Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values ! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives .
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy.
We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position.
This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least 2-3 times per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite. Candidates are required to have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals receiving a conditional offer of employment from the California Academy of Sciences will be provided the full text of the vaccination policy. The California Academy of Sciences is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, to protect its employees, volunteers and guests.
About The Business & Finance Division
The Business & Finance Division believes that providing valuable insight to our Academy partners enables them to achieve the Academy’s mission. To do this, we support our colleagues and each other so that we can accomplish the Academy’s mission together, we anticipate and respond quickly to the needs of our partners, we build trust in our partners that fosters collaborative relationships, and we deliver timely and accurate information to our partners so that they can make better decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Accounting:
- Participate in the period-end close procedures, to include the preparation of moderate and occasionally complex level general ledger journal entries and supporting documentation that is audit-ready.
- Review period-end financial results and variance analysis as compared to budget, prior year, year-end, and prior quarter for moderate and occasionally complex financial statement line items.
- Prepare account reconciliations and ensure that any reconciling items are resolved or cleared in a timely manner.
- Prepare schedules and reports in support of the annual financial statement audit and tax Form 990; all schedules prepared must be adequately documented.
- Review and recommend improvements to streamline internal controls and key business processes.
- Participate in the documentation of accounting process narratives.
- Develop working relationships with fellow team members and business partners and serve as the first point of contact for business partners.
- Work on any accounting, financial project/analysis, or ad-hoc research as required.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
- Assist in the facilitation of all internal and external financial reporting packages and regulatory filings following U.S. GAAP, including footnote supporting schedules, tie-out binders, and disclosure checklists.
- Assist in facilitating the annual financial statement audit and tax form 990, ensuring that all key deadlines are met.
- Assist in the timely preparation of regulatory filings with federal, state, and local governments.
- Assist in the planning and execution of regular internal control audits over key accounting functions.
- Review and recommend improvements to streamline internal controls and key business processes.
- Participate in the documentation of accounting process narratives.
- Maintain accounting systems to support financial and operational accounting functions.
- Identify opportunities to use information technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes.
- Develop working relationships with fellow team members and business partners and serve as the first point of contact for business partners.
- Work on any accounting, financial project/analysis, or ad-hoc research as required.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Experience and/or Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business, or Finance-related field
- Minimum of 2+ years of relevant accounting experience in either public accounting or corporate accounting, or a combination of both
- CPA license or working towards passing the CPA exam (preferred)
- Intermediate knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (required)
- Attention to detail, including the ability to perform thorough self-reviews to limit clerical errors or inaccuracies
- Critical thinking, including the ability to utilize available resources to determine the best course of action for non-standard transactions
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with staff, management, and outside contacts in a cooperative and professional manner
- Intermediate knowledge of Excel
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, use a computer, and communicate on the phone, in person, and online meetings/calls. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 90% of the time.
This position is eligible for overtime pay. There are periods when additional hours and/or weekend work will be expected to fulfill business needs and the overtime hours will be paid at an overtime rate.
Compensation And Benefits
Starting salary will vary based on experience, skills/knowledge set, and internal equity. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked.
Please scroll down to "Other details" for this position's hiring range.
Schedule : Full-Time, 40 hours per week. This position is eligible for overtime pay. There are periods when additional hours and/or weekend work will be expected to fulfill business needs and the overtime hours will be paid at an overtime rate.
Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin on March 8, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.
Application Process
Please upload your resume and complete the brief online application
The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, terminations, training, and social and recreational programs, will be on the basis of qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled. The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. Read our full Equal Opportunity Statement here .
