Staff Accountant

Our Core Values 

Our core values define who we are as an organization and serve as the foundation of our code of ethics. Arbor Research expects all employees to embody and demonstrate in our day-to-day work. 

• Collaborative Spirit: We expect each staff member to learn from and teach one another and ask each to exhibit curiosity and respect for the contributions of others. 
• Creativity: We strive to cultivate a challenging, stimulating, and supportive environment where our employees are expected to be inquisitive, take the initiative, and demonstrate ingenuity. 
• Credibility: Our employees are smart, thoughtful, and objective in their work. We expect them to be technically solid in their area of expertise and for those researching to demonstrate scientific rigor. 
•  Dedication: Our team achieves success because of our dedication to carrying out high-quality work and delivering trusted results. 

Position Summary

The Staff Accountant is responsible for supporting the organization’s general ledger accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, and accounts payable functions within a government contracting or federally funded environment. This role prepares journal entries, performs balance sheet reconciliations, analyzes financial results, maintains accounting records, and supports budget-to-actual reporting to ensure accurate and timely financial information in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The position also supports project accounting, labor cost distribution, revenue recognition under ASC 606, and contract billing across various contract types, while partnering with the Accounting Manager, program managers, and other departments to maintain strong financial controls and meet reporting deadlines.

The role oversees key accounts payable activities, including reviewing and processing vendor and subcontractor invoices, validating charges against purchase orders and receiving documentation, reviewing employee expense reports in Unanet, coordinating weekly payment runs, and maintaining vendor records. Additional responsibilities include reconciling accounts payable balances, managing accruals, preparing annual Form 1099 filings, and resolving invoice and payment discrepancies. The Staff Accountant also supports internal and external audits, including requests from the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), and external auditors, while helping ensure compliance with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements, indirect cost principles, and other federal contracting regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Prepare and post journal entries, including accruals, prepaid amortization, depreciation, and reclassifications, in accordance with GAAP.
• Perform monthly balance sheet account reconciliations, including cash, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and fixed assets.
• Support the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close process within established deadlines.
• Prepare support schedules and financial statement analyses, including budget-to-actual and variance reports for overhead and general and administration department owners.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and organizational structure in coordination with the Accounting Manager.
• Support labor cost distribution, timekeeping compliance, and labor reconciliations between timekeeping, payroll, and the general ledger.
• Assist with project setup, revenue recognition (ASC 606), and billing across cost-reimbursable, time-and-materials, and firm-fixed-price contracts.
• Prepare documentation and respond to requests from DCAA, DCMA, cognizant federal agencies, and external auditors, including Single Audit (Uniform Guidance) procedures where applicable.
• Develop and maintain standard and ad hoc reports to support management, program managers, and compliance requirements.
• Review, code, and process vendor and subcontractor invoices in Unanet, ensuring accurate charging to the appropriate project, account, and organization.
• Perform three-way matching of invoices against purchase orders and receiving documentation, and resolve discrepancies with vendors, Procurement, and program staff.
• Review subcontractor invoices for consistency with subcontract terms, approved rates, ceilings, and period of performance prior to payment.
• Review and process employee expense reports submitted through Unanet for compliance with organizational policy and the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), as applicable.
• Prepare weekly payment runs (ACH, check, and wire), and maintain vendor master data, including W-9 collection and SAM.gov exclusion verification.
• Reconcile the accounts payable subledger to the general ledger monthly, maintain the accounts payable aging, and record accounts payable accruals at period end.
• Prepare annual Form 1099 filings and respond to vendor inquiries.

• Familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and Single Audit requirements for federal grants.
• Experience with CAS-covered contracts and Disclosure Statement requirements.
• Experience in a professional services or federal contracting environment.
• Experience supporting Incurred Cost Submissions and forward pricing or provisional billing rate proposals.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Three (3) or more years of general ledger or staff accounting experience, including at least two (2) years with a government contractor or federally funded organization.
• Hands-on experience with Unanet, including GL processing and month-end utilities.
• Working experience with Unanet (timekeeping, expense, project, or financial modules).
• Working knowledge of FAR Part 31, DCAA audit requirements, and indirect rate structures.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and account reconciliation practices.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and data reconciliation.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and the ability to meet close deadlines.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any background investigation required by the organization's contracts, if applicable.