Senior Staff Accountant

Position Summary

The Assembly Network is seeking a full time Senior Staff Accountant to oversee day to day accounting operations and provide accurate, timely financial information to support business decisions.

Reporting to the fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this person will serve as the primary in house accounting professional, managing the accounting cycle from transaction processing through monthly close, reconciliations, and financial analysis.

Working independently with regular guidance and review from the CFO, the Senior Staff Accountant will help maintain reliable financial reporting, strengthen accounting processes, and build the foundation for the company's continued growth.

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of core accounting operations while expanding into budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and broader finance leadership over time.

Work Arrangement

This is a full time hybrid position that combines remote work with time in The Assembly Network's Durham office. The schedule is flexible.

About The Assembly

Network

The Assembly Network is redefining how North Carolinians connect with the places they live. Our mission is to deliver trusted local news, compelling storytelling, and revelatory scoops that help readers understand and navigate what's happening in their neighborhood, city, and state.

We’re the largest independent news operation in North Carolina and our nationally recognized journalism reaches more than 130,000 newsletter subscribers. Our network includes teams in Cary, Durham, Fayetteville, and Greensboro, as well as a statewide team covering politics, education, business, culture, and more.

What You Will

Own

• Accounts Payable: Process vendor invoices and payments through Ramp, maintain accurate records, and support positive vendor relationships.
• Accounts Receivable: Prepare customer invoices, record payments, and coordinate collection follow up with the sales team.
• Monthly Close: Code and post transactions in QuickBooks Online, including payroll and Stripe activity; reconcile bank and balance sheet accounts; record accruals; and maintain supporting schedules.
• Financial Analysis: Prepare budget to actual reports, identify significant variances, and clearly explain findings to the CFO and department leaders.
• Cash Flow and Planning: Monitor cash flow and support budgeting, forecasting, and tax and audit preparation in partnership with the CFO and the company's outside CPA firm.
• Profitability Reporting: Help develop business unit profit and loss (P&L) statements and analyze profitability by product and region.
• Processes and Controls: Document accounting policies, procedures, and controls, and identify opportunities to improve accuracy, consistency, and efficiency as the organization grows.

What to Expect: you will be the primary in house accounting professional, so you will own your work and set your own priorities. You will meet with the CFO on at least a weekly basis and partner with our outside CPA firm on tax and audit work. Month end and quarter end bring concentrated deadlines.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or in a related field.
• Four to five years of accounting experience, including ownership of the full monthly close, accruals, reconciliations, and balance sheet schedules.
• Demonstrated ability to manage the complete accounting cycle independently, from transaction processing through financial analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with QuickBooks Online or comparable accounting software.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and consistent follow through in identifying and resolving issues.
• Ability to set priorities independently, manage competing deadlines, and complete the monthly close on time.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to colleagues who are not finance professionals.

Helpful, but not required

• CPA credential or CPA eligibility.
• Experience as the sole or primary accountant at a smaller organization.
• Experience with automated accounts payable and payment platforms, such as Ramp.
• Interest in developing into a broader finance leadership role.
• If you meet most of these qualifications and are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

What Success Looks Like

We will give you the time, training, and CFO support to get there. Here is how we will measure progress together.

By 90 days

• You have learned our systems, including Ramp, QuickBooks Online, LaunchPad, Stripe, and payroll reports, and have worked through a full monthly close with the CFO.
• You own accounts payable and accounts receivable from start to finish.
• You complete the monthly close with CFO review, finished by 8th of the month with reconciliations done and supporting schedules current.
• You have delivered your first budget-to-actual report with written variance explanations.

By 6 months

• You run the monthly close independently and on schedule, with no unexplained variances.
• Budget to actual reports are delivered by the 10th of every month.
• Your first written procedures for core processes are in place, and you and the CFO have held a formal six month review.

By 12 months

• Accounting policies, procedures, and controls are documented and in use across accounts payable, accounts receivable, and the close.
• The outside CPA firm receives organized, complete support for tax and audit preparation, with minimal follow up requests.
• Business unit profitability reporting is helping leaders make decisions.
• You and the CFO have held a formal twelve month review and agreed on your readiness to begin the growth path responsibilities below.

Your Growth Path

This role is designed to grow with the right candidate. Initially, the focus will be on establishing consistent, accurate accounting operations and mastering the monthly close. As these responsibilities are performed reliably, the role will expand to include:

• Preparing monthly financial statements and variance commentary.
• Preparing the monthly Board and Finance Committee reporting package.
• Developing and maintaining the annual budget and cash flow forecast.

Progression will be based on demonstrated performance, readiness to take on broader responsibilities, and achievement of defined milestones. The anticipated path is promotion to Finance & Accounting Manager, generally within two to three years, as business needs and readiness align.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive benefits package, including health care, parental leave, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.
• You will be eligible for 20 days of paid time off, plus federal holidays, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Equal Opportunity

Employer

The Assembly Network is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Assembly Network 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.

How To Apply

To apply, we invite candidates to submit answers to the following questions:

• Do you have at least 4 years of hands-on accounting experience, including owning the month-end close (accruals, reconciliations, journal entries) for one or more entities?
• Do you hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, or a degree in another field plus at least 24 semester hours of accounting coursework?
• Have you independently prepared monthly financial statements or a management reporting package (P&L, balance sheet, and supporting schedules) that went to an owner, executive team, or board?
• Are you able to work on-site in Durham, NC at least 1 day per week?

Submit answers, a cover letter, resume, and three references to [email protected]. We will review applications on a rolling basis beginning Monday, November 9.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Work from home

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least 4 years of hands-on accounting experience, including owning the month-end close (accruals, reconciliations, journal entries) for one or more entities?
• Do you hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, or a degree in another field plus at least 24 semester hours of accounting coursework?
• Have you independently prepared monthly financial statements or a management reporting package (P&L, balance sheet, and supporting schedules) that went to an owner, executive team, or board?
• Are you able to work on-site in Durham, NC at least 1 day per week?

Work Location

Hybrid remote in Durham, NC 27701