (including Teams and SharePoint)
   4. Divvy (corporate credit card program manager)
2. Preferred knowledge and experience with U.S. government grant accounting requirements including CFR 200
3. Ability to work in a small, fast-paced, start-up nonprofit organization
4. Ability to adjust to multiple, competing priorities