Staff Accountant

Job Type Full-time Description

Department: Finance

Reports To: Controller

Employment Type:  Exempt

• Salary Range:  $63,000 - $70,000 per year, depending on experience
• Location: Boston, MA hybrid (remote 1 day per week; onsite required 4 days per week)
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Local candidates strongly preferred. No agencies, please.

Please submit a cover letter with your application.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Core Values

Isabella Stewart Gardner believed that art had the power to change lives and she built a beautiful, personal, and immersive Museum setting to do so. Today the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) is a living embodiment of her bold vision; it’s a dynamic place where ideas and creativity in all its forms inspire visitors. Through exhibitions, music, programs, and performances we strive to tell new stories and challenge assumptions by engaging diverse voices and community members.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum seeks to connect past with present, develop and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with our local communities and artists, expand and diversify our audiences, and generate opportunities for creativity. We are firmly committed to creating both an inclusive work culture and a welcoming visitor experience. Our five-year strategic plan outlines the Museum’s core values, goals, and initiatives that serve as a renewal of Isabella’s promise for the Museum to be a place for “the education and enjoyment of the public forever.”

Position Summary

Finance resources at the Gardner support the Museum’s mission and strategic goals by stewarding the Museum’s financial resources and supporting our colleagues work with vendors and community partners. We are custodians of funds with a high duty to act with utmost integrity and professionalism and to report on the Museum’s activities to its executive leaders and Board of Trustees.

Reporting to the Controller, the Staff Accountant position is an integral member of a four-person team. The Staff Accountant is responsible for facilitating all accounts payable recording, reporting and disbursements, paying particular attention to employee reimbursement requests, corporate credit card transactions, and disbursement scheduling. The Staff Accountant is also responsible for cash handling, balance sheet account reconciliations, and other accounting, payroll, financial support, and audit preparation as needed. As part of a small and stable team, growth will be most likely through building and broadening accounting proficiency and knowledge. The Controller is committed to adding responsibilities to the Staff Accountant as aptitude is demonstrated. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver with a command of technology, capable of automating routine tasks to increase efficiency and shift focus toward higher-value reconciliation and analysis.

Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities

Accounts Payable

• Primary responsible staff for electronic Accounts Payable workflow, currently managed via BILL.com and Sage Intacct.
• Process the weekly payment batches (95% of vendors paid by ACH with small numbers of wire payments and checks).
• Create and maintain a consistent file of vendor information (new and existing) with appropriate tax documentation.
• Reconcile Accounts Payable aging quarterly for review by the Controller and annually for the auditors.
• Lead preparation of IRS Form 1099-NEC for all required vendors annually.
• Maintain records and assist with creating regular reports for the Museum’s vendor demographic data initiative.
• Manage credit card activity and submissions via BILL.com and reconcile relevant GL accounts monthly.
• Serve as the Museum’s subject matter expert for BILL.com; train and support new and existing staff as needed.

Cash Handling

• Responsible for weekly cash orders and change deposits for the Visitor Services, Museum Store, and Development departments.
• Create weekly journal entry to record all cash handling transactions.
• Coordinate semi-annual cash counts.

General Accounting

• Lead monthly recognition of Gift Shop revenue by analyzing and reconciling activity with cash and credit card receipts and preparing monthly journal entry.
• Reporting to support monthly sales tax collection filing.  
• Perform monthly reconciliations of non-primary bank accounts
• Support monthly, quarterly, half-year, and year-end financial closes, including assigned journal entries, balance-sheet account reconciliations, accruals, and overall maintenance of operational management accounts.
• Analyze and reconcile on a monthly basis accounts receivable, suspense accounts, prepaid expense balances, payables, and accrued expenses and payroll accounts, plus other GL accounts as assigned.
• Verify accuracy of data, and identify and correct errors. Initiate problem-solving and complete independently where appropriate, or recommend solutions to Controller.
• Journalize departmental expense allocations for postage and miscellaneous shared accounts.
• Prepare monthly recurring journal entries.
• Manage various projects and assignments as directed, including tasks associated with monthly financial reporting, annual financial audits, and annual tax/statutory filings.
• Co-manage annual Gardner Ambassador college intern, training and mentoring them in basic Finance tasks, and working with Accounting Supervisor to design meaningful work projects for the intern.
• Automate key financial workflows within Sage Intacct, including accounts payable (AP), expense management, journal entries, and bank reconciliations, to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about details, is organized, and is an excellent communicator. Candidates should have:

• At least one year of related work experience required.
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or accounting.
• High degree of integrity, and discretion with confidential information.
• Proficiency in the use of spreadsheets (Excel and Google Sheets) and accounting software.
• Experience with Sage Intacct. Bill.com is a plus.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills; ability to correspond effectively with internal staff and external customers at all levels.
• Self-directed and comfortable working remotely; but must also able to work onsite 4 days per week.
• Ability to deliver a high volume of work consistently and independently in an accurate and timely manner.
• Flexibility, patience, and a commitment to collegiality with a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
• Curiosity about art and museums.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Satisfactory background check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Museum is committed to affording equal opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, age (40 or older), disability, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, ancestry, or status as a veteran. Consistent with our core values and our founder's legacy, the Museum is dedicated to building a work community that fosters collaboration, excellence, belonging, and a diversity of perspectives and experience.

Request An Accommodation

Applicants with disabilities who are unable to access ISGM's online application system fully may contact us at hr@isgm.org for assistance with a reasonable accommodation.

Salary Description $63,000 - $70,000 per year