Senior Accountant at Heritage Health - Idaho – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

About the Role

The Senior Accountant (Technical Close Lead) owns key components of the month-end closing process, including preparation and review of journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance explanations. This role is responsible for maintaining an audit-ready reconciliation binder, strengthening internal controls, and improving close efficiency through standardized templates and process improvements. The position partners cross-functionally resolve accounting issues at the source and provide timely, decision-useful financial insights to leadership.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Month-End Close Ownership (Primary)

• Own assigned areas of the month-end close from pre-close through final review, including recurring entries, accruals, and cut-off procedures.
• Own month-end close for grant-related accounts (grant receivables, deferred revenue, revenue recognition support) and deliver monthly grant balance summaries to Finance leadership and the Grants/Program team.
• Prepare and/or review journal entries with clear support, proper coding, and GAAP-based rationale; ensure entries are posted timely and accurately.
• Lead preparation of an audit-ready reconciliation binder for assigned balance sheet accounts (monthly roll-forward, support, aging of reconciling items, resolution plans).
• Perform and document flux/variance analysis on assigned accounts; explain drivers and highlight emerging risks/trends to Finance leadership.

Grant Management & Grant Accounting (HRSA / State / Foundation /Other)

• Maintain the organization’s grant accounting schedules for HRSA, State, foundation, and other grant award funding, ensuring transactions are properly coded by grant, program, and period.
• Prepare and deliver monthly (or draw-period) support to the Grant Management/Program team for reimbursement requests, including:

o Allowable personnel cost details (salary, fringe, allocations) supported by payroll reports and approved methodologies

o Allowable direct cost detail supported by invoices, GL detail, and policy-based allowability

• Track grant financial activity against approved budgets and award terms; monitor burn rates, budget variances, and remaining available funding; proactively flag over/under-spend risk and timing concerns.
• Maintain a grant drawdown tracking log by award (requested, received, applied, remaining) and reconcile it monthly to the general ledger.
• Record grant-related journal entries and month-end close activity, including (as applicable):

o Grant receivables (amounts requested/earned but not yet received)

o Grant revenue recognition consistent with award terms (including fixed awards, where revenue may be recognized per the applicable recognition basis and documentation)

o Deferred revenue / unearned revenue when funds are received prior to meeting recognition requirements

• Collaborate closely with the Grant Management/Program team on grant reporting timelines and financial support for:

o Interim and final grant reporting packages

o Budget amendments and reforecasting

o Grantor/auditor PBC requests related to grant expenditures, allowability, and reconciliation support

• Maintain audit-ready documentation for all grant accounting areas, including cost support, allocation methodologies, reconciliation workpapers, and drawdown tie-outs.

Reconciliations, Controls, and Issue Resolution

• Reconcile balance sheet accounts; investigate discrepancies, trace root causes, and implement corrective actions (including process fixes, not just “band-aid” entries).
• Maintain strong awareness of business events impacting accounting; proactively partner with operational teams to prevent recurring issues.
• Support and enhance internal controls over financial reporting; document processes and recommend improvements, including compensating controls where segregation-of-duties is limited.

Reporting & Analytical Deliverables

• Produce monthly close deliverables for assigned areas: reconciliation status, open item aging, and variance commentary; create ad hoc reports as requested.
• Build and maintain standardized templates (reconciliation formats, JE support, tie-out checklists) to improve accuracy, reduce manual work, and increase consistency.

Audit & Compliance Support

• Serve as a key point person for assigned audit areas: prepare PBC schedules, respond to auditor questions, and maintain organized support files.
• Perform accounting research and prepare written documentation/memos on new or complex topics impacting the organization.

Leadership & Team Support

• Act as mentor to other accounting staff providing training, review support, and standard work adoption (recs, documentation, close discipline).
• Provide backup coverage for key accounting workflows as needed to maintain continuity of operations.

Payroll (Backup)

• Serve as payroll processing backup (bi-weekly), ensuring accuracy and timely posting; maintain payroll-related reconciliations and documentation. (If kept, specify what parts are payroll vs accounting.)

Technical Skills & Success Factors

• Strong GAAP knowledge; understands nonprofit (501(c)(3)) accounting fundamentals and internal controls.
• Advanced Excel skills (large datasets, pivots, lookups, structured templates) and comfort with accounting/reporting systems.
• Strong time management and ability to prioritize competing deadlines with minimal oversight; consistently meets close timelines.
• Excellent communication and cross-department collaboration skills; can explain accounting issues plainly and drive resolution.