About Us

JWA is a small consulting firm that specializes in public transit planning. Our clients are mostly local and state government agencies but can include corporations, nonprofits, and other entities. We are solely focused on public transit planning and policy, and continually aspire to be the best in our field.

We are committed to fostering a welcoming culture. We embrace our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make each person unique.

We currently have a staff of 20 people based primarily in Portland, OR and Arlington, VA with two remote staff beyond those locations. You can learn more about us at our website (jarrettwalker.com) and at Jarrett’s blog (HumanTransit.org).

The Role

We are looking for an Accounting and Administrative Manager in our headquarters in Portland, Oregon. The successful applicant will need to be highly organized and professional. The job requires 5-7 years of relevant work experience in bookkeeping, accounting, payroll and benefits management, or similar functions and has the potential to grow substantially in responsibility and compensation over time. Previous relevant experience for a small or medium-sized firm is highly desirable.

The job requires:

• At least 5 years of work experience that demonstrates some or all of the expected job duties listed below.
• Ability to communicate professionally by email, chat, and phone.
• Fluency in spoken and written English, including the ability to write clearly and accurately with a friendly but professional tone.
• Ability to do detailed and sometimes tedious tasks with a low error rate.
• Resourcefulness in solving a range of problems.
• Comfort with open and frank communication within the organization.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and QuickBooks Online.

The following are highly advantageous:

• Formal education or training (diploma or certifications) in bookkeeping, accounting, or finance particularly an associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• Prior experience with accounting in the context of Part 31 of Federal Acquisition Regulation.
• Prior experience with Professional Services Automation software, such as CMap, Oracle or Deltek, or other tools designed to help track time and expenses across multiple projects.

Expected Job Duties

Firm Bookkeeping:

• Performing and/or overseeing expense entry
• Processing payments to vendors, contractors, etc.
• Coordinating with project managers to issue invoices
• Managing accounts payable and receivable, to ensure timely payments and vendor management
• Performing monthly bank reconciliations
• Generating financial reports
• Processing payroll and related tasks, in QuickBooks Online, or a future platform
• Reconciling accounts and monitoring cash flow

Accounting:

• Maintaining, reviewing, reconciling, and auditing accounting system and financial reports for accuracy
• Preparing monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reports
• Assisting with month-end and year-end close
• Ensuring compliance with federal reporting requirements
• Supervising staff engaged with accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and related activities
• Coordinating with auditors to ensure compliance with accounting regulations.
• Coordinating with tax preparers to ensure timely tax filings
• Preparing and filing certain tax returns such as monthly receipts or regular local returns (but applicants are not expected to hold a CPA license)

Administrative Management:

• Update and maintain organizational and accounting procedures, policies, and systems
• Support payroll and benefit enrollment for new staff
• Benefits management
• Various business license and registration paperwork, such as SAM.gov
• Other basic clerical tasks
• Oversee administrative staff that support these activities
• Manage and maintain office records and documents

We welcome candidates with unique backgrounds and experiences, so even if you do not check every box, please apply if you believe you can contribute valuable skills.

Compensation

Starting pay will be in the range of $30-40 per hour, depending on skills and experience. We are flexible in precisely how many hours per week the manager will work, though we are hoping for at least 32 hours per week from the right candidate as we expect the role will require that level of effort and attention.

Our full benefits package is available to all permanent staff who work on average 20 hours per week or more. Our benefits include

• Gold-level or Platinum-level medical and dental insurance (we cover the full premium cost of the Gold-level plan for employees)
• Disability insurance
• Paid vacation and medical leave
• 401k matching
• Free TriMet transit pass
• Up to 12 weeks of paid family leave as part of the Paid Leave Oregon program

Work Location

The successful applicant should expect to work from our inner SE Portland office on average two days per week, with more days in office in the first few months. Significant flexibility is available in terms of specific days and hours in the office once fully on-board.

Questions?

As you consider whether to apply, you may write to [email protected] with any questions you may have about the position. Please put “Question” in the subject line to help us flag and respond quickly to your inquiries.

To apply

JWA follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, and any other legally protected status.

The initial review of resumes will use a race-blind and gender-blind hiring process. Please provide your name only in the initial email. Your application materials should therefore be anonymized by removing your name and any references to sex, gender, race, or ethnicity.

To that end, please provide:

• Your resume, after removing your name and all indications of race and gender. If quoting people referring to you, please remove pronouns or replace them with they/their/them. If you do not, we will do this for you.
• Provide an email address and phone number as your only contact information.
• Provide a cover letter, also unsigned, explaining your qualifications.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

This position is open until filled. We aim to respond to all applications within 10 business days.

If your application is of interest, we will contact you to arrange an interview time, and ask you to provide names and telephone contact information for up to three references. References can be anyone you have worked with or know closely, and who can provide examples of how you have demonstrated the necessary skills, including former employers, coaches, volunteer coordinators, professors, colleagues, etc.

Thank you for your interest in this position.