Project Accountant

Meridian Institute has an immediate opening for a full-time Project Accountant . This position may work in a hybrid fashion near our Frisco, CO or Washington, DC offices, or fully from a remote home office based in the United States. This is an ideal position for a professional who thrives in fast-paced work environment, has strong analytical skills, and wants to use these attributes to support a mission driven organization.
Meridian is a nonprofit consultancy that engages in dynamic problem solving with global leaders in business, government, civil society, philanthropy, and beyond. We bring people together, helping them navigate the dynamic variables that shape any collaborative search for solutions—from individual relationships to geopolitical considerations. Our work spans industries and sectors and includes projects focused on agriculture and food systems, climate change, forests, oceans and coasts, resilience, and science and technology, among others. Across these areas, we build and support partnerships that address our world's complex challenges.
As a member of the Finance Team, the Project Accountant plays a key role in ensuring the financial integrity and compliance of Meridian Institute's project accounting records. Reporting to the Senior Accountant, AR, the Project Accountant closely collaborates with project teams to maintain financial integrity, mitigate risks, and drive successful outcomes. This position encompasses project finance administration, funding proposal support, and compliance oversight. The Project Accountant also supports the Controller and the Senior Accountant, AR in the management and oversight of project finance and grants administration.
The starting pay range for this position is $80,800 - $101,000 annually, based on the level of education and relevant experience. This is a salary, exempt position. In following our commitment to principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining pay equity when hiring is extremely important to us. For this reason, salary offers with Meridian are non-negotiable.
Meridian is dedicated to advancing our employees' professional growth, supporting employee wellbeing, and helping them meet their healthcare and retirement needs. Meridian provides a competitive benefits package, including:
A dynamic and inclusive work environment with flexible work schedules and locations for proven high performers Professional development opportunities Comprehensive medical and dental insurance, including fully employer paid premium options at the employee only level A variety of voluntary benefits for employees, their families, and their pets Generous vacation and sick time, plus 12 paid holidays A robust Employee Assistance Program Meridian partner benefits such as discounts and wellbeing opportunities DC Office Employees Only – Metro expense reimbursement for commute into work?? Remote Workers Only – home office internet allowance?? About the Position: All Meridian positions require individuals to be self-starters with exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills, a high level of organization and attention to detail. Working at Meridian requires the ability to excel in a team environment while also juggling multiple deadlines and project teams. The areas of responsibility for this position are as follows:
Project Finance Administration Ensures the financial viability of Meridian projects throughout the duration of contracts, monitoring project burn rates and integrating proper project rate escalations to ensure financial sustainability. Provides comprehensive financial administration for projects, collaborating closely with the Project Director to prepare and submit reports to clients. Issues monthly financial status reports at the project level, subject to approval of the Controller and the Project Director. Oversees foreign currency transactions for large projects, preparing invoices and notifying the Controller and the Project Director of any contractual implications. Collaborates with the Project Director to establish accurate and efficient internal project tracking mechanisms. Manage project budget templates, ensuring accuracy and accessibility for all staff members. Maintains and updates the finance section of Meridian's intercompany website, including organizational budget templates. Supports other tasks within Finance as identified by the roles and responsibilities matrix, and as assigned. Project Funding Proposals In collaboration with Project Directors, reviews proposal guidelines to discern financial requirements for proposal submissions. Conducts research and prepares all required financial documentation to accompany project proposal submissions. Compliance Manages representations and certifications, responding to due diligence inquiries in a timely and accurate manner. For contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements, administers and ensures due diligence processes are completed prior to entering into agreements. Ensures compliance with Meridian Institute's records retention and disposal policies.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS At least 3 years of experience in project accounting and/or nonprofit accounting  Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; or equivalent years of related work experience.  Strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and financial reporting requirements.  Proficiency in enterprise-wide accounting systems, NetSuite preferred.  Experience with project management and contract administration preferred.  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders.  Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.  Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI); ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds with humility, ease, and enthusiasm.  A high degree of proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including but not limited to: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, and SharePoint?  Fluency in English; professional fluency in an additional language is highly valued, particularly Spanish and French. Passion and curiosity about the issues and areas of Meridian's work.??  The full job description can be found here.
How to Apply: The application deadline is Wednesday, June 5, 2024   Please submit the following application materials :  
Cover Letter – 1 page -  Drawing from your personal and professional experiences, please explain how you hope to contribute to Meridian in this role.   Resume – 1-2 pages -  Detail relevant education, training, experiences, and accomplishments. Three Professional References Please note: All applications will be reviewed by our team. We thank all applicants for their interest and will be in contact only with those chosen to interview. Due to capacity constraints on our hiring team, we are unable to provide specific status updates beyond these parameters. Our ideal start date for this role is July 2024 .
About Meridian Meridian Institute is a mission-driven, nonprofit consultancy that has helped clients and partners develop and implement solutions to complicated, often controversial problems—big and small, global and local—for over two decades.
Effective collaborative decision-making involves bringing together participants with diverse backgrounds and differing viewpoints. As an organization, we seek staff that reflects and values that same diversity; successful Meridian team members are experienced working in multicultural settings and welcome new opportunities to widen their own perspectives. We bring integrity, inclusiveness, and respect for differences to every project we undertake. We are working to ensure that Meridian possesses the expertise needed to partner with—and build trust among—marginalized and disenfranchised communities, while advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within our organization and our work.
Accommodation Meridian Institute complies fully with the relevant Disability Acts and Laws in local countries. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Meridian Institute, please contact us at .
COVID-19 Consideration At this time, Meridian Institute requires that all employees be fully vaccinated, including booster shots. In circumstances where an applicant communicates that he or she is not able to be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance or because of a disability, then Meridian, in accordance with applicable law, will engage in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation is feasible that will not pose an undue hardship or create a direct threat to safety.
Equal Opportunity Employment Meridian's work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups from around the world. At Meridian, we welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.
Meridian Institute is a participating employer in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security program, E-Verify .