Senior Accountant II - Tax & Employee Benefits Compliance - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Accountant II - Tax & Employee Benefits Compliance in the Finance Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. Responsible for safeguarding the financial resources of the organization, the Finance Team manages the financial activities of the National ACLU. From paying vendors, forecasting budgets, and everything in-between, we take pride in providing the resources and the platform for informed financial decision-making.This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU). WHAT YOU'LL DO Reporting to the Assistant Controller, Revenue and Investments, the Senior Accountant II - Tax & Employee Benefits Compliance, will be responsible for significant functional areas within the ACLU’s accounting and will play a critical role in the successful operations of the Finance Team at the ACLU. Our ideal candidate will have strong accounting knowledge, analytical and functional experience, possess an exceptional attention to detail, an orientation towards being of service, and a passion for the work of the ACLU.YOUR DAY TO DAYThe following overview of responsibilities is intended to describe the type of work assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all specific duties required by the employee:General Accounting OperationsSet the bar for customer service excellence by providing timely, thorough, and friendly responses to internal and external stakeholder inquiriesPerform account reconciliations relevant to functional areas, ensuring their accuracy and proper documentation for internal and external reporting purposesAssist with relevant audits, preparing audit schedules and materials and managing deliverable deadlinesAssist Revenue and Investments team with relevant reconciliations and projects as neededComplete ad hoc reports and projects as requested by Finance LeadershipSuggest accounting policies and procedures based on GAAP and industry best practices relevant to functional areasFunctional Area: TaxCoordinate with the Controller on the preparation and review of all federal, state, and local income tax returnsAssist with the preparation of required tax filings and government reporting (local, state, federal), including preparing schedules and/or draft filings for reviewManage all federal/state and local tax correspondence and auditsPrepare year-end estimated tax payments for all federal, state, and local agenciesPrepare ad hoc tax reports for internal and external stakeholdersPrepare and review tax provisions for the annual financial statementsDevelop processes and controls to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local agenciesAdvise and interpret for the Finance team the impact of new laws, decisions, regulations, rulings, and proposed tax legislationReview annual K-1s to determine the federal and state annual unrelated business income/loss generatedMaintain organized and up-to-date recording system for electronic files; utilizing established internal best practices for record retentionReview the annual returns prepared by the external auditors before filingPrepare the monthly filings for NYS Sales and Use taxApply for and maintain all state sales tax exemptions for the ACLUCoordinate with tax consultants on filing all sales taxes in relation to the ACLU storeFunctional Area: Pension BenefitsCommunicate the progress of monthly/quarterly initiatives to internal and external stakeholdersReview the calculation of affiliates' invoices for late payments made to the ACLU retirement plansReview the quarterly reconciliation of employee census data from Form 941, “Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return,” to the year-to-date payroll register to ensure the accuracy and completeness of employee data between the two sourcesReview affiliates' reconciliation of their Form 941 to their payroll registers quarterly for accuracyReview SOC-1 reports for National and all affiliates on an annual basis and document if any control issues existReview monthly trust statements for both the pension and contribution retirement plan for accuracyReview, on an annual basis, the reconciliation between payroll registers and W-3 payroll forms Review the completion of the timeliness schedule related to contribution submission for the pension planReview the reconciliation of National and affiliate contributions to payroll records to ensure that eligible participants are enrolled and their contributions are accurateReview notes receivable from participants annually to ensure they comply with the restrictions defined by the Plan document and under the Internal Revenue CodeReview payments of benefits to verify that they are in accordance with the Plan provisionsFUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLUCenter and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectivesBe committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflictsWHAT YOU'LL BRINGStrong knowledge of GAAP and current accounting best practices, including upcoming regulatory changes to reporting requirementsStrong knowledge of pension benefits and tax laws that impact not-for-profit organizationsStrong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial working environmentExcellent organizational and planning skillsDemonstrated ability to speak and write in succinct, informative and friendly manner such that content, expectations and timelines are clearly understood by the audienceAbility to manage multiple priorities from a variety of sources; prioritizing effectively to impact areas of greatest need and meet deadlinesProficiency with Microsoft ExcelPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSDemonstrated years of relevant work experience in an accounting role, preferably at a non-profit organizationCPA with knowledge of GAAP and current accounting best practices, including upcoming regulatory changes to reporting requirementsKnowledge of accounting reporting software; aptitude for learning new financial technologyHigh proficiency in Microsoft Office products required, with advanced skills in Excel (pivot tables, vlookups, if statements)Experience with cloud-based financial systems and data aggregation toolsCOMPENSATIONThe ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $119,187 (Level G), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting. For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdfWHY THE ACLUFor over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policyFocus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer matchWe support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshopsOUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIONAccessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization - one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Minimum Salary: 119187
Maximum Salary: 119187
Salary Unit: Yearly