Accountant (CPA Track) - Transit Nonprofit

Position Summary

The Accountant position is the second seat in TMA Group’s finance department, working under the CFO. The role starts with hands-on transaction work, including driver payroll, cash reconciliation, and customer billing, in close partnership with transportation operations, and grows over about three years into month-end close, grant reporting, and financial statement preparation.

Who We Are

Looking For

Someone who wants a long-term career in accounting and values the mission and size of a smaller nonprofit. We welcome a recent graduate, generally within a few years of college, ready to build a strong professional foundation. We equally welcome an experienced accounting professional who wants to bring their skills to a smaller nonprofit with direct access to senior finance leadership.

Reliability and attention to detail matter most.

Key Responsibilities

• Duties are organized in three phases.
• The CFO will adjust the pace to the individual’s experience; a seasoned hire may move through the early phases faster.

Phase 1

Foundational Operations (Months 1–12)

• Accounts Payable: Process vendor invoices, verify department approvals, and prepare weekly check runs or ACH payments.
• Driver Payroll: Review driver time card punches and process driver payroll hours accurately and on schedule, working with transportation operations to resolve discrepancies.
• Cash Reconciliation: Work with transportation operations to reconcile daily driver ticket and cash collections to rider counts, records, and bank deposits.
• Customer Billing: Prepare and issue invoices to customers for transportation services rendered, including vanpool participants, and apply payments, including credit and debit card receipts.
• Accounts Receivable: Track grant reimbursements and disbursements, program service fees, and outstanding customer balances.
• Expense Tracking: Reconcile staff credit card statements and verify expense reports against organizational policy.
• Data Entry: Enter daily financial transactions into the accounting software using proper coding, including grant and program classifications and the board-restricted vehicle replacement fund.
• Digital Filing: Maintain organized digital archives of invoices, receipts, contracts, and grant agreements.

Phase 2

Monthly Oversight and Compliance (Months 13–24)

• Bank Reconciliations: Reconcile monthly bank, money market, and credit card statements.
• Month-End Closing: Prepare and post standard journal entries, prepaid expenses, and depreciation schedules.
• Grant Reporting: Assist program managers in tracking grant expenditures against funder requirements and in preparing reimbursement requests and supporting documentation.
• Payroll Compliance: Support payroll retirement contributions and coordinate with the outside payroll company, which handles payroll tax reporting and liabilities.
• Audit Preparation: Gather requested schedules, transaction samples, and documentation for the annual external audit and related federal and state compliance reviews.

Phase 3

Strategic Leadership Shadowing (Months 25+)

• Financial Reporting: Draft monthly financial statements, including the Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) and Statement of Activities (Income Statement).
• Budget Variance Analysis: Identify and analyze variances between actual spending and the board-approved budget.
• Cash Flow Forecasting: Assist the CFO in projecting short-term and long-term cash flow needs.
• Board Communication: Attend Board Finance Committee meetings as an observer to understand governance and strategic decision-making.

QualificationsRequired

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles, including debits and credits, reconciliations, and journal entries.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, including sorting, lookups, and pivot tables.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and the discipline to meet recurring weekly and monthly deadlines.
• Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and handle confidential financial and personnel information with integrity.

Preferred

• Prior accounting, bookkeeping, or internship experience; nonprofit, governmental, or grant accounting exposure is a plus.
• Experience with accounting software such as Sage, QuickBooks, or a fund accounting system.
• Familiarity with payroll processing or federal and state grant billing.
• Interest in pursuing the CPA or CNAP designation.

Tools and Workspace

• Accounting Software: Access to the organization’s core ledger system and related billing and payment platforms.
• Spreadsheet Tools: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for financial modeling and data analysis.
• Workstation: A dual-monitor setup to review digital invoices on one screen while entering data on the other.
• Reference Materials: The organization’s Financial Policies and Procedures Manual, a detailed Chart of Accounts (codes, classes, and program departments), and access to professional nonprofit accounting guides such as AICPA resources to master GAAP rules for net assets.

Professional Development

• Professional Associations: Membership support in organizations such as the AICPA, the Tennessee Society of CPAs, or local nonprofit networks.
• Credentialing Path: A structured plan, with tuition or exam support to be defined at hire, toward earning a CPA or CNAP designation.
• Growth: A defined path toward greater responsibility as the incumbent completes each phase, positioning this role as a long-term successor-development seat within the finance department.

TMA Group is an equal opportunity employer. This job description is a general summary of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties; responsibilities may be adjusted as organizational needs change.

Pay: $52,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• On-the-job training
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person