Lead Manager, Accounting - Shared Financial Services

Who We Are:

Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Through our mission, we are uniting communities to grant life-changing wishes. As the world’s largest wish-granting organization, we strive to create a sense of community and an environment where we warmly embrace our wish families, volunteers, and colleagues.

Joining Make-A-Wish means becoming part of a mission that believes in the power of a wish.

Position Summary:

Serves as the relationship manager responsible for managing all financial reporting aspects for a portfolio of chapters that have elected to use Shared Financial Services (SFS) including preparing monthly financial statements, reconciling and analyzing various accounts, and preparing or reviewing financial documentation. The Accounting Manager will work to provide strong customer service to chapters, guide and create internal improvements, and serve as a leader of both people and initiatives within the department. This position will interact with individuals on all levels within the organization and prepare financial documentation that will be used by chapter senior leadership, including chapters' Board of Directors.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of financial accounting including generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and financial statement preparation to ensure accurate, efficient, timely financial reporting and related processes.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills to network with other departments within the organization, as well as externally with chapter personnel and the chapter’s Board of Directors, regarding various issues related to the financial reporting process.
• Excellent knowledge of internal and management control systems.
• Familiarity with audit planning processes and procedures.
• Excellent knowledge of accounting and information systems applications, preferably in a nonprofit environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with a high level of trust and confidentiality and possess strong business ethics.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Leads and manages member(s) of the accounting team which includes setting expectations, providing feedback, managing workload, ensuring consistent response times and delivery of results. Serves as advisor to SFS team in accounting practices and leadership development.
• Manages and oversees chapter’s financial needs including bank/investment reconciliations, balance sheet reconciliations, and the creation/approval of journal entries.
• Reviews internal and external financial statements, ensuring monthly close is accurate and timely, as well as confirming all variances have been documented and explained.
• Monitors chapter performance against budget and national benchmarking metrics informing chapter leadership of significant variances.
• Monitors chapter’s accounting activity to ensure appropriate recording of revenue and payments agrees to both GAAP and MAW policies.
• Works with the Salesforce system to ensure appropriate coding and reporting of chapter revenue streams.
• Serves as primary liaison, building and maintaining relationships, with assigned portfolio of chapters. Provides reports, queries, and analysis to chapters for account activity, revenue, expenses, etc.