Accountant, Senior

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Senior Accountant to support core accounting operations and financial reporting for the Laboratory. This role ensures accuracy, compliance with GAAP and Uniform Guidance, and alignment with institutional policies.

The Senior Accountant plays a key role in monthly and year-end close processes, audit coordination, financial systems improvements, and financial analysis that supports institutional decision-making. This position works closely with Budget, Grants, Payroll, Treasury, and operational teams to strengthen financial processes and reporting.

Financial Reporting & Close Management

• Prepare and support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
• Prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules
• Participate in month-end and year-end close processes
• Analyze financial variances and recommend improvements to reporting accuracy and efficiency

Audit Coordination & Compliance

• Coordinate preparation for annual financial statement audits and Uniform Guidance audits
• Prepare audit schedules and required documentation
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal grant requirements, and institutional policies

Institutional & Technical Accounting

• Support preparation of regulatory filings, including Form 990
• Assist with indirect cost proposals and fringe benefit rate calculations
• Research and document technical accounting issues and recommend appropriate treatment
• Maintain and improve accounting policies and procedures
• Assist with implementation of new accounting standards

Systems & Process Improvement

• Support financial systems enhancements and ERP initiatives (including Workday implementation and stabilization)
• Identify opportunities to streamline close processes and strengthen internal controls
• Partner with Finance leadership to improve reporting workflows and automation
• Assist with system testing and validation

Staff Support & Collaboration

• Provide guidance and review support to accounting staff
• Assist with training on accounting procedures and systems
• Collaborate across departments to improve financial data accuracy and consistency
• Support special projects and institutional finance initiatives

Education: Bachelor's degree required.

Experience: Minimum of three or more years of accounting experience, preferably managing or auditing non-profit organizations

Knowledge/Skills:

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, including financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and internal control principles.

• Demonstrated experience supporting monthly and year-end close processes, including preparation and review of journal entries and balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Experience coordinating external financial statement audits and Uniform Guidance audits, including preparation of audit schedules and interaction with auditors.
• Ability to research and apply technical accounting guidance, including documenting accounting positions and supporting implementation of new accounting standards.
• Familiarity with nonprofit accounting practices, including net asset classifications, indirect cost recovery concepts, and regulatory reporting requirements such as Form 990.
• Experience working within ERP financial systems (Lawson, Workday, or similar), including supporting system enhancements, testing activities, and reporting improvements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including working with large datasets, reconciliations, and analytical modeling.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate accounting workflows and recommend process improvements and internal control enhancements.

How to Apply:

If you are a candidate with strong analytical and organizational skills, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity. Please submit an online application here: Senior Accountant | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Position ID: 02096

Environment Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a world-renowned biomedical research institution in New York. It has shaped contemporary biomedical research and is the home of eight Nobel Prize laureates. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory provides a highly dynamic and interactive research environment and also a unique opportunity of timely exposure to advances in various biomedical research fields and of interaction with a broad range of researchers from all over the world through its renowned Meetings and Courses program. We believe that science is for everyone and our researchers have a wide variety of backgrounds. Learn more about CSHL here.

Compensation and Benefits:

Our employees are compensated in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our CSHL Benefits sites to learn more. The salary range for this role is $80,000-$100,000 annually. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., years of relevant experience, education, credentials, and internal equity).

CSHL is an EO Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status. VEVRAA Federal Contractor