Manager of Accounting at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – CHICAGO, Illinois

About the ELCA

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshipping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving, and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice, and love.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the Mission Investment Fund

The Mission Investment Fund (MIF), a financial ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, supports the establishment and growth of ELCA congregations, synods, and affiliated ministries by providing loans for capital projects for congregations and ministries. To fund these loans, MIF offers a variety of investments to ELCA members, congregations, and ministries.

The ELCA Federal Credit Union, a financial ministry partner of the Mission Investment Fund, offers financial products and services to members, pastors, congregations, synods, affiliated ministries, and their employees. The portfolio of products includes low-cost loans, deposit accounts, credit cards, and other solutions within a not-for-profit, cooperative structure.

Values - MIF's values are rooted in Christian faith, Lutheran traditions, and our identity as a ministry of the ELCA; Integrity, Customer Focus, Inclusion and Diversity, Faithful Stewardship, Courage and Openness to Change.

About the Position

The Manager of Accounting is responsible for accounting operations and staff in processing financial transactions, maintaining financial records, and reporting financial results to internal and external stakeholders. This role is a key contributor to ensuring timeliness, completeness, accuracy and validity of financial assets, records and reports. This position also supports related financial processes, including liquidity management, budgeting, forecasting, data modeling, and asset valuation.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt (salaried), Chicago-based hybrid position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office on a weekly basis. This could mean 2-3 days most weeks and possibly more days when meetings and other events are happening that this position supports.

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. Manage period-end financial close processes. Approve journal entries, standard transactions and reconciliations. Complete general ledger maintenance tasks, as required.

2. Manage accounts payable processes. Manage fixed assets processes. Review and approve transactions within stated limits and for appropriate accounting treatment.

3. Assist in cash, operating and capital budget development. Facilitate monitoring processes to address material variances, update forecasts and process corrections, as needed.

4. Review and/or prepare financial statements, management and regulatory reports, and other periodic reporting for internal and external use. Respond to inquiries.

5. Implement accounting controls, including maintaining and ensuring adherence to policies and procedures. Coordinate preparation and submission of internal and external audit requests and schedules. Assess impact of new accounting standards and operationalize required changes.

6. Supervise and coach team members, including building teamwork, allocating resources, problem solving, training and development, and performance management.

7. Manage to key performance indicators for critical processes and team goals. Drive efficiencies in accounting workflows. Collaborating with the IT team, serve as liaison/subject matter expert for accounting systems, participating in system implementations, monitoring functionality, testing updates and training users.

8. Implement special projects, serve on ad-hoc committees, and perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

1. Senior Accountant

2. Staff Accountant

3. Accounting Clerk

1. 3+ years of experience managing accounting functions and teams. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field. Solid understanding of accounting principles and internal controls. Financial institution and/or not-for-profit experience highly preferred.

2. CPA certification preferred.

4. Excellent financial management and analytical skills, process orientation, attention to detail, critical thinking and good aptitude for converting financial data into meaningful information.

5. Ability to achieve results both independently and through others, prioritize, meet deadlines, work under pressure and preserve confidentiality.

6. Effective team-building, collaboration, interpersonal and communication (oral, written, nonverbal) skills. Ability to engage cross-functionally with and present to senior leaders.

7. Appreciation for the mission, vision, values and goals of the ELCA and the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA.

8. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

9. Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively.

10. Minimum Technical Competency: High level efficiency with accounting software. Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Advanced experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) required. Knowledge of Wordpress, advocacy database systems, graphic design platforms and Zoom Webinar a plus.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. May be required to lift boxes of materials. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Minimal travel. Position requires minimal domestic travel by plane, car, van, etc. Valid driver’s license preferred.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 11 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.