Grant Accountant
Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking a Grant Accountant to support our finance department and strengthen grants management operations.
The Grant Accountant will play a key role in managing the financial aspects of the organization's grants. Responsibilities include tracking and reporting grant expenditures, ensuring compliance with funder requirements, supporting audits, and collaborating closely with other departments to maintain accurate and timely financial records.
This position reports to the Controller.
The key responsibilities for this role include:
• Manage a large portfolio of primarily non-governmental grants, ensuring accurate and timely financial oversight.
• Monitor and track grant budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets.
• Record grant revenue in accordance with nonprofit revenue recognition standards.
• Accurately allocate both non-personnel expenses and salaries/wages to grants based on time and effort reporting.
• Prepare interim and final financial reports for funders, including detailed budget-to-actual analyses, in compliance with funder requirements and deadlines.
• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy team to develop the financial components of grant proposals, ensuring that budgets reflect project activities, align with organizational goals, and consider existing commitments.
• Prepare financial statements, such as the Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities, when required by grant terms and conditions.
• Implement and maintain internal controls to ensure grant-related financial activities comply with funder guidelines, internal policies, and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Manage the financial closeout process for completed grants, including final reconciliations and reporting.
• Support the organization’s annual audit by preparing necessary documentation, schedules, and reconciliations related to grants.
• Assist in the implementation and improvement of accounting systems, processes, and tools to enhance grant financial management.
• Support general accounting functions, including month-end close processes, as needed.
• Provide backup and support for finance team members during absences or periods of peak workload.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the finance department and broader organizational goals.
What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in nonprofit grant accounting, ideally within organizations operating multiple sites or cost centers.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs) and Google Workspace tools.
• Experience using ERP accounting systems; preference given to those familiar with Sage Intacct.
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit financial reporting and experience supporting audits.
Bonus points if you’ve got:
• A Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA license or progress toward licensure.
This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
The salary range is $75,000 to $90,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess
• 401(k) matching program
• Paid parental leave
Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.
About Civic News Company
At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.
Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
Apply Now
Apply Now
The Grant Accountant will play a key role in managing the financial aspects of the organization's grants. Responsibilities include tracking and reporting grant expenditures, ensuring compliance with funder requirements, supporting audits, and collaborating closely with other departments to maintain accurate and timely financial records.
This position reports to the Controller.
The key responsibilities for this role include:
• Manage a large portfolio of primarily non-governmental grants, ensuring accurate and timely financial oversight.
• Monitor and track grant budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets.
• Record grant revenue in accordance with nonprofit revenue recognition standards.
• Accurately allocate both non-personnel expenses and salaries/wages to grants based on time and effort reporting.
• Prepare interim and final financial reports for funders, including detailed budget-to-actual analyses, in compliance with funder requirements and deadlines.
• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy team to develop the financial components of grant proposals, ensuring that budgets reflect project activities, align with organizational goals, and consider existing commitments.
• Prepare financial statements, such as the Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities, when required by grant terms and conditions.
• Implement and maintain internal controls to ensure grant-related financial activities comply with funder guidelines, internal policies, and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Manage the financial closeout process for completed grants, including final reconciliations and reporting.
• Support the organization’s annual audit by preparing necessary documentation, schedules, and reconciliations related to grants.
• Assist in the implementation and improvement of accounting systems, processes, and tools to enhance grant financial management.
• Support general accounting functions, including month-end close processes, as needed.
• Provide backup and support for finance team members during absences or periods of peak workload.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the finance department and broader organizational goals.
What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in nonprofit grant accounting, ideally within organizations operating multiple sites or cost centers.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs) and Google Workspace tools.
• Experience using ERP accounting systems; preference given to those familiar with Sage Intacct.
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit financial reporting and experience supporting audits.
Bonus points if you’ve got:
• A Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA license or progress toward licensure.
This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
The salary range is $75,000 to $90,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess
• 401(k) matching program
• Paid parental leave
Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.
About Civic News Company
At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.
Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
Apply Now
Apply Now