Tessellations is a modern, innovative Pre-K-8 non-profit school for gifted learners based in Cupertino, CA. Our mission is to provide challenging experiential education that recognizes and nurtures the individual strengths of gifted learners, empowering them to confidently express who they are and pursue a meaningful life.
Position Summary
The Staff Accountant is a key member of a small, agile finance team supporting the financial operations of an independent PreK-8 school. Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer, the Staff Accountant is responsible for the day to day execution of core accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, month end close, and audit support.
This is a hands-on role in a modern finance function. The school has invested in automation tools (Ramp, Clarity, Coefficient and Looker Studio) that streamline transactional work and allow the Staff Accountant to focus on review, exception handling, analysis, and process improvement. The successful candidate will combine strong accounting fundamentals with a curiosity for analytical work and a willingness to grow into broader financial responsibilities over time.
Key Responsibilities
Accounting Operations
- Process and review accounts payable transactions using Ramp, ensuring accurate coding, appropriate approvals, and timely payment.
- Manage accounts receivable, including tuition billing oversight through Clarity, reconciliation of payments, and follow up on outstanding balances.
- Perform monthly reconciliations for bank accounts, credit cards, and key general ledger accounts.
- Record journal entries with appropriate detail and supporting documentation.
- Support the month end close process, including accruals, deferrals, and period end adjustments, within a five business day close schedule.
Reporting and Analysis
- Prepare recurring financial reports, including weekly cash flow updates, monthly financial statements, and Budget to Actual analysis by department.
- Maintain reporting templates and develop new templates or reports as needed using QuickBooks, Excel, Google Sheets, Coefficient, and Looker Studio.
- Provide variance analysis and supporting commentary for monthly reports.
Compliance and Audit
- Support annual audit preparation, including the development of schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
- Manage vendor classification, W 9 collection, and annual 1099 filing.
- Maintain accurate, organized financial records consistent with GAAP and the school's internal practices.
Process and Documentation
- Develop and refine accounting templates, processes, and procedures documentation for recurring tasks.
- Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and accuracy, and propose changes for review with the CFO.
Internal and External Communications
- Communicate professionally with vendors, families, department heads, and external partners on financial matters within the scope of the role.
- Escalate ambiguous requests, anomalies, or matters outside the scope of the role to the CFO for review.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- 2 to 4 years of relevant accounting experience.
- Strong understanding of GAAP, including accrual accounting principles.
- Demonstrated experience with month end close, reconciliations, and core accounting functions.
- Proficiency with QuickBooks or comparable accounting software.
- Proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets, including formulas, pivot tables, and basic data analysis.
- Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, well organized work.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write communications that are usable by the intended audience.
- Ability to take ownership of assigned responsibilities and work independently with appropriate supervision.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in an independent school, nonprofit, or fund accounting environment.
- Experience with Ramp, Bill.com, or similar AP automation platforms.
- Experience with tuition management systems (FACTS, Smart Tuition, Clarity, Blackbaud, or similar).
- Experience supporting external audits.
- Familiarity with reporting tools such as Coefficient, Fathom, LiveFlow, or Looker Studio.
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who:
- Approaches problems by first examining their own role and looking for solutions.
- Treats deadlines as commitments and communicates proactively when obstacles arise.
- Follows specific instructions and processes carefully, while raising thoughtful questions when alternative approaches may be better.
- Catches errors before they reach recipients and corrects them promptly when identified.
- Writes documentation and communications that are clear for the reader.
- Maintains the integrity of financial records, including the disciplined preservation of raw data in analytical work.
- Recognizes the limits of the role and escalates appropriately for matters outside their authority.
- Takes initiative to research and resolve unfamiliar items independently before escalating.
- Values continuous learning and is interested in growing into broader analytical responsibilities over time.
What We Offer
- A modern finance function with significant automation infrastructure already in place.
- Mentorship from a hands-on CFO and meaningful exposure to broader financial operations.
- A small, collaborative team in a mission driven environment.
- Health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance.
- Retirement plan with employer contribution.
- Paid time off and paid school holidays & breaks.
- Tuition remission for children of employees, subject to admission and policy.
- Professional development support.
Compensation
Salary range: $75,000 - $88,000
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k), flexible spending account, paid time off, holidays, and school breaks.
Tessellations is an Equal Opportunity Employer — we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, or reproductive health decision making.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $88,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
