Accounts Payable Specialist

TITLE: Accounts Payable Specialist
LOCATION: Brooklyn office, hybrid or USA-based-remote
WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time
EMPLOYMENT/JOB TYPE: regular, exempt employee
INTERNAL JOB CATEGORY: Specialization B
DEPARTMENT: Finance & Administration
SUPERVISOR: Finance & Administration Senior Manager
DIRECT REPORTS: N/A
SALARY: USD $58,500 gross annually, non-negotiable

About Rainforest Foundation US

For over 30 years, Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) has worked to address climate change and safeguard biodiversity by promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and supporting their efforts to protect and defend their rainforests. Science shows that forests managed by indigenous peoples are healthier, suffer less deforestation, capture more carbon, and contain more biodiversity than forests managed by private or public entities--including nationally protected areas. What’s more, scientists tell us that protecting forests is as important as reducing greenhouse emissions if we hope to stem the tide of ecological collapse.

RFUS works in partnership with indigenous and local communities and their representative organizations to protect tropical rainforests by supporting their efforts to secure rights to their lands, strengthen monitoring and land security, influence laws and policies that protect their resources, and build strong and sustainable community leadership. By investing directly in indigenous and local communities, RFUS connects the people rooted in the land with the tools, training, and resources to be effective advocates and protectors of the forests they call home. RFUS currently operates four country programs in Brazil, Guyana, Panama, and Peru, and hosts a number of regional partnerships in Central America, the Amazon Basin, and across the tropical belt.

About the Position

The Accounts Payable Specialist is responsible for the efficient and accurate processing of all of the organization’s domestic and international payments across various platforms, including Paypal, Bill.com, Expensify, StoneX, and Citibank Business Online. The A/P Specialist will work closely with the Grant Accountant to review payments for accurate coding and recording in Quickbooks Online and manage clear and organized filing in our cloud-shared filing system. The role will also work closely across departments to ensure that travel reports, credit card reports and reimbursement requests are accurate, complete and processed, and reviewed timely. This position will be important in shaping policy and procedure in the finance department and will collaborate on future department initiatives.

Main responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Receive, review, process, allocate and categorize invoices due for payment in an efficient and timely manner

• Record expenses accurately to GL accounts, departments, and projects by analyzing invoice and expense reports

• Onboard new vendors, maintain vendor master files, and monitor contractual arrangements, where applicable.

• Respond to department and vendor inquiries and requests in a timely manner, be proactive in anticipating and resolving potential problems

• Perform weekly vendor disbursements via ACH payments, wires, internet payment providers, and checks

• Prepare and review expense reports, travel reports, and advance requests

• Monthly reconciliation and analysis of credit card activity with follow-up on delinquent accounts

• File, maintain, and distribute documents thoroughly and accurately in accordance with organizational policies and generally accepted accounting principles

• Provide support for month-end closings and year-end audit preparation

• Ensure Form 1099 reporting requirements are met and adhered to, including accurate recording of taxpayer ID, vendor name, and address.

• Perform other duties, including but not limited to processing transactions, preparing journal entries, reconciling GL accounts and sub-ledgers, and engaging in other accounting responsibilities as required

• Provide trainings on systems and processes for new employees and as needed

• Assist in drafting internal policies and procedures and actively contribute to process improvements and new systems implementation

And any other duties needed to help drive to our Vision, fulfill our Mission, and abide by our Organization's Values.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to core values ​​and ability to model those values ​​in relationships with RFUS colleagues and partners.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent experience.

• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in accounts payable and accounting, with preference for experience in the international NGO sector

• Language: Full professional proficiency in English and Spanish is required

• Experience working with multiple restricted funding sources

• Experience in managing multiple payment platforms and sending international wire transfers

• Able to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural team environment

• Ability to prioritize, organize, and multitask efficiently under pressure and with little supervision

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Strong attention to detail

• Excellent skills in MS Word and Excel

• Experience with Quickbooks Online, online ACH payments, online credit card platforms, and international wires

Compensation & Benefits

RFUS offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. Our full-time employees enjoy generous benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision: We pay 100% of the employee and dependents' health and welfare benefits premiums

• 401(k) retirement benefits with a match and employer contribution

• Generous time off through vacation, sick and personal leave, holidays, summer Fridays, and an extended winter break office closure

• Life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program

• Some positions may be fully remote or hybrid.

Workplace Culture & Conditions

At RFUS, diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to fulfilling our vision of building a better workplace and a better world. From our hiring practices through the entire employee experience, we embrace and celebrate the unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds that each employee brings to the workplace. RFUS strives to foster an environment where our employees feel respected and valued, and our team members are at the forefront of helping us promote and sustain an inclusive workplace for all.

RFUS prides itself on providing a flexible, family-friendly work environment that values work-life balance. Our offices are in a historic downtown Brooklyn neighborhood easily accessible by public transit. 

Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunities

​​Rainforest Foundation US does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local laws, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, partners, and clients. Black, Indigenous, and people of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Application instructions

• Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early and advised to carefully study the job description to ensure they meet the requirements and skills we are looking for.

• Applications will not be considered without the submission of a resume and cover letter.

• Please note that the position will be listed as open until filled. Only candidates who are shortlisted for interviews will be contacted.

• The candidate must possess the legal requirements to work in the United States. RFUS 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.A. Find more information about what E-Verify is and your rights here. Rainforest Foundation US will not sponsor visas for international candidates.

• To apply, visit: https://rainforestfoundation.org/about/join-our-team/