Employment Opportunity: Full-Charge Bookkeeper – PT

Are you looking for a meaningful way to put your accounting expertise to use? Alchemist CDC is a dynamic mid-size nonprofit organization in Sacramento doing innovative work to connect communities to land, food, and opportunity. As we grow our impact by empowering disadvantaged food entrepreneurs, enabling low-income residents to shop at local farmers’ markets, cultivating community gardens, and more, we are in need of additional bookkeeping help to ensure that our administrative infrastructure can continue to support this grassroots work. This position will truly be a member of our team, seeing the impact of your work and having the opportunity to grow with the organization.

Part-time, 20 hours/week (with potential for growth).

Compensation: $25/hour

Benefits: annually: 3 weeks vacation/PTO, 10 paid holidays, 1 day paid volunteer time off, 5 sick days.

Location: Office is located in south Sacramento (95820), with the option of up to 80% remote/telecommute (first two months onboarding/training period may require a greater proportion of in-person work). Willing to consider 100% remote for highly qualified candidates residing in California or Colorado.

Reports to: Operations Director

The Bookkeeper is responsible for recording grant, contract and fund raising revenue and expenditures in accordance with financial policies and relevant governmental rules, assisting with the preparation of financial reports, cost allocation proposals, and asset management/fixed asset entries, and additional bookkeeping and administrative tasks. The Bookkeeper works within the guidelines, policies and mission of Alchemist CDC, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Alchemist CDC is a mission-driven organization that connects Sacramento area communities to land, food, and opportunity – toward a vision in which all neighborhoods are vibrant, equitable, healthy, and diverse. We are best known for enhancing the quality of life in under-resourced communities by improving access to nutritious foods, implementing community-supported public green spaces, and fostering economic self-sufficiency through business entrepreneurship. Recognizing that community residents often have the best insight and ideas for addressing their own community’s needs, we see ourselves as building a trellis that provides the structure and support upon which grassroots efforts can flourish and grow.

Essential job functions include (but are not limited to):

  • Prepare financial reports monthly and upon request
  • Research and recommend financial management procedures, planning, systems and controls
  • Assist with developing organizational and program budgets by generating filtered expense and revenue reports according to program managers’ specifications
  • Record revenue and expenditure transactions that are of a regular and ordinary nature, and elevate large or unusual/un-allowed expenditures to senior staff.
  • Ensure bookkeeping procedures are carried out according to established accounting policies and procedures
  • Ensure that all financial records for the organization are up to date and that the general ledger is accurate
  • Calculate and input liability adjustments
  • Carry out day to day bookkeeping entries (excluding payroll entry), g., input bills and invoices/payments, create checks, etc.
  • Use farmers’ market data to create vendor reimbursement payments, create and print check detail receipts for vendors, enter ACH payments, print reimbursement checks and organize them for distribution
  • Track and input payouts received through online payment portals
  • Input check/cash revenue entries into CRM database, and update automated entries.
  • Prepare monthly reconciliations of bank/financial accounts for review/signoff
  • Work with relevant program staff to track and resolve outstanding stale vendor checks and past due invoices
  • Assist in improving and implementing Cost Allocation policies and procedures
  • Assist in compiling Indirect Cost Proposals and related documentation
  • Maintain fixed asset entries.
  • Ensure organization is “audit ready”
  • Assist Audit Committee in generating reports and backup documentation for financial audits
  • Work interactively with representatives of fiscally sponsored projects to ensure proper and timely reporting of revenues and expenditures, and develop flexible systems for tracking budgets
  • Ongoing education and research on financial rules to stay abreast of changes in financial reporting laws and best practices
  • Notify senior staff of possible accounting errors
  • Suggest improvements to Chart of Accounts, Item list and other classifications

Additional responsibilities:

  • Prepare annual 1099s and sales/use tax forms/payments (990/CA199 are outsourced to accounting firm)
  • Assist with annual property tax filings
  • Assist in maintaining the organization and retention of financial documents
  • Generate invoices for review/signoff
  • Research and answer questions from staff regarding vendor inquiries, donor payments, supply purchases, etc.
  • Additional administrative and bookkeeping tasks as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

  • Minimum 2-years’ experience with Quickbooks (preferably desktop version) and Excel
  • At least 3-years’ experience with bookkeeping in a professional setting
  • Prior experience managing bookkeeping entries for real and personal property assets
  • Strong grasp of non-profit bookkeeping and budgeting principles
  • Practical and applied knowledge of GAAP and FASB accounting rules
  • Strong computer skills
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Commitment to social justice and Alchemist CDC’s mission
  • Ability to interact effectively and respectfully with different kinds of people regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background, etc.
  • Thorough and detail-oriented. Accuracy is very important.

 Preferred (but not strictly required) additional qualifications:

  • Prior experience with financial management of federal or state grants
  • Prior experience with non-profit bookkeeping in a professional setting
  • Knowledge of tax and other compliance implications of non-profit status
  • Prior experience with financial management of fiscal sponsorships
  • Prior experience with cost allocation procedures and indirect cost allocation proposals
  • Prior experience preparing for and supporting annual financial audit process
  • Prior experience managing payment schedules for construction projects

To apply: email cover letter and resume to: employment@alchemistcdc.org

Interview and selection process:

1)Select candidates will be invited to an initial remote interview

2) Advancing candidates will be asked to complete a 2-3 question “take home” questionnaire prior to a remote second interview that will include a remotely proctored, multiple choice, skills/knowledge test.

3) Advancing candidates will be asked to provide 3 professional references

4) The selected candidate will receive a conditional offer pending successful background check.

5) The selected candidate will complete new hire paperwork in person at our Sacramento office.

This job will remain open until the selected candidate has completed all of these steps.

Alchemist CDC values diversity among its workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, and/or status as a protected veteran.

**Note that Alchemist CDC has a COVID-19 vaccine mandate policy in place. The selected applicant will be required to show proof of full vaccination and 1 booster – (or valid verifiable exemption) before their employment begins.