Senior Finance & Accounting Manager at The Skoll Foundation – Washington, District of Columbia
The Skoll Foundation
Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, United States
Posted on
NewSalary:$132480 - $198720Job Function:Accounting/Finance
New job! Apply early to increase your chances of getting hired.
Explore Related Opportunities
About This Position
Skoll is a private grant-making foundation that seeks to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators. Together, we advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. The Skoll Foundation fosters a mission and values-based approach to the work we do focused on the vision of doing good.
The Skoll Foundation is hiring a Senior Finance & Accounting Manager based in Washington, DC. The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, including Tuesday through Thursday onsite in the DC office.
The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager is a key contributor to the Foundation’s finance function, responsible for executing day-to-day accounting operations under the direction of the Vice President, Finance & Operations (VP). Under the VP’s direction, this position executes the Foundation’s accounting cycle including monthly and annual close, general ledger management, accounts payable, and expense oversight. The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager plays a critical role in supporting the VP’s leadership of budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and long-range financial planning.
The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager directly supervises the Staff Accountant, and together they handle all transactional and analytical accounting functions internally. The Senior Finance & Accounting Manager ensures that the underlying financial data, reporting, and processes are accurate, timely, and audit-ready. This role is essential to maintaining strong internal controls and operational efficiency, and supports the VP in building the analytical foundation needed for strategic decision-making and communicating financial performance to internal and external stakeholders.
Primary Duties
Accounting Operations & Monthly Close- Own and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring all journal entries, bank reconciliations, general ledger reconciliations, and accruals are completed accurately and on schedule.
- Review all journal entries, reconciliations, and financial schedules prepared by the Staff Accountant; ensure quality, accuracy, and adherence to established timelines.
- Maintain the general ledger chart of accounts and ensure proper classification of all transactions in accordance with GAAP.
- Support the VP in the annual operating budget process by coordinating cross-departmental input, building and maintaining budget models, and preparing supporting analyses and documentation.
- Support the development and maintenance of rolling financial forecasts that incorporate grant commitments, program-related investment (PRI) activity, operating expenses, payout requirements, and cash flow needs.
- Prepare monthly budget-to-actual variance analyses with clear narrative explanations that go beyond the numbers; identify trends, risks, and opportunities for the VP’s review and action.
- Partner with the VP to build and maintain financial models that support scenario planning, long-range financial projections, and strategic initiatives; this includes contributing to models that capture the interplay between investment portfolio performance, the Foundation's 5% minimum distribution requirement, grant payout timing, and endowment sustainability over multi-year horizons.
- Support the VP in translating complex financial data into clear, accessible narratives and visualizations for communicating the Foundation's current financial position and future outlook to the Executive Leadership Team, the Board, and the Audit Committee.
- Leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance the speed, depth, and quality of financial analysis, including automating routine data consolidation, identifying patterns and anomalies in financial and investment data, and generating scenario projections.
- Stay current on AI applications in FP&A and proactively identify opportunities to integrate these tools into the Foundation's analytical workflows.
- Prepare financial data, analyses, and supporting materials for Foundation programs, including the Skoll World Forum, as needed.
- Oversee all aspects of the accounts payable function—including vendor setup, invoice processing, grant disbursements, and payment scheduling—ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and policy compliance.
- Review the Foundation’s bi-weekly payroll for accuracy and proper general ledger coding after processing by the HR team; ensure payroll entries are recorded correctly and reconciled in coordination with HR.
- Review all staff expense reports, ensuring accurate documentation, appropriate expense coding, and alignment with the Foundation's budget, policies, and organizational values.
- Support the VP in administering the Foundation’s retirement plan contributions by preparing payment schedules, reviewing employee deferrals, and ensuring timely submission to the plan provider.
- Prepare all audit schedules, workpapers, confirmations, and supporting documentation including investment portfolio testing and grant-related reporting in advance of the annual financial audit led by the VP.
- Coordinate day-to-day audit fieldwork logistics and respond to auditor inquiries, ensuring the VP has complete and accurate information for the auditor and audit committee interface.
- Prepare and compile all schedules, data, and documentation needed for the Foundation’s tax filings (Form 990-PF, Form 5500, property tax filings, 1099s) as directed by the VP, Finance.
- Oversee the Staff Accountant’s preparation of audit workpapers, tax schedules, and 1099 forms for accuracy and completeness.
- Stay abreast of evolving accounting rules, regulations, and reporting requirements affecting private foundations and philanthropy.
- Support and maintain the Foundation’s internal control framework in alignment with policies established by the VP; regularly assess controls for effectiveness and recommend improvements.
- Coordinate the ongoing maintenance and documentation of internal finance and business expense policies and procedures.
- Recommend process improvements across financial operations, with a focus on efficiency, accuracy, and technology adoption, and support implementation as directed by the VP.
- Perform in-depth financial analysis of internal operations and processes; organize and interpret financial data to support policy updates, workflow improvements, and strategic decision-making.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts and analyses to support grant payout planning and operating liquidity needs.
- Support the completion of external financial surveys, benchmarking studies, and other reporting requirements.
- Provide operational and financial support for Program-Related Investment (PRI) activities as directed by the VP, including assistance with reporting, documentation, and cross-functional coordination.
- Maintain organized digital finance files and develop SOPs and training materials that strengthen institutional knowledge and support cross-training.
- Take on special projects as assigned.
Team Leadership
- Directly supervise the Staff Accountant; set priorities, provide day-to-day guidance, review work product, support professional development, and conduct performance evaluations.
- Allocate and delegate accounting responsibilities between the Senior Finance & Accounting Manager and Staff Accountant roles to ensure efficient coverage of all financial operations.
- Establish clear workflows, documentation standards, and cross-training practices that support continuity, scalability, and knowledge sharing within the team.
- Foster a collaborative, high-trust team environment consistent with the culture cultivated by the VP and reflecting the Foundation’s values.
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Education & Experience- Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, accounting, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of experience with progressive responsibility in financial or accounting operations, with demonstrated ability to analyze and compile complex data for planning and decision support.
- Substantive experience in budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial modeling; experience building models in Excel or dedicated FP&A tools is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); experience in private foundations/nonprofits and investment analysis is a plus.
- Hands-on experience managing the full accounting cycle in-house (not solely oversight of outsourced functions) is strongly preferred.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or relevant certification in financial planning a plus.
- Ability to work Tuesday through Thursday onsite in DC within a reasonable commuting distance to the office.
- Ability to travel up to 10% including domestic and international travel.
- Prior supervisory or mentoring experience preferred.
- Strong systems orientation with a track record of implementing and enhancing tools and processes, developing innovative solutions, and staying well-informed of new and emerging options; experience with Salesforce and Intacct is a plus.
- Advanced Excel skills essential (financial modeling, scenario analysis, pivot tables, complex formulas); experience with FP&A or business intelligence tools is a plus.
- Ideally, has experience with AI tools or is willing to learn how to use AI to enhance work.
- Must be able to anticipate needs, challenges, and short- and long-term implications; analyze issues and problems systematically; and effectively communicate and implement solutions.
- Strong project management and organization skills; experience effectively managing multiple projects across different internal and external constituents to drive results.
- Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with diverse stakeholders and explain complex financial concepts succinctly to drive clarity and action.
- Excellent written and oral communication and documentation skills; exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Protects sensitive and confidential information.
- Comfortable working in and thriving in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and able to adapt and lead through change.
- A hands-on operator who is comfortable owning both the analytical and transactional dimensions of accounting in a small-team environment, while supporting a VP who sets the strategic direction.
- A keen sense of integrity, humility, professionalism, and commitment to creating a positive culture within the organization.
- Highly adaptable to change and calm under pressure.
- Interest in social innovation and alignment with the Skoll Foundation’s mission to catalyze transformational social change.
Benefits
The Skoll Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package including flexible time off, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision coverage, and generous retirement plan offerings.
Salary
$132,480 - $198,720
The Skoll Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Scan to Apply
Just scan this QR code to apply from your phone.
Job Location
Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, United States
Loading interactive map for Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, United States
Job Location
This job is located in the Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, United States region.
Frequently asked questions about this position
Latest Job Openings in District of Columbia
Manager, PAC
Mortgage Bankers Association
Washington, DC
Maintenance Technician - DMV
Birdwatch
Washington, DC
Email Marketing Specialist
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Washington DC, DC
Maintenance Manager - DMV Area
Birdwatch
Washington, DC
Apply For This Position
By submitting your application, you understand and agree to JobTarget's
Terms of Service
and
Privacy Policy.