Aspen Institute employees come from a wide range of backgrounds and possess a unique blend of education, skill, and policy experience. We recognize that our people are our vital resource and we value their knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment. At the Aspen Institute we offer competitive salaries and a wide variety of benefits to our employees and their families.
If you would enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to become part of a stellar team of professionals, we invite you to apply online today.
| Department: | OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTING |
| Location: | Washington, DC |
| Salary: | $67,500 - $74,000 |
ABOUT US
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS
The mission of the Office of Financial Operations (OFO) is to deliver timely and accurate financial reporting, analysis, and guidance that allows the Institute to pursue its programmatic goals and provide financial confidence in the organization. The OFO principally assists the organization's various programs and departments and its Board of Trustees by planning, organizing, and directing financial activities in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as the standards set forth by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). OFO promotes sound fiscal management through leadership, policy, and oversight. The OFO does this via its Guiding Principles:
Accountability and Integrity – We take responsibility for our actions and work to leverage limited resources to deliver the greatest value possible. As stewards of the Institute’s finances, we are committed to developing and managing a system of internal controls that provides confidence in the Institute’s finances to both internal and external audiences.
Excellence – We strive to be an initiative-taking group that establishes and achieves meaningful goals, measures performance, and communicates results. We value individual excellence and collective success. We serve as the focal point for the Institute’s fiscal management, embracing opportunities for change and improvement while being accurate and timely with our work.
Stakeholder Focus – We value and maintain strong partnerships in achieving our goals. We reach out and listen to our stakeholders to ensure that we are informed about their unique requirements, and they are informed about our capabilities as service providers. We are an organization-focused team, actively developing and providing new tools and support to meet the requirements of the organization.
Workforce – We respect and value a highly skilled, enthusiastic, motivated, service-oriented, and diverse workforce. We encourage innovation and thoughtful problem solving. We invest in continuing professional development for all employees to ensure a technically competent and knowledgeable workforce.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
The Staff Accountant plays a key role in supporting the financial integrity and operational effectiveness of the Aspen Institute’s Office of Financial Operations. This position is responsible for assisting with general ledger management, preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts, and supporting the monthly close process. The Staff Accountant ensures compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and contributes to accurate and timely financial reporting. This role requires strong attention to detail, a commitment to accuracy, and the ability to work collaboratively across departments in a mission-driven nonprofit environment.
This role reports directly to the Accounting Manager. The salary range for this role is $67,500 - $74,000. The expectation is for this role to be in our Washington D.C. office a minimum of 2x a week to collaborate with colleagues.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Prepare and post monthly allocation entries, including rent, access fees, parking, transit, and postage.
Record Short Term Investment Activity
Record Internal Conference Center Fees
Perform monthly bank reconciliations to ensure accurate cash reporting
Complete balance sheet account reconciliations on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
Record fixed asset transactions, including acquisitions, depreciation, disposals, and lease accounting
Reconcile Fixed Asset Accounts
Prepare and record bi-weekly payroll fringe benefit journal entries
Act as back-up for the Sr Staff Accountant and Accounting Manager
Perform other duties as assigned to support the Office of Financial Operations
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
3–5 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a nonprofit environment.
Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
Experience with accounting systems (NetSuite preferred)
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions for data analysis and reconciliation.
Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet critical deadlines.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered please complete an application, provide a resume and a cover letter.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.
The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation regarding the accessibility of our website, a modification or adjustment of the job application or interview process due to a disability, contact HRSupport@aspeninstitute.org or call (202) 736-5800.
