Staff Accountant

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (CLC) seeks a detail-oriented Staff Accountant to lead grant budgeting and financial tracking for Chicago’s preeminent nonprofit civil rights legal organization. This is an opportunity to bring strong accounting fundamentals to an organization where accurate, well-managed grant finances directly sustain high-impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community work across four core practice areas. About the RoleThe Staff Accountant will report to the VP of Finance & Operations and take primary ownership of grant budgeting, building budgets for new proposals and renewals, and tracking spending against active awards. This is currently done by the VP directly; this role exists to take on that work directly so program growth doesn’t outpace the organization’s capacity to manage it well. CLC operates on a portfolio of concurrent federal, state, and foundation grants, so this position is well suited to someone who is genuinely energized by translating program plans into accurate budgets and tracking multiple restricted funds and reporting deadlines at once. The Staff Accountant will work closely with the VP of Finance & Operations and collaborate regularly with program staff across CLC’s practice areas — Voting Rights, Equitable Community Development & Housing, Education Equity, Economic Justice and Settlement Assistance — to build, monitor, and report on grant budgets and ensure restricted funds and program expenses are accurately tracked. CLC works with an outside accounting firm that handles month-end account reconciliations and the allocation of shared and indirect costs across grants and programs. This role focuses primarily on grant budgeting and financial tracking, and also serves as backup for select general accounting functions — including accounts payable, payroll FTE allocation, and ACH/check deposit reconciliation — with the expectation that these responsibilities grow as the Staff Accountant becomes familiar with CLC’s grant portfolio. Duties Include Grant Budgeting & Proposal Support• Build and maintain grant budgets for new proposals and renewals, in partnership with program staff and the VP of Finance & Operations• Track actual spending against each grant budget throughout the award period, flagging variances to program and finance leadership before they surface at reporting time• Prepare and submit grant financial reports, invoices, and reimbursement or drawdown requests in line with each funder’s deadlines and requirements• Track grant start/end dates, reporting deadlines, and any match or cost-share requirements across the active grant portfolio Grant & Fund Accounting• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for grant financial administration across CLC’s active portfolio of federal, state, and foundation-funded grants• Track restricted and unrestricted funds by grant and fund in accordance with nonprofit fund accounting standards• Support compliance with federal grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) cost principles, for federally funded programs• Maintain grant files and supporting documentation sufficient to withstand funder and auditor review• Support grant closeout processes, including final expenditure reconciliation and reporting Compliance & Reporting• Assist with preparation for the annual financial audit and Form 990, including grant-specific audit schedules• Support preparation of internal financial reports for leadership, including grant burn-rate and portfolio summaries• Help maintain and strengthen internal controls and accounting policies, particularly around grant compliance General Accounting Support• Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes• Serve as backup for accounts payable processing — reviewing vendor invoices, approving payments, and completing payment runs via online banking• Serve as backup for payroll FTE allocation and reconciliation of ACH and check deposits, currently performed by the VP of Finance & OperationsResponsibility for these functions may expand over time as the Staff Accountant builds familiarity with CLC’s grant portfolio.Other accounting and finance-related duties as assigned, based on organizational needs and capacity. About You Education & Experience• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)• 3+ years of accounting experience, with meaningful experience in grant or fund accounting required• Experience administering federal, state, and/or foundation grants; familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) cost principles strongly preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities• Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of multiple concurrent grants with varying budgets, reporting formats, and deadlines• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to translate program plans and narratives into accurate, defensible budget figures• Working knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit fund accounting principles• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and advanced Excel skills• Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and take significant initiative• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with a diversity of groups and individuals, including program staff who are not finance specialists, and to proactively flag issues before they become problems• Cross-cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference• Ability to take ownership of work and minimize errors, communicating corrections proactively when they arise• Judgment and discretion in handling sensitive financial information• Deep commitment to racial justice and community-driven advocacy Don’t meet every single requirement? At Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this role description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Core Traits Expected of All Chicago Lawyers’ Committee Staff• Entrepreneurial: comfortable building new capacity and taking initiative in a finance function that is actively growing alongside CLC’s grant portfolio• Self-managing: able to prioritize and drive work forward with minimal oversight• Self-executing: takes an idea through to implementation without needing to be handed a fully formed plan• Exercising sound judgment and discretion: able to make sound decisions and keep moving in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment• Deeply collaborative: works across programs, finance, and CLC’s outside accounting firm in a consultative, responsive manner• Innovative: brings fresh thinking to grant budgeting and financial tracking rather than defaulting to the status quo• Community-centered: understands that accurate, well-managed grant finances directly sustain CLC’s community-driven litigation, advocacy, and program work Why Work with Us?• Put your financial skill set to work in the fight for democracy and racial justice, at Chicago’s preeminent nonprofit civil rights legal organization• Own the grant financial administration for a diverse, multi-funder portfolio, and deepen your grant and fund accounting expertise along the way• Work alongside colleagues who are determined, focused, and compassionate, and see directly how accurate grant management sustains high-impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community work Salary and BenefitsSalary range is $60,000 – $75,000 per year depending on experience.Benefits include:• 15 vacation days per year for years 1-2, prorated in the first year based on start date, increasing to 20 vacation days after two years of continuous service, plus 2 personal days• 10 sick days per year• Health, dental, basic life, short-term disability, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program• Voluntary vision, life, critical illness, and accident insurance• 403(b) retirement plan• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending AccountsWe offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with one to two days per week in the office on a designated anchor day (subject to change) and the option to work remotely the remainder of the week. To ApplyPlease e-mail a cover letter and resume to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, ejackson@clccrul.org, with subject line specifying “Application for Staff Accountant Position.” Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are strongly encouraged to apply.